SF 4741
Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)
Posted on 04/10/2026 08:55 a.m.
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A bill for an act
relating to state government; addressing gaps in identifying and investigating hate
incidents and hate crimes targeting persons of Asian and Asian Indian descent;
establishing Office of Ombudsperson for Anti-Asian, Anti-Asian Indian, and
Anti-Religious Hate Prevention; providing duties and authority; requiring reports;
appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
15.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
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[15.05912] ANTI-ASIAN, ANTI-ASIAN INDIAN, AND ANTI-RELIGIOUS
HATE PREVENTION; OMBUDSPERSON.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Purpose. new text end
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This section shall serve to address gaps in identifying and
investigating hate incidents and hate crimes targeting persons of Asian and Asian Indian
descent. The intent is to:
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(1) prevent, monitor, and address incidents of anti-Asian and anti-Asian Indian bias,
discrimination, and hate;
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(2) prevent, monitor, and address incidents of anti-religious bias, discrimination, and
hate;
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(3) prevent, monitor, and address incidents of anti-immigration bias for all lawful
immigration categories; and
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(4) improve coordination among state agencies, law enforcement, schools, and community
organizations.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Definitions. new text end
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(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
meanings given.
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(b) "Asian descent" means individuals with ancestry in any Asian ethnic or national
group and explicitly includes persons of South Asian descent, including Asian Indians, and
all other Asian communities.
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(c) "Bias-motivated conduct" means conduct that is committed because of the actual or
perceived class of race; perceived race; ethnicity, including but not limited to individuals
of Asian descent; national origin; all religious faiths; or the immigration status of the victim.
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(d) "Hate crime" means a criminal offense motivated by bias-motivated conduct.
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(e) "Hate incident" means noncriminal bias-motivated conduct.
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(f) "Immigration status" means an individual's actual or perceived immigration
classification, including citizenship status, lawful permanent residency, work-authorized
visas and permits, refugees, asylum seekers, and any other immigration category.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Establishment. new text end
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(a) The Office of the Ombudsperson for Anti-Asian, Anti-Asian
Indian, and Anti-Religious Hate Prevention is established. The ombudsperson operates
independently from and in collaboration with the Council of Asian-Pacific Minnesotans.
The ombudsperson is appointed by the Legislative Coordinating Commission and serves
for a four-year term and may be reappointed. The ombudsperson serves in the unclassified
service and may be removed only for just cause. The ombudsperson must be selected based
on experience in human rights, community engagement, hate-crime prevention, and other
related fields.
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(b) The ombudsperson may hire an assistant who the ombudsperson determines necessary
to discharge responsibilities of the office. The assistant serves in the unclassified service.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end
new text begin Duties. new text end
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The ombudsperson shall:
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(1) receive and review complaints related to anti-Asian or anti-religious hate,
discrimination, and bias incidents;
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(2) assist individuals in navigating the complaint processes within state agencies, local
governments, and law enforcement;
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(3) provide advocacy for individuals navigating the complaint process;
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(4) identify systemic issues related to hate-motivated incidents and recommend policy
changes to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over human rights;
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(5) provide outreach, education, and training to communities, schools, and public
agencies;
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(6) develop and maintain a statewide disaggregated reporting system for bias and hate
incidents;
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(7) coordinate with the Department of Public Safety on hate-crime data collection and
response that is required under section 626.5531;
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(8) collaborate with Asian communities and organizations serving Asian Minnesotans
and religious minority communities; and
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(9) refer appropriate matters to authorities when necessary.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end
new text begin Bias-aware training. new text end
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(a) The ombudsperson shall develop bias-aware
investigation training and cultural competency education modules for use by state agencies
and state and local law enforcement agencies. The modules must also be designed to be
used in kindergarten through grade 12 school curricula and community programs that address
stereotypes of persons due to perceived race, ethnicity, national origin, or religious affiliation.
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(b) Training must address bias, stereotyping, and misinformation related to immigration
status, work-authorized visas, and foreign-born professionals, including those in
employment-based immigration programs.
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(c) Training must address prosecution, prevention, and responding to hate incidents and
hate crimes, bias-motivated conduct, and discrimination by individuals or entities targeting
individuals based on race and ethnicity, including Asian descent and religious faith and
practices in order to promote education; community engagement; and collaboration between
law enforcement, and the Minnesota Attorney General.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end
new text begin Victim services. new text end
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(a) In addition to victim services under chapter 611A, the
ombudsperson shall create a program for community-specific organizations that offer support
and culturally competent services to victims of bias-motivated conduct, hate incidents, and
hate crimes. The ombudsperson shall create a resource directory of culturally specific
organizations that can be accessed by community organizations and all interested
organizations.
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(b) The ombudsperson shall assist immigrant workers, including holders of
employment-based visas, in accessing culturally competent victim services.
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new text begin Subd. 7. new text end
new text begin Authority. new text end
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To carry out the duties of this section, the ombudsperson shall:
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(1) access nonconfidential data held by state agencies that is relevant to a complaint;
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(2) request cooperation from state and local agencies;
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(3) convene interagency working groups to further the purposes of the office;
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(4) issue nonbinding recommendations to agencies, schools, and law enforcement; and
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(5) partner with community organizations to support outreach and education.
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new text begin Subd. 8. new text end
new text begin Data practices. new text end
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(a) Data collected by the ombudsperson is governed by chapter
13.
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(b) Identifying information about complainants is private data on individuals unless the
complainant consents to disclosure. Information used in reports must deidentify the
complainant.
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new text begin Subd. 9. new text end
new text begin Reports. new text end
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Information collected by the ombudsperson shall be reported quarterly
to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction
over human rights and criminal law. The information collected must be used to strengthen
laws to prosecute hate crimes and used to provide resources for educational initiatives in
state agencies and educational systems to address bias-motivated hate incidents and crimes.
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new text begin Subd. 10. new text end
new text begin Civil actions. new text end
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The ombudsperson and the ombudsperson's designee are not
civilly liable for any actions taken under this section if the action was taken in good faith,
was within the scope of the ombudsperson's authority, and did not constitute willful or
reckless conduct.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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(a) $....... in fiscal year 2027 is appropriated from the general fund to the ombudsperson
for anti-Asian, anti-Asian Indian, and anti-religious hate prevention for operation of the
ombudsperson's office, collection of hate incidents and hate crime occurrences, support for
victims of hate incidents and hate crimes against people of Asian descent, development of
education and training tools for bias awareness, and support for community organizations
dealing with bias awareness training and education. The ombudsperson shall coordinate
with community-specific organizations for people of Asian and Asian Indian descent.
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(b) The general fund base for this appropriation is $....... in fiscal year 2028 and $.......
in fiscal year 2029.
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