HF126

Purpose

• To authorize the lawful carry and possession of firearms at the State Fairgrounds, within the bounds of existing Minnesota gun laws, and to set up governance rules for the State Fairgrounds and related fairs.

Main Provisions

• The State Fair Society may create bylaws, ordinances, and rules for governing the fairgrounds and all fairs held there, aimed at protecting the health, safety, and comfort of the public.
• Any bylaw, ordinance, or rule may not prohibit the lawful carry or possession of firearms if carried out consistently with Minnesota Statutes, section 624.714 (the statute governing lawful firearm possession and carry).
• Bylaws, ordinances, and rules become effective when filed with the secretary of the State Fair Society.
• Violating the society’s bylaws, rules, or ordinances is a misdemeanor.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Gives the State Fair Society explicit authority to adopt safety and governance rules for the State Fairgrounds, with the key constraint that these rules cannot ban lawful firearm carry or possession under state law.
• Ties the fairgrounds’ rules to the state firearm carry framework (section 624.714) to ensure consistency with existing gun laws.
• Establishes a formal filing process (with the society’s secretary) for the new rules, and creates misdemeanor penalties for violations of the fair’s rules.

Enforcement and Implementation

• Rules take effect upon filing with the secretary of the State Fair Society.
• Enforcement of the fair’s rules is treated as the society’s governance mechanism, with violations constituting misdemeanors.

Practical Implications

• Visitors and participants may carry firearms on State Fairgrounds as allowed by state law, but the fair’s own rules may govern safety practices and other non-ban-related aspects, provided they do not prohibit lawful carry.
• The fair’s governance framework is formalized, enabling structured safety and operations planning for events.

Relevant Terms

State Fairgrounds bylaws ordinances rules health safety and comfort of the public lawful carry possession of firearms consistent with section 624.714 Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 37.16 State Fair Society secretary violation misdemeanor fairs