HF4151 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Eligibility of certain applicants for licenses to serve as private detectives or protective agents modified.
Related bill: SF3827
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill updates who can apply for and who must be involved in licensing private detectives and protective agents in Minnesota. It creates a dedicated board to oversee licensure, clarifies roles for business entities, strengthens application requirements, and adds rules for changes in key personnel and successors. The goal is to ensure properly qualified individuals and entities operate in this field and to formalize oversight and penalties for unlicensed activity.
Main provisions
- #### Key terms and roles
- Defines important terms used for licensing: Applicant, License holder, Minnesota manager, Propriety employer, and Qualified representative. These terms describe who applies, who is licensed, and who must be involved in day-to-day operations.
- #### Board and governance
- Establishes the Board of Private Detective and Protective Agent Services. Members include the superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (or an assistant superintendent) and appointees such as licensed protective agents, qualified representatives, licensed private detectives, and two public members. The commissioner of public safety handles vacancies and duties in line with existing statutes.
- #### Licensing process and duration
- Licenses are issued to individuals or entities qualified under the relevant statutes and remain in effect for two years, provided all rules and laws are followed.
- The board must post notice of an application for 20 days, conduct necessary investigations to determine qualifications (including for any partner or corporate officer), and inform the applicant of when the board will review the license.
- #### Business entity requirements
- For corporations or partnerships, certain key people must meet licensing requirements: the chief executive officer (CEO), chief financial officer (CFO), the qualified representative, and the Minnesota manager must all be properly licensed.
- The Minnesota office must be actively involved in day-to-day management and supervision of licensed activities.
- #### Application content and signing requirements
- Applications must follow a board-prescribed form and include detailed information such as names, dates of birth, sex, five-year residence history, past occupations, business location, age, corporate details (if applicable), and evidence of good character and integrity.
- Signatures must come from appropriate parties: individuals sign themselves; partnerships require each partner (with at least one qualified representative) to sign; corporations require the CEO, CFO, and the qualified representative to sign. If the business’s main place of business is outside Minnesota, the Minnesota manager must also sign.
- #### License disqualification and penalties
- Working as a private detective or protective agent without a license cannot count as legitimate experience toward licensing.
- An unlicensed entity or person in the business is barred from applying for licensing for one year after a violation finding.
- #### Succession, changes, and notices
- If a signatory to a license dies, resigns, or is removed, the license holder must notify the board within seven days and identify a successor.
- The successor (for partnerships or corporations) must qualify under the same process and requirements as for an original application.
- #### Designation of new key personnel
- If a licensed partnership or corporation wants to designate a new qualified representative or Minnesota manager, a designation fee equal to one-half of the license fee must be paid to the board.
- #### Interaction with existing law
- The bill modifies several sections under Minnesota Statutes governing private detectives and protective agents (e.g., 326.32 to 326.339) and references related administrative provisions (e.g., sections 214.07 to 214.09) for consistency with board operations and duties.
Significant changes to existing law
- Adds and clarifies formal roles for individuals within licensing (Minnesota manager, qualified representative, and designated officers) and requires their licensing.
- Establishes a formal two-year license term with ongoing compliance.
- Creates a dedicated board and specifies its composition and appointment process.
- Introduces stringent application requirements, including detailed personal and corporate information and signatures from key leaders.
- Requires timely notification and qualification of successors when signatories change, with a defined process for new appointees.
- Introduces a new designation fee for changing key personnel.
Practical impact
- Businesses seeking to hire private detectives or provide protective agent services must ensure all required individuals are properly licensed and actively involved in daily supervision.
- Entity licenses are tied to specific leadership roles, increasing accountability for corporate or partnership operations.
- There is now a formal process to handle leadership changes and succession in licensed entities, with penalties for unlicensed activity.
Relevant terms
- private detective
- protective agent
- license
- license holder
- applicant
- board of Private Detective and Protective Agent Services
- superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)
- Minnesota manager
- qualified representative
- proprietary employer
- corporate officer
- chief executive officer (CEO)
- chief financial officer (CFO)
- partnership
- corporation
- unlicensed activity
- designation fee
- two-year license
- application form
- notice of application
- day-to-day management
- licensing requirements
Relevant Terms private detective, protective agent, license, Applicant, license holder, Minnesota manager, qualified representative, proprietary employer, board, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, CEO, CFO, partnership, corporation, unlicensed activity, designation fee, two-year license, application, successor.
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Upcoming committee meetings
- Public Safety Finance and Policy on: March 25, 2026 15:00
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 12, 2026 | House | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy | |
| March 16, 2026 | House | Action | Motion to recall and re-refer, motion prevailed | Public Safety Finance and Policy |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Defines Applicant in the context of private detective or protective agent licensing.",
"modified": [
"Defines applicant as any individual, partnership, or corporation who has applied for a private detective or protective agent license."
