SF1496 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Impersonating a military service member veteran, or public official for political gain prohibition
Related bill: HF763
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- To strengthen public safety by making it illegal to impersonate certain trusted roles for personal or political gain.
Main Provisions
- Creates a new offense under Minnesota law by amending Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.475.
- Prohibits a person from falsely impersonating:
- an active or reserve component military service member,
- a veteran, or
- a public official, with the intent to wrongfully obtain money, property, or any other tangible benefit, or for political gain.
- Specifies that someone who commits this impersonation “with intent to wrongfully obtain money property or any other tangible benefit or for political gain” is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Significance and Changes to Existing Law
- Expands the scope of impersonation crimes to include military service members, veterans, and public officials.
- Establishes a misdemeanor penalty for these actions, providing a formal criminal remedy for impersonation tied to financial gain or political manipulation.
- Clarifies the required intent (to obtain money, property, or a tangible benefit, or to gain politically) as a key element of the offense.
Practical Implications
- People who pose as service members, veterans, or officials to trick others into giving them money or other benefits could be charged as misdemeanants.
- Public awareness and enforcement may increase in situations involving impersonation claims tied to political activity or financial harm.
Relevant Terms - falsely impersonates - active component - reserve component - military service member - veteran - public official - intent to wrongfully obtain money - property - tangible benefit - political gain - misdemeanor - Minnesota Statutes 2024 - 609.475
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 17, 2025 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| February 17, 2025 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Judiciary and Public Safety | |
| March 27, 2025 | Senate | Action | Author added |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds explicit intent elements for impersonation (money, property, tangible benefit or political gain)."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.475 to prohibit false impersonation of a military service member, veteran, or public official with intent to obtain money, property, or any tangible benefit or for political gain, making it a misdemeanor.",
"modified": [
"Recasts the section heading to 'IMPERSONATING A MILITARY SERVICE MEMBER VETERAN OR PUBLIC OFFICIAL' and defines the offense as a misdemeanor."
]
},
"citation": "609.475",
"subdivision": "1.5"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee