Cell Phone Tracking: The House considered SF2466, which requires law enforcement to secure a search warrant in order to receive cell phone tracking data. The bill, carried by lawyer-legislator Rep. Joe Atkins (D-Inver Grove Heights) was amended and passed the House on a vote of 120-0. The bill has now passed both bodies, but given the House amendment, the Senate will now need to vote to concur or take the bill to conference committee.
Crimes of Violence: The House considered HF263, a bill that adds the following offenses to the definition of “crimes of violence”: felony convictions for fifth-degree assault, domestic assault, and domestic assault by strangulation. The bill passed on a vote of 120-0.
Criminal Sexual Conduct: The House and Senate each considered HF1851, a bill that enhances penalties for repeat criminal sexual conduct offenders. The bill passed the House on a vote of 123-0 and passed the Senate on a vote of 60-0.
Criminal Vehicular Homicide: The House took up SF2571, a bill which restructures the criminal vehicular operation statute by creating separate sections relating to criminal vehicular homicide, criminal vehicular operation resulting in bodily harm, and criminal vehicular operation resulting in death or injury to an unborn child. The bill passed the House on a vote of 120-0 and was signed into law by the governor on April 30.
Domestic Violence I: The House considered HF3238, establishes collateral firearm consequences for persons who are subject to certain orders for protection and persons who are convicted of domestic violence and stalking. The bill was amended and passed the House on a vote of 111-15.
Domestic Violence II: The House passed SF2736, a bill that establishes a GPS monitoring pilot project for domestic violence offenders in certain counties. The bill was amended and passed on a vote of 126-0. A conference committee has been appointed to work out differences in the language of the House and Senate bills.
Exonerated Persons: The House and Senate each considered HF2925, a bill that provides for compensation of exonerated persons. The bill, authored in the House by lawyer-legislator Rep. John Lesch (D-St. Paul), passed on a vote of 121-2. The Senate passed the bill on a vote of 55-0. The Senate version of the bill is authored by lawyer-legislator, Sen. Ron Latz (D-St. Louis Park).
Expungements: The Senate took up HF2576,a bill which modifies provisions on the expungement of criminal and eviction records. The bill was amended and passed on a vote of 41-25. The bill is authored by lawyer-legislator Sen. Bobby Joe Champion (D-Minneapolis). A conference committee began meeting this week to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.
Judicial Forfeiture: The House considered SF874, which amends the forfeiture burden of proof by requiring a conviction for judicial forfeiture of property associated with controlled substance offenses and vehicles used in drive-by shootings. The bill, carried by lawyer-legislator Rep. Susan Allen (D-Minneapolis) passed on a vote of 120-0.