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SF4459 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Criminal penalty provision for assaulting housing and redevelopment authority employees

Related bill: HF4141

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

  • Establish heightened criminal penalties for assaults on employees or agents of housing and redevelopment authorities (HRAs) or entities exercising HRA powers, to protect people who work in or with these housing programs.

Main Provisions

  • Adds a new subdivision (Subd. 12) to Minnesota Statutes 609.2231.
  • Creates a gross misdemeanor offense: a person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if they assault an employee or agent of an HRA or of an entity exercising HRA powers, while the victim is performing official duties or because of the victim’s employment or affiliation with the authority or entity.
  • Elevates penalties to a felony if the assault also inflicts demonstrable bodily harm, with possible punishment of up to 2 years in prison or a fine of up to $4,000, or both.
  • Defines “employee or agent” to include individuals employed by, under contract with, or acting on behalf of an HRA or related entity, whether paid or volunteering.
  • Provides examples of roles covered: property management, inspections, tenant services, housing programs, compliance, subsidy administration, legal representation, executive management, policy and advisory work.

Significant Changes / What this bill does

  • Expands legal protection to all individuals working for or with HRAs, including contractors and volunteers, when they are performing official duties or due to their employment or affiliation.
  • Introduces a higher-level penalty framework for assaults against HRA employees or agents, with a potential felony charge if demonstrable bodily harm occurs.
  • Broadens the scope of who is protected by linking the offense to the performance of official duties and to employment or affiliation with HRAs.

Key Definitions

  • Housing and redevelopment authority (HRA): an entity established under chapter 469, or an entity exercising HRA powers under that chapter.
  • Employee or agent: someone employed by, under contract with, or acting on behalf of an HRA or related power-exercising entity; includes paid or volunteer individuals.
  • Official duties: actions performed by the employee or agent in their role for the HRA or related entity.
  • Demonstrable bodily harm: a factor that raises the offense from a gross misdemeanor to a felony.

Relationship to Existing Law

  • Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.2231 by adding Subd. 12 to address assaults on HRA employees and related individuals.

Relevant Terms - gross misdemeanor - felony - assault - housing and redevelopment authority (HRA) - employee - agent - demonstrable bodily harm - official duties - chapter 469 - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.2231 - subcontractor / contractor - volunteer - property management - inspections - tenant services - housing programs - compliance - subsidy administration - legal representation - executive management - policy and advisory roles

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 17, 2026SenateActionIntroduction and first reading
March 17, 2026SenateActionReferred toJudiciary and Public Safety

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Adds Subd.12 to 609.2231 creating criminal penalties for assaults on housing and redevelopment authority employees or agents; defines 'employee or agent' to include individuals employed by, under contract with, or acting on behalf of a housing and redevelopment authority or related entity."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill adds Subd.12 to Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.2231 to criminalize assault against housing and redevelopment authority employees or agents while performing official duties or due to their employment or affiliation. The subdivision sets forth penalties and defines 'employee or agent'.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "609.2231",
    "subdivision": "Subd.12"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Cross-reference to Minnesota Statutes chapter 469 governing housing and redevelopment authorities; the bill references 'chapter 469' as the framework for HRAs and related powers.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "469",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors

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