Minneslate Logo

HF4503 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Crime of providing material support or resources for terrorism established, and criminal penalties provided.

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

This bill would create a new crime in Minnesota law that makes it illegal to provide material support or resources to terrorist organizations or to individuals or groups that are connected to terrorism. It defines what counts as material support and sets penalties for violations. It also aligns Minnesota’s definitions with certain federal terms for terrorism and terrorist activity.

Main Provisions

  • Prohibition on providing material support or resources
    • A person commits a felony if they provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization or to an organization that has engaged in terrorist activity or terrorism, knowing of that status or activity.
  • What counts as material support or resources
    • Includes any property (tangible or intangible) or service such as currency, financial instruments, financial services, lodging, training, expert advice or assistance, safe houses, false documentation or identification, communications equipment, facilities, weapons, lethal substances or explosives, personnel, or transportation.
    • Medicine or religious materials are not considered material support.
  • Key definitions tied to federal law
    • Designated foreign terrorist organization: an organization designated by the United States Secretary of State under 8 U.S.C. 1189.
    • Terrorism and terrorist activity: defined using federal references (terrorism under federal statute and related activities).
  • Penalties
    • General violation: up to 10 years in prison or a fine up to $20,000, or both.
    • If the violation is a substantial factor in causing great bodily harm: up to 20 years in prison or a fine up to $30,000, or both.
    • If the violation is a substantial factor in causing death: up to 40 years in prison or a fine up to $100,000, or both.

How this changes existing law

  • Creates a new crime under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 609 specifically for providing material support or resources to terrorist organizations or terrorists.
  • Establishes tiered penalties based on harm caused, aligning with common serious-crime sentencing structures.

Additional notes and implications

  • The bill relies on federal definitions for terrorism and related terms, which may affect how cases are charged and prosecuted in state court.
  • The medicine and religious materials exclusion clarifies that not all support is prohibited—only material support or resources as defined by the bill.

Significant changes (summary)

  • Establishes a standalone statewide offense for assisting terrorist organizations with resources.
  • Introduces layered penalties that increase with the severity of harm caused (great bodily harm or death).
  • Clarifies which forms of aid are prohibited and which are not (excluding medicine and religious materials).

Relevant Terms material support or resources; terrorism; terrorist activity; designated foreign terrorist organization; United States Secretary of State; 8 U.S.C. 1189; United States Code; 22 U.S.C. 2656f; substantial factor; great bodily harm; death; imprisonment; fine; Minnesota Statutes Chapter 609; felony; currency; financial instruments; financial services; lodging; training; expert advice or assistance; safe houses; false documentation; false identification; communications equipment; facilities; weapons; lethal substances; explosives; personnel; transportation.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 18, 2026HouseActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toPublic Safety Finance and Policy

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Uses the federal designation process to define 'Designated foreign terrorist organization' via the designation by the U.S. Secretary of State under 8 U.S.C. § 1189.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "8 U.S.C. § 1189",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Defines 'Terrorism' using the meaning provided in 22 U.S.C. § 2656f(d)(2).",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "22 U.S.C. § 2656f",
    "subdivision": "d(2)"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Defines 'Terrorist activity' using the meaning provided in 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(3)(B)(iii).",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(3)(B)(iii)",
    "subdivision": "a(3)(B)(iii)"
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors

Loading…