HF4359

HF4359 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

2024 amendment to definition of trigger activator reenacted, 2024 changes to crime of transferring a firearm to an ineligible person reenacted with amendments, and affirmative defense repealed for transfers of a firearm to an ineligible person by family or household members.

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

This bill re-enacts certain 2024 gun-safety changes to Minnesota law. It focuses on the definitions and prohibitions related to firearm devices and transfers to people who are not allowed to possess guns. It also removes a previous exception (an affirmative defense) for some transfers between family or household members and makes related repeals. The changes are applied retroactively starting January 1, 2025.

Main Provisions

Reenacts the 2024 amendment that defines what a “trigger activator” is, keeping that updated definition in effect.
Reenacts the 2024 changes to the crime of transferring a firearm to someone who is ineligible to possess a firearm, with specified amendments.
Repeals the affirmative defense that previously allowed certain transfers of a firearm to an ineligible person when the transfer was between family or household members.
Repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 624.7141 subdivision 4.
Reenacts the ban on binary triggers (a type of firearm device) to make the ban effective again, with retroactive application.
Section 1 explicitly states the ban on binary triggers is reenacted retroactively and continues without interruption from January 1, 2025.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Binary triggers: The prohibition on binary triggers is restored and maintained, with a backdated effective date to ensure continuity of the ban.
Trigger activator definition: The definition remains in effect as updated in 2024, ensuring the law correctly covers device types that function as trigger activators.
Transfers to ineligible persons: The law tightening transfers to people who are not allowed to possess firearms is reinstated, alongside the removal of an affirmative defense for family/household transfers.
Repeals: A specific 2024 provision (624.7141 subdivision 4) is repealed, removing that earlier statutory language from the current law.
Retroactive enforcement: The reenactment is specified to apply from January 1, 2025, with no gaps in enforcement.

Context and Impact

The bill focuses on gun-safety measures by maintaining and tightening restrictions on devices that enable rapid or dual-shot firing and on transfers to ineligible individuals.
By removing the affirmative defense for family/household transfers, it narrows legal exceptions and strengthens accountability for prohibited transfers.
The retroactive reenactment aims to preserve the legal framework that was put in place in 2024 and ensure it continues to be enforced.

Relevant Terms trigger activator; binary trigger; ban on binary triggers; ineligible person; transferring a firearm to an ineligible person; affirmative defense; family or household members; Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 624.7141 subdivision 4; reenactment; retroactively; January 1, 2025; public safety

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF PDF file

Upcoming committee meetings

Public Safety Finance and Policy on: March 24, 2026 15:00

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
March 16, 2026	House		Action	Introduction and first reading, referred to	Public Safety Finance and Policy
March 18, 2026	House		Action	Authors added

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [
        "Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 624.7141, subdivision 4.1.7 is repealed."
      ],
      "summary": "This bill repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 624.7141, subdivision 4.1.7, and reenacts the 2024 amendments related to the definition of trigger activator and the crime of transferring a firearm to an ineligible person, including removing the affirmative defense for transfers by family or household members.",
      "modified": [
        "Reenacts the 2024 amendments to the definition of trigger activator and the crime of transferring a firearm to an ineligible person, with amendments."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "624.7141",
    "subdivision": "4.1.7"
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%

In Committee