HF2351 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Criminal penalties for human trafficking offenses increased, employment of unauthorized individuals prohibited, sanctuary cities prohibited, and reports required.
Related bill: SF2305
AI Generated Summary
Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of this Minnesota legislative bill is to address immigration-related issues by implementing tougher criminal penalties for human trafficking offenses, prohibiting sanctuary cities, prohibiting the employment of unauthorized individuals, and requiring annual reports on governmental assistance provided to individuals without legal immigration status.
Main Provisions
- Human Trafficking Offenses: The bill increases criminal penalties for those involved in human trafficking, though specific changes to penalties are not detailed in the provided sections.
- Prohibition of Sanctuary Cities: The bill bans cities from enacting policies that protect undocumented immigrants from law enforcement, known as "sanctuary city" policies.
- Unauthorized Employment: It becomes illegal to employ individuals without legal work authorization. The use of fictitious or fraudulent identification for employment verification is now considered a felony, carrying penalties of up to two years of imprisonment or a $5,000 fine.
- Reporting of Assistance to Undocumented Individuals: State departments or agencies must report annually on the total amount of governmental assistance provided to undocumented individuals, including goods, services, credits, and money, by December 15 each year.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The bill amends existing statutes to elevate the crime of using fake identification for employment purposes from a lesser offense to a felony.
- It introduces a requirement for state agencies to report on the provision of governmental assistance to individuals without legal immigration status, which would be a new accountability measure.
Relevant Terms
- Human trafficking
- Sanctuary cities
- Employment of unauthorized individuals
- Governmental assistance
- Fictitious identification
- Felony penalties
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 12, 2025 | House | Floor | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Public Safety Finance and Policy |
| March 16, 2025 | House | Floor | Action | Author added |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"New criminal penalties for use of fictitious or fraudulent driver's license to verify employment status."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "The bill amends section 171.22 concerning unlawful acts related to driver's licenses.",
"modified": [
"Increased penalties for certain violations related to driver's licenses."
]
},
"citation": "171.22"
}
]