Minnesota Session Laws - 2026 Regular Session

CHAPTER 71--H.F.No. 3875

An act

relating to judiciary; clarifying publication process for court notices and provisions regarding restitution and conciliation court; clarifying certain notices to public authorities in dissolution cases; modifying expiration of the Supreme Court Council on Child Protection;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 331A.03, subdivision 1; 518A.44; 611A.04, subdivision 3; Laws 2024, chapter 115, article 12, section 30, subdivisions 6, 7; article 22, section 6; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 484.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 331A.03, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Generally.

Except as provided in subdivision 2 new text begin or section 484.085 new text end , a public notice shall be published in a qualified newspaper, and except as otherwise provided by law, in one that is likely to give notice in the affected area or to whom it is directed. When a statute or other law requires publication in a newspaper located in a designated political subdivision or area and no qualified newspaper is located there, publication shall be made in a qualified newspaper likely to give notice unless the particular statute or law expressly provides otherwise. If no qualified newspaper exists, then publication is not required.

Sec. 2.

new text begin [484.085] PUBLICATION OF NOTICE. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Authority. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding any statute specifically requiring publication of a notice in a qualified newspaper, the district court may publish a notice, summons, order, or process in judicial proceedings required by statute, rule, or court order by posting the notice, summons, order, or process on the official website of the Minnesota judicial branch if the judicial branch determines that there is no qualified local newspaper that is likely to give notice in the affected area or to whom notice is directed. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Effect. new text end

new text begin Publication in accordance with this section meets the definition of published notice under section 645.11. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Optional use. new text end

new text begin Nothing in this section requires the district court to publish a notice on its website in lieu of or in addition to publication in a qualified newspaper. new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Scope. new text end

new text begin This section applies only to notices, summonses, orders, or processes in judicial proceedings that are required by statute, rule, or court order to be published by or through the district court. Nothing in this section authorizes any other person, entity, or political subdivision to post notices, summonses, orders, or processes in judicial proceedings on the website of the Minnesota judicial branch. new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Form and duration. new text end

new text begin A notice, summons, order, or process in judicial proceedings published under this section must be posted in substantially the same form and for the same period of time as required for publication in a qualified newspaper for that particular notice, summons, order, or process in judicial proceedings. new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 518A.44, is amended to read:

518A.44 NOTICE TO PUBLIC AUTHORITY.

The petitioner shall notify the public authority of all proceedings for dissolution new text begin with children new text end , legal separation new text begin with children new text end , determination of parentage, or for the custody of a child, if either party is receiving public assistance or applies for it subsequent to the commencement of the proceeding. The notice must contain the full names of the parties to the proceeding, their Social Security account numbers, and their birth dates. After receipt of the notice, the court shall set child support as provided in section 518A.35. The court may order either or both parents owing a duty of support to a child of the marriage to pay an amount reasonable or necessary for the child's support, without regard to marital misconduct. The court shall approve a child support stipulation of the parties if each party is represented by independent counsel, unless the stipulation does not meet the conditions of section 518A.35. In other cases the court shall determine and order child support in a specific dollar amount in accordance with the guidelines and the other factors set forth in section 518A.43 and any departure therefrom. The court may also order the obligor to pay child support in the form of a percentage share of the obligor's net bonuses, commissions, or other forms of compensation, in addition to, or if the obligor receives no base pay, in lieu of, an order for a specific dollar amount.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 611A.04, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Effect of order for restitution.

An order of restitution may be enforced by any person named in the order to receive the restitution, or by the Crime Victims Reimbursement Board in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action. Any order for restitution in favor of a victim shall also operate as an order for restitution in favor of the Crime Victims Reimbursement Board, if the board has paid reimbursement to the victim or on the victim's behalf. Filing fees for docketing an order of restitution as a civil judgment are waived for any victim named in the restitution order. An order of restitution shall be docketed as a civil judgment, in the name of any person named in the order and in the name of the Crime Victims Reimbursement Board, by the court administrator of the district court in the county in which the order of restitution was entered. new text begin Notwithstanding section 541.04 or any other law or rule to the contrary, an order of restitution docketed as a civil judgment does not expire until satisfied or otherwise discharged pursuant to a court order. new text end The court administrator also shall notify the commissioner of revenue of the restitution debt in the manner provided in chapter 270A, the Revenue Recapture Act. A juvenile court is not required to appoint a guardian ad litem for a juvenile offender before docketing a restitution order. Interest shall accrue on the unpaid balance of the judgment as provided in section 549.09. Whether the order of restitution has been docketed or not, it is a debt that is not dischargeable in bankruptcy. A decision for or against restitution in any criminal or juvenile proceeding is not a bar to any civil action by the victim or by the state pursuant to section 611A.61 against the offender. The offender shall be given credit, in any order for judgment in favor of a victim in a civil action, for any restitution paid to the victim for the same injuries for which the judgment is awarded.

Sec. 5.

Laws 2024, chapter 115, article 12, section 30, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Reports.

By July 15, 2025, the Supreme Court Council on Child Protection must submit a progress report on the council's duties under subdivision 5 to the governor, the chief justice of the supreme court, and the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over child protection. By deleted text begin January deleted text end new text begin December new text end 15, 2026, the council must submit its final report to the governor, the chief justice of the supreme court, and the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over child protection, detailing the comprehensive blueprint developed under subdivision 5.

Sec. 6.

Laws 2024, chapter 115, article 12, section 30, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Expiration.

The Supreme Court Council on Child Protection expires deleted text begin upon the submission of its final report under subdivision 6 deleted text end new text begin on June 30, 2027 new text end .

Sec. 7.

Laws 2024, chapter 115, article 22, section 6, is amended to read:

Sec. 6. SUPREME COURT

$

-0-

$

1,000,000

Supreme Court Council on Child Protection. $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 is for the establishment and administration of the Supreme Court Council on Child Protection. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, deleted text begin 2026 deleted text end new text begin 2027 new text end .

Presented to the governor May 6, 2026