SF4569 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Campfire maintenance law violation designation as a payable offense prohibition provision
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- The bill aims to change how a violation of the campfire maintenance law is handled in terms of fines. It would prevent this specific violation from being designated as a payable offense (i.e., a fine you can pay without going to court).
Main provisions
- Adds a new subdivision (Subdivision 3) to Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 88.15 titled “Violation not a payable offense.”
- Subdivision 3 states that, notwithstanding the normal rules for payable offenses, the Judicial Council may not place a violation of subdivision 2 on the uniform fine schedule.
- In practical terms, this means a campfire maintenance violation cannot be treated as an offense you can pay a fine for under the uniform fine schedule and would not be eligible to be processed as a payable offense.
How this affects enforcement and penalties
- Enforcement would shift away from the payable-offense system for campfire maintenance violations.
- The Judicial Council is prohibited from placing this specific violation on the uniform fine schedule, which typically allows fines without a court appearance.
Significance and potential impact
- This is a targeted change to ensure campfire maintenance violations are handled outside the payable-offense framework, potentially requiring court processing or another formal enforcement method rather than a quick pay-by-fine approach.
Significant changes to existing law
- Creates a new subdivision (Subdivision 3) within Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 88.15.
- Changes how the campfire maintenance violation is categorized (not a payable offense) and how it can appear on the uniform fine schedule.
Relevant Terms - campfire maintenance law - payable offense - uniform fine schedule - Judicial Council - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 88.15 - subdivision - Notwithstanding - 609.101 - violation
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 18, 2026 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| March 18, 2026 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Judiciary and Public Safety |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds Subd. 3 to Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 88.15 defining a campfire maintenance violation as not a payable offense and limiting its inclusion on the uniform fine schedule."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Adds Subd. 3 to Minn. Stat. §88.15 to declare that a violation of the campfire maintenance law is not a payable offense and to restrict placement of such offenses on the uniform fine schedule.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "88.15",
"subdivision": "Subd. 3"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References Minnesota Statutes 609.101, Subd. 1, in Notwithstanding-clauses related to the designation of offenses and the uniform fine schedule.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.101",
"subdivision": "Subd. 1"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee