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HF4317 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Peace officer access to surplus badges provided.

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

This bill would let a chief law enforcement officer provide a surplus badge to certain peace officers or their families at no cost. It overrides some existing restrictions to make this possible.

Main Provisions

  • A chief law enforcement officer may give a surplus badge to the person it was issued to when they were hired or during their employment, at no cost.
  • Eligible recipients include the current officer, a retired officer, or the spouse or child of a deceased peace officer.
  • A “surplus badge” is defined as a badge that bears any seal before May 11, 2026, or the badge of a retired officer bearing any seal.
  • The provision uses “Notwithstanding” to override certain existing statutes (see Changes to Existing Law).

Definitions (Key Terms)

  • Surplus badge: A badge that bears any seal before May 11, 2026, or the badge of a retired officer bearing any seal.
  • Peace officer: A licensed law enforcement officer.
  • Chief law enforcement officer: The local leader authorized to distribute surplus badges.

Changes to Existing Law

  • The bill overrides, or uses a Notwithstanding clause for, sections 15.054 and 471.3459. This means the surplus-badge transfer at no cost would not be limited by those parts of current law.

Practical Impact

  • The measure creates a new, cost-free pathway for specific individuals (the badge recipient, their spouse, or a deceased officer’s family) to obtain surplus badges, expanding who can receive a badge beyond current restrictions.

Important Date Reference

  • The definition of surplus badge includes badges bearing any seal before May 11, 2026, highlighting a cutoff related to the seal’s date.

Relevant Terms - surplus badge - peace officer - chief law enforcement officer - at no cost - Notwithstanding - Minnesota Statutes chapter 626 - seal - May 11, 2026 - spouse of a deceased officer - child of a deceased officer - retired peace officer - current employee (peace officer)

Bill text versions

Upcoming committee meetings

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 16, 2026HouseActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toPublic Safety Finance and Policy

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill references Minnesota Statutes section 15.054 via a Notwithstanding provision related to surplus badges.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "15.054",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill references Minnesota Statutes section 471.3459 via a Notwithstanding provision related to surplus badges.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "471.3459",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Authorizes chief law enforcement officers to provide surplus badges at no cost to current or retired peace officers, or to spouses or children of deceased officers."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill codifies or adds a provision at Minnesota Statutes section 626.881 concerning surplus badges for peace officers.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "626.881",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Establishes or codifies authority within chapter 626 to issue surplus badges."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill references Minnesota Statutes chapter 626 as the broader framework for the new or codified surplus badge provision at 626.881.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "626",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors

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