]
},
"citation": "326.32",
"subdivision": "Subd.8"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Defines License holder as the individual, partnership or corporation licensed to perform the duties of a private detective or protective agent.",
"modified": [
"Defines License holder as any individual, partnership as defined in section 323A.0101 clause 8, or corporation licensed to perform the duties of a private detective or a protective agent."
]
},
"citation": "326.32",
"subdivision": "Subd.10"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Defines Minnesota manager and its qualifications.",
"modified": [
"Minnesota manager means the member of a partnership or corporation who meets the qualifications for licensing as provided in sections 326.32 to 326.339. The Minnesota manager must be actively involved in the day to day management and supervision of the licensed activity in the Minnesota office."
]
},
"citation": "326.32",
"subdivision": "Subd.10a"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Defines Proprietary employer.",
"modified": [
"Proprietary employer means an individual partnership or a corporation that is not engaged in the business of providing protective agents but employs individuals to serve as security guards solely on the employer's property and its curtilage."
]
},
"citation": "326.32",
"subdivision": "Subd.10c"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Defines Qualified representative.",
"modified": [
"Qualified representative means the member of a partnership or corporation who meets the qualifications for licensing as provided in 326.32 to 326.339. The qualified representative must be actively involved in the day to day management and supervision of the licensed activity."
]
},
"citation": "326.32",
"subdivision": "Subd.12"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Establishes a Board of Private Detective and Protective Agent Services and related governance references.",
"modified": [
"Creates the Board consisting of the superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension or an assistant superintendent designated by the superintendent and the following members appointed by the commissioner of public safety: a licensed protective agent or qualified representative for a licensed protective agent partnership or corporation, a licensed private detective or qualified representative for a licensed private detective partnership or corporation, and two public members. Provides that membership terms, compensation, removal, vacancies, fiscal year and reporting requirements, and other provisions relating to board operations shall be as provided in sections 214.07 to 214.09 and chapter 214."
]
},
"citation": "326.33",
"subdivision": "Subd.1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Application procedure for license; license duration and related processes.",
"modified": [
"The board shall issue a license upon application to any person qualified under sections 326.32 to 326.339 and under the rules of the board to engage in private detective or protective agent business. The license remains in effect for two years as long as the license holder complies with the statutes and rules. The board shall post notice for 20 days, conduct necessary investigations, and notify interested parties, and schedule a review."
]
},
"citation": "326.3381",
"subdivision": "Subd.2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Business entity applicant requirements.",
"modified": [
"If the applicant is a corporation or partnership, one member—the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the qualified representative, and the Minnesota manager—must meet licensing requirements in sections 326.32 to 326.339, including the requirements of subdivision 3 paragraph b."
]
},
"citation": "326.3381",
"subdivision": "Subd.4"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Application form requirements.",
"modified": [
"An application for a private detective or protective agent license shall be made on a form prescribed by the board. The applicant must provide information including name, date of birth, sex, residences for the past five years, past and present occupations, business addresses, age, corporation details if applicable, and other good character and competency information."
]
},
"citation": "326.3382",
"subdivision": "Subd.1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "License disqualification provisions.",
"modified": [
"Unlicensed activity will not be considered legitimate experience for licensing. An unlicensed individual, partnership, or corporation engaged in private detective or protective agent activities is prohibited from applying for licensing for one year after a finding of violation."
]
},
"citation": "326.3382",
"subdivision": "Subd.4"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Notice of successor requirements.",
"modified": [
"A corporate or partnership license holder must within seven days notify the board of a death, resignation, or removal of a signer and provide the successor's name and address. The successor qualifying procedure applies, and the successor must submit required documents as for an original application."
]
},
"citation": "326.3385",
"subdivision": "Subd.2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Designation fee for new qualified representative or Minnesota manager.",
"modified": [
"When a licensed private detective or protective agent that is a partnership or corporation designates a new qualified representative or Minnesota manager, a designation fee equal to one-half of the license fee must be submitted to the board."
]
},
"citation": "326.3386",
"subdivision": "Subd.3"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Governance provisions aligned with Minnesota Statutes Chapter 214.",
"modified": [
"Membership terms, compensation, removal of members, vacancies, fiscal year, and reporting are governed by sections 214.07 to 214.09 and related provisions in chapter 214."
]
},
"citation": "214",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 323A.0101 clause 8 for defined terms used in licensing.",
"modified": [
"Uses clause 8 of section 323A.0101 to define licensing-related terms."
]
},
"citation": "323A.0101",
"subdivision": "clause 8"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee