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HF2168 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Motor vehicle theft penalties increased.

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

This bill is designed to enhance public safety by increasing the penalties for the theft of a motor vehicle in Minnesota. The aim is to deter motor vehicle theft by imposing stricter consequences for this crime.

Main Provisions

  • Increased Penalty for Motor Vehicle Theft: If a person is convicted of stealing a motor vehicle, they can now face up to ten years of imprisonment or a fine of up to $20,000, or both. This makes motor vehicle theft classified under more severe theft offenses alongside other significant property crimes.
  • Classification of Theft Under Different Circumstances: The bill outlines various theft scenarios with corresponding penalties. For instance:
    • Theft involving property valued over $35,000, or involving firearms, can lead to imprisonment for up to 20 years.
    • Theft of property valued over $5,000 or involving a motor vehicle, trade secrets, explosives, or certain controlled substances now leads to imprisonment for up to 10 years.
    • Lesser theft offenses, based on the value of stolen property or repeat offenses, result in shorter prison terms and smaller fines.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Elevated Punishment for Vehicle Theft: Previously, theft involving a motor vehicle was grouped with lower-level thefts, which had lighter sentences. Now, it shares the same level of punishment as theft of valuable properties or dangerous items, reflecting its higher prioritization in legal consequences.

Relevant Terms

  • Motor Vehicle Theft
  • Public Safety
  • Theft Penalties
  • Imprisonment
  • Fines
  • Minnesota Statutes

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 11, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toPublic Safety Finance and Policy
March 12, 2025HouseFloorActionAuthor added

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Increases penalties for theft of motor vehicle."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "Eliminates wording that previously excluded certain offenses from aggregation."
      ],
      "summary": "This bill modifies sentencing penalties for theft under section 609.52.",
      "modified": [
        "Changes terms related to sentencing structure based on value and type of stolen property."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "609.52"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "References to various controlled substances in sentencing matrix."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill references controlled substances scheduling under section 152.02.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "152.02"
  }
]

Sponsors