Minnesota Session Laws - 2015, Regular Session

CHAPTER 49--S.F.No. 1025

An act

relating to civil actions; modifying certain protections related to public participation in government;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 554.01, subdivision 6; 554.05; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 554; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 604A.34.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 554.01, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Public participation.

"Public participation" means speech or lawful conduct that is genuinely aimed in whole or in part at procuring favorable government action deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin , including but not limited to: new text end

new text begin (1) seeking assistance from, or reporting suspected unlawful conduct to, law enforcement; new text end

new text begin (2) speaking before a zoning board regarding a real estate development project; new text end

new text begin (3) communicating with an elected official concerning a change in law; new text end

new text begin (4) demonstrating peacefully for or against a government action; and new text end

new text begin (5) filing a complaint with a government entity regarding safety, sexual harassment, civil rights, or equal employment rights. new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 554.05, is amended to read:

554.05 RELATIONSHIPS TO OTHER LAW.

Nothing in this chapter limits or precludes any rights the moving party or responding party may have under any other constitutional, statutory, case, or common law, or rule. new text begin Nothing in this chapter exempts individuals from their professional obligations of confidentiality. new text end

Sec. 3.

new text begin [554.06] RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. new text end

new text begin This chapter shall be construed liberally to effectuate its purposes and intent. new text end

Sec. 4.

new text begin REPEALER. new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 604A.34, new text end new text begin is repealed. new text end

Sec. 5.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin Sections 1 to 4 are effective the day following final enactment, and apply to judicial claims pending on or commenced on or after that date. new text end

Presented to the governor May 15, 2015

Signed by the governor May 19, 2015, 3:53 p.m.