Minneslate Logo

HF2739 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Changes made to various sections of the Government Data Practices Act.

Related bill: SF2885

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

This bill seeks to update various sections of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act as well as the Official Records Act. The aim is to enhance the protection, management, and accessibility of government data and records, ensuring they are handled appropriately with an emphasis on privacy and security.

Main Provisions

  • Data Protection Procedures: It mandates responsible authorities to assure data on individuals is accurate, complete, and current. There should be security safeguards ensuring confidential data is accessible only to authorized personnel for relevant purposes, with procedures in place for monitoring access and secure data destruction.

  • Privacy of Personal Contact and Account Information: Specific personal data like telephone numbers, email addresses, usernames, passwords, and IP addresses, collected by government entities for notifications or subscriptions, are classified as private. These data can only be used for their intended purpose or shared according to other statutes.

  • Confidential Library Patron Data: The bill reinforces the confidentiality of library patrons' data, such as their personal information tied to borrowed materials, except under certain conditions like lawful orders or library-specific needs.

  • Record Keeping and Reproduction: Updates are made to ensure all state and local government records are kept accurately, with methods stated for reproducing and certifying records. Original records can be reproduced via several technologies and the reproductions are admissible in legal proceedings.

  • Records Disposition Panel: Establishes a panel to oversee the destruction or preservation of records, ensuring data no longer valuable is disposed of. It also allows the Minnesota Historical Society to preserve documents of historical value.

Significant Changes

  • Security Enhancements: Strengthens the procedures regarding who can access private and confidential data and how such data should be handled when it is no longer needed.

  • Inclusion of Digital Records: Recognizes the need for clear procedures for managing digital records, alongside traditional paper records, as part of government record-keeping.

  • Increased Protection for Online Data: Expands the classification of private data to include more elements related to online accounts, reflecting modern concerns around digital privacy.

Relevant Terms

  • Government Data Practices Act
  • Official Records Act
  • Data protection
  • Personal contact information
  • Online account information
  • Library patron privacy
  • Record-keeping
  • Records Disposition Panel
  • Minnesota Historical Society
  • Privacy safeguards

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 23, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toJudiciary Finance and Civil Law
March 23, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toJudiciary Finance and Civil Law

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "A new requirement establishing procedures for monitoring access to private or confidential data on individuals."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill amends data protection procedures under section 13.05, subdivision 5.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies security safeguards for records containing data on individuals."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "13.05",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 5"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "A new exception for data submitted by individuals to the Campaign Finance Board."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill updates the handling of personal contact and online account information under section 13.356.",
      "modified": [
        "Specifies the types of data that are private and the purposes for which they may be used."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "13.356",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Amends the privacy of library borrowers' data under section 13.40, subdivision 2.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies circumstances under which library data may be disclosed."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "13.40",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "A new clause empowering public officers to destroy or sell for salvage original records under certain conditions."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill modifies record-keeping requirements under section 15.17, subdivision 1.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies the form and manner government records should be kept."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "15.17",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Amends the process for records destruction and preservation under section 138.17, subdivision 1.",
      "modified": [
        "Defines terms related to record-keeping and adjusts the decision-making process for records disposition."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "138.17",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  }
]

Sponsors