Public Safety Measures Advance to Governor’s Desk Following 2026 Session

Lawmakers approved the omnibus public safety policy bill and several stand-alone measures addressing retail theft, impersonation crimes, nudification technology, and public safety benefits.

The Legislature addressed a variety of public safety issues during the 2026 session, approving dozens of measures that sent to the Gov. Tim Walz for signature.

Among the most significant proposals was the omnibus public safety policy bill, which includes bipartisan provisions related to retail theft, identity theft, coercion crimes, public employment decisions, and public safety communications infrastructure.

Omnibus public safety policy bill

On May 13, 2026, the House of Representatives passed the omnibus public safety policy bill, Chapter 97 (HF 3990/SF 4760*), and sent it to the governor for final approval.

The package includes several notable provisions:

• Prohibition on prediction markets. Prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket, which some lawmakers argue circumvent Minnesota gambling laws, will be prohibited beginning Aug. 1, 2026.
• Evidence of rehabilitation in public employment decisions. Public employers may disqualify applicants whose criminal convictions are related to the position sought based on the evidence presented. The legislation also clarifies that employers may consider evidence related to both rehabilitation and present fitness for the position.
• Sale or transfer of law enforcement vehicles. Before a law enforcement vehicle may be sold or transferred to a member of the public, all equipment and insignia that could lead someone to believe the vehicle belongs to law enforcement must be removed.
• Expanded survivor benefits. The bill expands survivor benefit eligibility when a public safety officer dies in the line of duty from exposure-related cancer.
• Public safety radio communications task force. The legislation creates a task force to develop a statewide, state-funded public safety radio communications infrastructure system. Recommendations are due to the Legislature by Feb. 15, 2027.

Other public safety measures

Several additional public safety provisions passed separately during the session.

• Criminal penalties for impersonating a peace officer were increased from a misdemeanor to a felony, and fines were increased. (Chapter 98)
• Nudificiation technology will be prohibited beginning Aug. 1, 2026. “Nudify” refers to creating or altering an image or video of an identifiable person to add intimate body parts that were not in the original in a way that appears realistic to a reasonable viewer. (Chapter 72)
• Gift card fraud is now included under organized retail theft statutes. (Chapter 74)
• Coercion through threats to share private intimate images without consent will become a felony, and related prison penalties were increased. (Chapter 76)

Most provisions take effect Aug. 1, 2026. More detailed information will be included in the League’s 2026 Law Summaries.

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