HF1288 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Presumptive sentences for criminal sexual conduct crimes increased.
Related bill: SF171
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- The bill aims to strengthen penalties for certain criminal sexual conduct offenses by raising the baseline (presumptive) sentence that judges start from when deciding a sentence.
Key Provisions
- The Sentencing Guidelines Commission must increase the presumptive sentence durations by 25% for violations of Minnesota Statutes sections 609.342, 609.343, 609.344, 609.345, 609.3451, 609.3453, and 609.3458.
- The increase does not apply to specific parts of those statutes if the offender was in a recent or current position of authority over the victim. The exempt provisions are:
- 609.342 subdivision 1a paragraph f
- 609.343 subdivision 1a paragraph f
- 609.344 subdivision 1a paragraph b or e
- 609.345 subdivision 1a paragraph b or e
- The changes must be implemented in the 2025 sentencing grid and become effective on August 1, 2025.
- The increased presumptive sentences apply to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025.
Implementation and Timing
- The changes are implemented through the 2025 sentencing grid by the Sentencing Guidelines Commission.
- Effective date for new sentences is August 1, 2025; applies to crimes committed on or after that date.
Impact on Law
- This bill would raise the typical starting point for sentencing in many criminal sexual conduct cases, potentially leading to longer average sentences for those offenses.
- It creates a specific carve-out for certain situations where the offender had or has authority over the victim, meaning those cases would not receive the 25% increase in the listed circumstances.
Summary of What Changes
- Increase: 25% higher presumptive sentences for listed sexual conduct offenses.
- Exceptions: Exemptions when the offender has authority over the victim for certain parts of the statutes.
- Timing: Effective August 1, 2025; applies to crimes committed on or after that date.
- Authority: Implemented by the Sentencing Guidelines Commission through the 2025 sentencing grid.
Relevant Terms - presumptive sentence durations - criminal sexual conduct - Minnesota Statutes 609.342, 609.343, 609.344, 609.345, 609.3451, 609.3453, 609.3458 - Sentencing Guidelines Commission - 25 percent increase - offencer in a recent or current position of authority over the victim - 609.342 subdivision 1a paragraph f - 609.343 subdivision 1a paragraph f - 609.344 subdivision 1a paragraph b or e - 609.345 subdivision 1a paragraph b or e - August 1, 2025 - 2025 sentencing grid - crimes committed on or after the date
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 20, 2025 | House | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Public Safety Finance and Policy |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"A directive to increase the presumptive sentence duration for 609.342 by 25%.",
"Implementation of the increased duration in the 2025 sentencing grid.",
"An exception for offenders in a recent or current position of authority over the victim."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill directs the Sentencing Guidelines Commission to increase the presumptive sentence duration for violations of Minnesota Statutes section 609.342 by 25 percent, with an exception if the offender is in a recent or current position of authority over the victim; the change is to be implemented in the 2025 sentencing grid and applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.342 subdivision 1a paragraph f",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1a paragraph f"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"A directive to increase the presumptive sentence duration for 609.343 by 25%.",
"Implementation of the increased duration in the 2025 sentencing grid.",
"An exception for offenders in a recent or current position of authority over the victim."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill directs the Sentencing Guidelines Commission to increase the presumptive sentence duration for violations of Minnesota Statutes section 609.343 by 25 percent, with an exception if the offender is in a recent or current position of authority over the victim; the change is to be implemented in the 2025 sentencing grid and applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.343 subdivision 1a paragraph f",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1a paragraph f"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"A directive to increase the presumptive sentence duration for 609.344 by 25%.",
"Implementation of the increased duration in the 2025 sentencing grid.",
"An exception for offenders in a recent or current position of authority over the victim."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill directs the Sentencing Guidelines Commission to increase the presumptive sentence duration for violations of Minnesota Statutes section 609.344 by 25 percent, with an exception if the offender is in a recent or current position of authority over the victim; the change is to be implemented in the 2025 sentencing grid and applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.344 subdivision 1a paragraph b or e",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1a paragraph b or e"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"A directive to increase the presumptive sentence duration for 609.345 by 25%.",
"Implementation of the increased duration in the 2025 sentencing grid.",
"An exception for offenders in a recent or current position of authority over the victim."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill directs the Sentencing Guidelines Commission to increase the presumptive sentence duration for violations of Minnesota Statutes section 609.345 by 25 percent, with an exception if the offender is in a recent or current position of authority over the victim; the change is to be implemented in the 2025 sentencing grid and applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.345 subdivision 1a paragraph b or e",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1a paragraph b or e"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"A directive to increase the presumptive sentence duration for 609.3451 by 25%.",
"Implementation of the increased duration in the 2025 sentencing grid."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill directs the Sentencing Guidelines Commission to increase the presumptive sentence duration for violations of Minnesota Statutes section 609.3451 by 25 percent; the change is to be implemented in the 2025 sentencing grid and applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.3451",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"A directive to increase the presumptive sentence duration for 609.3453 by 25%.",
"Implementation of the increased duration in the 2025 sentencing grid."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill directs the Sentencing Guidelines Commission to increase the presumptive sentence duration for violations of Minnesota Statutes section 609.3453 by 25 percent; the change is to be implemented in the 2025 sentencing grid and applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.3453",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"A directive to increase the presumptive sentence duration for 609.3458 by 25%.",
"Implementation of the increased duration in the 2025 sentencing grid."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill directs the Sentencing Guidelines Commission to increase the presumptive sentence duration for violations of Minnesota Statutes section 609.3458 by 25 percent; the change is to be implemented in the 2025 sentencing grid and applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.3458",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee