HF4314 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Criminal penalties increased and scope of the doxxing crime increased.
Related bill: SF4609
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- To strengthen public safety by increasing criminal penalties and expanding the scope of the doxxing crime. The bill amends Minnesota law to create a specific offense called the dissemination of personal information about a law enforcement official and to impose harsher penalties in certain circumstances.
Main Provisions
- Creation of a new offense: Dissemination of Personal Information About a Law Enforcement Official.
- It is a crime to knowingly and without consent publicly disclose personal information about a law enforcement official or the official’s family or household member if doing so creates an imminent and serious threat to safety.
- Publicly available information can include details shared through the Internet.
- Definitions included:
- Law enforcement official: includes police officers and people employed by a law enforcement agency.
- Personal information: home phone number, personal cell number, personal email address, name, photographs, home address, directions to a home, and photographs of a home, among other details.
- Family or household member: as defined in Minnesota law.
- Penalties:
- If the victim is a law enforcement official or a family/household member of a law enforcement official, the offense is a gross misdemeanor (more serious than a standard misdemeanor).
- If the offense results in great bodily harm or death to the victim or the victim’s family, it is a felony with potential imprisonment up to two years and/or a fine up to $4,000.
- For a second or subsequent violation, the offense is a gross misdemeanor or felony with the same potential penalties (up to two years in prison and up to a $4,000 fine), depending on the circumstances.
- Scope and intent:
- The bill targets the public sharing of personal information that creates a credible threat to safety, not just any online posting.
- It focuses specifically on information about law enforcement officials and their families, expanding the traditional scope of “doxxing.”
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a dedicated offense addressing the dissemination of personal information about law enforcement officials and their families.
- Elevates penalties for doxxing when the victim is a law enforcement official or their family member.
- Specifies that harm resulting in great bodily harm or death can lead to felony charges, with corresponding prison and fine penalties.
- Clarifies that information shared online or through other public means falls under this offense.
Practical Impact
- Persons who publicly share sensitive contact information or home details about a law enforcement official or their family, and that sharing creates a serious threat, could face criminal charges.
- The bill adds stronger consequences for repeat offenses and for situations where the sharing causes serious harm or death.
Relevant Terms - Dissemination of personal information - Doxxing - Law enforcement official - Personal information (home address, home phone number, personal cell number, personal email address, name, photographs) - Family or household member - Imminent and serious threat - Publicly available / Internet - Misdemeanor - Gross misdemeanor - Felony - Imprisonment - Fine - Second or subsequent violation
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 16, 2026 | House | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Public Safety Finance and Policy |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds definitions for 'family or household member', 'law enforcement official', and 'personal information' (as used in this section)."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.5151 to address dissemination of personal information about law enforcement officials, including definitions.",
"modified": [
"Defines or clarifies terms used in Subd.1; incorporates cross-references to 518B.01 Subd.1 and 626.84 Subd.1."
]
},
"citation": "609.5151",
"subdivision": "Subd.1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Establishes offense of disseminating personal information about a law enforcement official or a family member when public availability creates an imminent and serious threat."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Criminalizes the dissemination of personal information about a law enforcement official or their family member when it would pose an imminent and serious threat to safety.",
"modified": [
"Expands scope of doxxing by including public availability of personal information (e.g., home addresses, phone numbers, etc.) and applies to the official or their family members."
]
},
"citation": "609.5151",
"subdivision": "Subd.2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Establishes penalties: misdemeanor for Subd.2 offenses; gross misdemeanor if the victim is a law enforcement official or their family member; felony in other cases; second or subsequent offenses escalate penalties."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Penalties for the offense described in Subd.2; determines when it is a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or felony; includes penalties for second or subsequent offenses and heightened penalties if great bodily harm or death results.",
"modified": [
"Specifies imprisonment up to two years or fines up to $4,000, with escalation to gross misdemeanor or felony in certain circumstances."
]
},
"citation": "609.5151",
"subdivision": "Subd.3"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites the definition of 'family or household member' as used for purposes of this section, referencing Minnesota Statutes 518B.01 Subd.1.",
"modified": [
"Incorporates the existing definition from 518B.01 Subd.1 into the definitions for 609.5151."
]
},
"citation": "518B.01",
"subdivision": "Subd.1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites the definition of 'law enforcement official' used in this section, referencing Minnesota Statutes 626.84 Subd.1.",
"modified": [
"Incorporates the existing definition of 'law enforcement official' from 626.84 Subd.1 into 609.5151."
]
},
"citation": "626.84",
"subdivision": "Subd.1"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee