SF 4609
Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)
Posted on 03/19/2026 09:32 a.m.
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A bill for an act
relating to public safety; increasing criminal penalties and expanding the scope of
the doxxing crime; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.5151.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.5151, is amended to read:
609.5151 DISSEMINATION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION deleted text begin ABOUT LAW
ENFORCEMENTdeleted text end PROHIBITED; PENALTY.
Subdivision 1.
Definitions.
As used in this section:
(1) "family or household member" has the meaning given in section 518B.01, subdivision
2;
(2) "law enforcement official" means both peace officers as defined in section 626.84,
subdivision 1, and persons employed by a law enforcement agency; and
(3) "personal information" means a home telephone number, personal cell number,
personal email address, name of the deleted text begin official'sdeleted text end new text begin person'snew text end minor child, photographs of the
deleted text begin official'sdeleted text end new text begin person'snew text end minor child, home address, directions to a home, or photographs of a
home.
Subd. 2.
Crime described.
deleted text begin (a)deleted text end It is a deleted text begin misdemeanor for a persondeleted text end new text begin crimenew text end to knowingly and
without consent make publicly available, including but not limited to through the Internet,
personal information about deleted text begin a law enforcement official or an official'sdeleted text end new text begin another person or anew text end
family or household membernew text begin of that personnew text end , if:
(1) the public availability of information poses an imminent and serious threat to the
deleted text begin official'sdeleted text end new text begin other person'snew text end safety or the safety of deleted text begin an official'sdeleted text end new text begin that person'snew text end family or household
member; and
(2) the person making the information publicly available knows or reasonably should
know of the imminent and serious threat.
new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Penalty. new text end
new text begin
(a) A violation of subdivision 2 is a misdemeanor unless the victim
is a law enforcement official or a family or household member of a law enforcement official,
in which case it is a gross misdemeanor.
new text end
(b) A deleted text begin person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if the person violates paragraph (a) and
a law enforcement official or an official's family or household memberdeleted text end new text begin violation of
subdivision 2 is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than two years or to the
payment of a fine of not more than $4,000, or both, if the victim or the victim's family or
household membernew text end suffers great bodily harm or death as a result of the violation.
(c) A person who is convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this section is guilty
of a deleted text begin gross misdemeanordeleted text end new text begin felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than two years or
to the payment of a fine of not more than $4,000, or bothnew text end .
new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
new text begin
This section is effective August 1, 2026, and applies to crimes
committed on or after that date.
new text end