SF4027 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Certain violent offenders who use firearms aggravated durational departure requirement provision, certain sentences to be imposed consecutively to other sentences requirement provision, and certain offenders serving an entire announced sentence in prison requirement provision
Related bill: HF3380
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill aims to strengthen penalties for certain violent offenses involving a firearm. It would introduce an aggravated durational departure, require some sentences to run consecutively with other sentences, and mandate that some offenders serve the entire announced prison term. It also tightens eligibility rules for earned release credits.
Main Provisions
- Aggravated durational departure: For certain violent offenders who use a firearm, the sentencing court would impose a longer sentence than standard guidelines would suggest.
- Consecutive sentencing: Some sentences would be required to be served one after another (consecutive) rather than at the same time (concurrent).
- Full service of the announced sentence: Some offenders would be required to serve the entire sentence that is announced, with limited or no early release.
- Statutory amendments: The bill would amend Minnesota Statutes 2024 sections 244.45 and 609.1095 subdivisions 2–4 by adding a subdivision.
- Ineligibility for earned incentive release credit (244.45): The bill specifies who cannot receive earned incentive release credits. Specifically:
- Those serving life sentences
- Those sentenced under section 609.1095
- Those given indeterminate sentences for crimes committed on or before April 30, 1980
- Those subject to good time under section 244.04 or similar laws
Changes to Existing Law
- Alters eligibility for earned incentive release credits by listing new ineligible categories (life sentences, certain 609.1095 sentences, older indeterminate sentences, and certain good-time provisions).
- Modifies how sentences can be structured (aggravated departures and mandatory consecutivity) and how much credit can be earned before release.
Significant Impacts
- Potentially longer time in prison for certain violent offenders who use firearms.
- Fewer opportunities for early release credits for people in the specified ineligible groups.
- Clearer requirements that certain sentences run consecutively and that offenders serve the full announced term.
Relevant Terms aggravated durational departure firearm violent offenders consecutive sentences entire announced sentence prison earned incentive release credit ineligible for earned incentive release credit life sentences section 609.1095 indeterminate sentences crimes committed on or before April 30, 1980 good time section 244.04 Minnesota Statutes 2024 subdivision new subdivision
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 02, 2026 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| March 02, 2026 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Judiciary and Public Safety |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds ineligibility for earned incentive release credit for individuals sentenced under section 609.1095.",
"Adds ineligibility for individuals given indeterminate sentences for crimes committed on or before April 30, 1980.",
"Adds ineligibility for individuals subject to good time under section 244.04 or similar laws."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 244.45 to make certain individuals ineligible for earned incentive release credit.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "244.45",
"subdivision": "subd. 2, 3, 4"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds a subdivision to section 609.1095 (as referenced in the bill) to establish linkage with earned incentive release credit ineligibility."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill adds a subdivision to Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.1095 as part of aligning the earned incentive release credit framework with the ineligibility provisions in 244.45.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.1095",
"subdivision": "subd. 2, 3, 4"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "The bill references Minnesota Statutes 244.04 in the context of good time provisions.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "244.04",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee