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HF272 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Civil damages provided for failing to give notice of finding an estray.

Related bill: SF756

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

The bill updates Minnesota law to improve how estrays (found animals) are handled. It creates mandatory notice requirements for finders, provides a process for informing owners or the public, and imposes civil damages if notice isn’t given. The changes aim to help owners recover their animals more quickly and reduce disputes over found animals.

Main provisions

  • If a finder knows who owns the estray, they must notify the owner within seven days after finding it. The finder must also request that the owner pay all reasonable charges and take the estray away.
  • If the finder does not know the owner, they must within ten days file a notice with the town or city clerk and post a notice (physical or online) about the finding. The notice must include:
    • a brief description or a photograph of the estray
    • the finder’s residence or contact information
    • the approximate location and time the estray was found
  • The finder must surrender the estray within seven days to a local animal control agency or to a kennel (as defined in another statute).
  • For failing to provide the required notice, the finder is liable to the owner for double the owner’s damages.

Significant changes to existing law

  • Establishes explicit timelines for notifying owners (seven days) and for posting notices when the owner is unknown (ten days).
  • Creates a civil liability (double damages) test for failure to give required notice.
  • Introduces a formal process for handling estrays when the owner is unknown, including posting requirements and filing with local government.
  • Ties the definition of “kennel” to the existing statute (section 347.31 subdivision 2) and requires surrender to an appropriate agency within seven days.
  • Clarifies expectations for what information must accompany a notice (description or photo, location, time, and contact details).

How this bill may affect finders and owners

  • Finders must act quickly and follow a defined process to notify, post, and surrender estrays.
  • Owners gain a clearer path to be notified and to recover their animals, including potential recovery of incurred charges.
  • Failure to comply with notice requirements increases financial risk for the finder (double damages).

Potential administrative steps

  • Town or city clerks will handle notices filed by finders when the owner is unknown.
  • Public posting (physical or online) is required as part of the notice process.

Relevant Terms estray finder owner notice seven days ten days town or city clerk post (physical or online) description photograph residence contact information approximate location time surrender local animal control agency kennel section 347.31 subdivision 2 civil damages double the amount of damages Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 346.021

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 10, 2025HouseActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toAgriculture Finance and Policy

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Adds timing requirements: a finder who knows the owner must notify the owner within seven days and request payment of reasonable charges and arrange to take the estray away; if the owner is unknown, the finder must file a notice with the town or city clerk within ten days and post a physical or online notice describing the estray with pertinent details.",
        "Requires surrender of the estray within seven days to a local animal control agency or to a kennel as defined in section 347.31, subdivision 2."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 346.021 (Finder to Give Notice) to establish new notice and surrender requirements when estrays are found, and to impose liability for failure to provide required notice.",
      "modified": [
        "Amends section 346.021 to add notice, posting, surrender requirements, and liability provisions related to failure to provide notice."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "346.021",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill references kennel definitions as provided in Minnesota Statutes 347.31, subdivision 2, to interpret whom the estray may be surrendered to.",
      "modified": [
        "No modification to 347.31, subdivision 2; the bill relies on the existing kennel definition for compliance."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "347.31",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors

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