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HF3506 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Reporting on accidental discharges of firearms by peace officers required.

Related bill: SF3561

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

  • This bill requires reporting on accidental firearm discharges by peace officers and amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 626.553 subdivision 2 to do so.

Main Provisions

  • When a peace officer discharges a firearm in the line of duty (not for training or killing an animal) a notification must be filed within 30 days.
  • The notification is to be filed by the officer’s department head with the commissioner of public safety.
  • The commissioner of public safety must forward a copy of the filing to the Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).
  • The notification must include information about the reason for and the circumstances surrounding the discharge.
  • The commissioner must file a report with the legislature by November 15 of each even-numbered year that summarizes information about the use of firearms by peace officers.

Data Details for Accidental or Negligent Discharges

  • If the discharge is accidental or due to the officer’s negligence, the notification and the legislature report must also include:
    • the make, model, and caliber of the firearm, and information on any firearm accessories (including, but not limited to, lights, lasers, and holsters),
    • and whether those accessories were part of the firearm’s original manufacturing or aftermarket additions.

Reporting Timeline and Recipients

  • Notification deadline: within 30 days of the incident.
  • Legislative report deadline: November 15 of every even-numbered year.
  • Recipients: department head (to the commissioner of public safety), commissioner forwards to POST, and the legislature receives the biennial summary.

Significance and Changes to Law

  • Establishes mandatory reporting for firearm discharges by peace officers.
  • Creates a formal data flow to the commissioner of public safety, POST, and the legislature.
  • Expands required detail for accidental or negligent discharges to include firearm specifics and accessory provenance (factory vs. aftermarket).

Relevant Terms

  • Discharge firearm
  • peace officer
  • course of duty
  • not for training purposes
  • killing of an animal that is sick, injured, or dangerous
  • notification
  • within 30 days
  • department head
  • commissioner of public safety
  • Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)
  • report to the legislature
  • November 15
  • even-numbered year
  • summary information concerning use of firearms by peace officers
  • accidental
  • negligence
  • make
  • model
  • caliber
  • firearm accessories
  • lights
  • lasers
  • holsters
  • manufacturing process
  • aftermarket addition

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 19, 2026HouseActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toPublic Safety Finance and Policy

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Notification within 30 days of the incident to the department head.",
        "Forwarding the notification to the Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training.",
        "Biennial report to the legislature by November 15 of each even-numbered year with summary information on use of firearms by peace officers.",
        "In cases of accidental or negligent discharge, disclosure of make, model, caliber, and information on firearm accessories including manufacturing vs aftermarket."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 626.553, subdivision 2, to require reporting on accidental discharges of firearms by peace officers. It adds a 30-day notification deadline to the officer's department head, requires forwarding to the Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training, and mandates a biennial report to the legislature with use-of-firearms information. For discharges that are accidental or due to negligence, it requires detailed firearm information (make, model, caliber) and information on accessories including whether they were part of the manufacturing process or aftermarket.",
      "modified": [
        "Text of subdivision 2 amended to add reporting requirements for discharges by peace officers."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "626.553",
    "subdivision": "subd. 2"
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors

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