SF 4717

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/24/2026 10:54 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to criminal law; establishing a crime for certain damage to farm machinery
and equipment; establishing a crime for certain trespasses on agricultural land;
providing for criminal penalties; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section
609.605, subdivisions 1, 2; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 609.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [609.5945] DAMAGE TO FARM MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section, "agricultural land" has the
meaning given in section 273.13, subdivision 23.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Crime. new text end

new text begin Whoever, without consent of the owner or operator of the agricultural
land, places in a growing crop any device of iron, steel, ceramic, or other substance
sufficiently hard to damage harvesting, spraying, or similar machinery or tillage, irrigation,
fertilizing, or planting equipment used to produce the crop, with intent to damage the
machinery or equipment, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Restitution. new text end

new text begin In addition to any sentence imposed under subdivision 2, the
sentencing court must order a person convicted of violating this section to pay restitution
to the owner of the damaged machinery or equipment.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.605, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Misdemeanor.

(a) deleted text begin The following terms have the meanings given them
for purposes of this section deleted text end new text begin For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
meanings given new text end .

(1) "Premises" means real property and any appurtenant building or structure.

(2) "Dwelling" means the building or part of a building used by an individual as a place
of residence on either a full-time or a part-time basis. A dwelling may be part of a
multidwelling or multipurpose building, or a manufactured home as defined in section
168.002, subdivision 16.

(3) "Construction site" means the site of the construction, alteration, painting, or repair
of a building or structure.

(4) "Owner or lawful possessor," as used in paragraph (b), clause (9), means the person
on whose behalf a building or dwelling is being constructed, altered, painted, or repaired
and the general contractor or subcontractor engaged in that work.

(5) "Posted," as used:

(i) in paragraph (b), clause (4), means the placement of a sign at least 8-1/2 inches by
11 inches in a conspicuous place on the exterior of the building, or in a conspicuous place
within the property on which the building is located. The sign must carry a general notice
warning against trespass;

(ii) in paragraph (b), clause (9), means the placement of a sign at least 8-1/2 inches by
11 inches in a conspicuous place on the exterior of the building that is under construction,
alteration, or repair, or in a conspicuous place within the area being protected. If the area
being protected is less than three acres, one additional sign must be conspicuously placed
within that area. If the area being protected is three acres but less than ten acres, two
additional signs must be conspicuously placed within that area. For each additional full ten
acres of area being protected beyond the first ten acres of area, two additional signs must
be conspicuously placed within the area being protected. The sign must carry a general
notice warning against trespass; and

(iii) in paragraph (b), clause (10), means the placement of signs that:

(A) carry a general notice warning against trespass;

(B) display letters at least two inches high;

(C) state that Minnesota law prohibits trespassing on the property; and

(D) are posted in a conspicuous place and at intervals of 500 feet or less.

(6) "Business licensee," as used in paragraph (b), clause (9), includes a representative
of a building trades labor or management organization.

(7) "Building" has the meaning given in section 609.581, subdivision 2.

(b) A person is guilty of a misdemeanor if the person intentionally:

(1) permits domestic animals or fowls under the actor's control to go on the land of
another within a city;

(2) interferes unlawfully with a monument, sign, or pointer erected or marked to designate
a point of a boundary, line or a political subdivision, or of a tract of land;

(3) trespasses on the premises of another and, without claim of right, refuses to depart
from the premises on demand of the lawful possessor;

(4) occupies or enters the dwelling or locked or posted building of another, without claim
of right or consent of the owner or the consent of one who has the right to give consent,
except in an emergency situation;

(5) new text begin except as provided in section 609.605, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), new text end enters the
premises of another with intent to take or injure any fruit, fruit trees, or vegetables growing
on the premises, without the permission of the owner or occupant;

(6) enters or is found on the premises of a public or private cemetery without authorization
during hours the cemetery is posted as closed to the public;

(7) returns to the property of another with the intent to abuse, disturb, or cause distress
in or threaten another, after being told to leave the property and not to return, if the actor is
without claim of right to the property or consent of one with authority to consent;

(8) returns to the property of another within one year after being told to leave the property
and not to return, if the actor is without claim of right to the property or consent of one with
authority to consent;

(9) enters the locked or posted construction site of another without the consent of the
owner or lawful possessor, unless the person is a business licensee;

(10) enters the locked or posted aggregate mining site of another without the consent of
the owner or lawful possessor, unless the person is a business licensee; or

(11) crosses into or enters any public or private area lawfully cordoned off by or at the
direction of a peace officer engaged in the performance of official duties. As used in this
clause: (i) an area may be "cordoned off" through the use of tape, barriers, or other means
conspicuously placed and identifying the area as being restricted by a peace officer and
identifying the responsible authority; and (ii) "peace officer" has the meaning given in
section 626.84, subdivision 1. It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this clause that
a peace officer permitted entry into the restricted area.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.605, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Gross misdemeanor.

new text begin (a) new text end Whoever trespasses upon the grounds of a facility
providing emergency shelter services for battered women, as defined under section 611A.31,
subdivision 3, or providing comparable services for sex trafficking victims, as defined under
section 609.321, subdivision 7b, or of a facility providing transitional housing for battered
women and their children or sex trafficking victims and their children, without claim of
right or consent of one who has right to give consent, and refuses to depart from the grounds
of the facility on demand of one who has right to give consent, is guilty of a gross
misdemeanor.

new text begin (b) Whoever trespasses upon agricultural land, as defined under section 273.13,
subdivision 23, with intent to take or injure an agricultural crop or to damage farm machinery
or equipment used to produce the agricultural crop is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
new text end