SF1600 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Criminal Arson in the first degree statute of limitations elimination provision
Related bill: HF764
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill would change how long prosecutors have to charge someone with many crimes by updating Minnesota’s statute of limitations. It adds or extends time limits for some offenses and eliminates time limits for others, aiming to broaden when indictments or complaints can be filed. The measure covers a wide range of crimes, including serious offenses like those resulting in death, as well as property and violent crimes.
Main Provisions (What the bill would do)
- Reframing limits for charging crimes: The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 628.26 to revise when indictments or complaints can be filed after an offense.
- Death-related offenses: Indictments or complaints for any crime that results in the death of a victim may be filed at any time after the death.
- Specific offenses with no time limit or extended time: Several listed offenses (including certain violent and sexual offenses) may be charged at any time after the offense or subject to longer windows than the standard three-year limit.
- Age-based timing for certain sex offenses: For some offenses involving victims, the allowed filing window depends on the age of the victim at the time of the offense (for example, different rules if the victim was under 18).
- High-value and multi-victim offenses: For offenses involving high losses or many victims (e.g., property crimes with losses over a threshold or eight or more direct victims), the filing window may be five years after the offense.
- General rules for most offenses: In all other cases, indictments or complaints would generally need to be filed within three years after the offense.
- Special timing rules:
- Some offenses must be charged within the later of three years after the offense or three years after it was reported to law enforcement.
- Indictments or complaints in certain cases must be filed within five years for specified sections.
- Exclusions and exceptions:
- Time not counted when the defendant is not a resident of Minnesota or usually resides outside the state.
- Time not counted if the defendant participates in a pretrial diversion program related to the offense.
- Time not counted during DNA analysis under most circumstances, unless the prosecuting or law enforcement agency purposefully delayed the DNA analysis to gain an unfair advantage.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Broad extension or removal of time limits: The bill significantly expands or removes the statute of limitations for a wide set of offenses, including those involving death, serious crimes, and certain high-value or multi-victim crimes.
- New age and victim-based rules: The time limits for some offenses depend on victim age or the nature of the conduct.
- New exceptions and conditions: Adds explicit exclusions for pretrial diversion and for time spent on DNA analysis, plus residency-related timing considerations.
- Shifts in filing strategy: Prosecutors would have more or different windows to file charges across many offenses, potentially affecting when cases can be brought long after an alleged offense.
Relevant Terms - statute of limitations - indictments - complaints - found or made - commission of the offense - victim - death - pretrial diversion program - DNA analysis - inhabitant / usually resident - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 628.26 - sections 609.25, 609.561, 609.282, 609.322, 609.342-609.345, 609.3458, 609.466, 609.52, 609.2335, 609.527, 609.631, 609.671, 609.746 - arson in the first degree (implied by title language) - high-value offenses (e.g., losses over $35,000 or eight or more direct victims)
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 20, 2025 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| February 20, 2025 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Judiciary and Public Safety | |
| Senate | Action | See |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 628.26 (Limitation periods).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "628.26",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 609.25.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.25",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 609.561.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.561",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 609.282.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.282",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 609.42 (subdivision specified in text).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.42",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1 clause 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 609.322.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.322",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 609.342 through 609.345.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.342 to 609.345",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 609.3458.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.3458",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 609.466.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.466",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 609.52 with specified subdivision text.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.52",
"subdivision": "subdivision 2 paragraph a clause 3 item iii"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 609.2335.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.2335",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 609.631.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.631",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 609.821.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.821",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 609.527.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.527",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 609.671.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.671",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 609.562.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.562",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 609.563.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.563",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 609.746.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.746",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 299C.155.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299C.155",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee