2026 Policy Priorities
Here are the justice-advancing bills we're focused on moving at the Capitol this year, developed by our organizational members.
THEME 1
People dealing with difficulties and traumas should still be able to participate fully in society.
Survivor Justice Act (HF 2976/SF 3002)
Allows judges flexibility to sentence victims/survivors of domestic and sexual violence who are convicted of crimes connected to that domestic or sexual violence to shorter sentences. Would permit judges to ignore mandatory minimums if justice demanded it. It includes limited lookback provisions to allow currently incarcerated survivors to apply for pardon/clemency or prosecutor-initiated sentencing adjustments. ​​
Truancy Law Modifications
The 15-day drop reform bill changes Minnesota law to end the automatic un-enrollment of students after 15 days of absences - excused or unexcused - and instead allows school districts to keep students enrolled while focusing on attendance interventions and supports, reducing disengagement and preventing unnecessary justice-system involvement for students and families.
Remove Post-Conviction Review Time Limits (HF 4045/SF 3939)
Minn. Stat. 590.01 allows a person to ask a judge to review whether their conviction is valid, but the law has strict limits on timing and what issues a judge can consider. Courts have said that the “interests of justice” exception can only be used to excuse a late filing, not to let a judge look at the fairness of the conviction itself. Our amendment would clarify that judges can use the “interests of justice” to review the whole record, including prior claims.
​​Reasonable Suspicion Drug Testing (HF 3969/SF 4178)
The policy right-sizes drug testing, encourages steady employment, extends constitutional protections to supervised individuals, and strengthens the relationship between agents and their clients. It shifts emphasis from catching failure to facilitating successful completion of supervised release.
THEME 2
When crime is alleged, people deserve fair and transparent investigatory procedures which respect their constitutional rights.
Youth Interrogation Protections (HF 2859/SF 2832)
The provisions in this policy ensure that before a youth can be interrogated by a peace officer:
-The child's parent or guardian must be notified.
-Law enforcement must document their attempts to make contact with the parent or guardian.
-The child must have a confidential consultation with an
attorney.
-Any statement made or information obtained in violation of the above is not admissible as evidence against the child.
Personnel Data / Brady-Giglio Compliance (HF 1576/SF 2838)
Amends the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act and the statute governing law-enforcement reporting to the POST Board to allow prosecuting agencies access to personnel information. Because of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act,
prosecutors do not have efficient access to information to ensure a defendant’s right to a fair trial.
Disclosure of Police Use of AI
This bill requires law enforcement agencies to disclose when they have used AI tools to investigate a case or write a police report. The simple disclosure would ensure that defendants know if and how AI tools are being used against them, protecting the right to a fair trial and building public trust.
Pretrial Data (HF 1775/SF 1908)
This proposal requires collecting, analyzing, and sharing data on pretrial bail cases with the public.
THEME 2
A safer Minnesota is built by addressing poverty and eliminating penalties that disproportionally impact the poor.
End Slavery in MN Prisons
Reclassifies incarcerated people as workers, granting them the same fundamental rights as all Minnesota workers—including minimum wage, basic labor protections, and the right to employment. It ensures that 50% of gross wages are reserved as gate money for the individual’s release, while no more than 5% may be used to offset the cost of confinement.
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Ability to Pay Determinations
Establishes a clear process and criteria for the court to determine a person’s ability to pay fees and requires the court to waive or decrease fees according to a person’s ability to pay. Decreases inequity, justice by geography, and imposition of fees on people unable to pay, and thereby decreases administrative burden of attempting to collect fees that were never going to be paid.
Drug Paraphernalia Decriminalization (HF2091/SF3472)
Minnesota law continues to shift as lawmakers acknowledge that substance use disorder and overdose are public health problems. This proposal strengthens the state’s 2023 reform that decriminalized drug paraphernalia by closing unintended gaps and extending protections in ways that promote health and safety.