SF1120 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Government entities prohibition from requesting or obtaining reverse-location information
Related bill: HF103
AI Generated Summary
The legislative bill S.F. No. 1120 focuses on regulating how government entities in Minnesota handle specific types of data collection and court orders related to personal digital information. Key points include:
Prohibitions for Government Entities: The bill prevents state government bodies from requesting, obtaining, or using "reverse location" and "reverse keyword" data without a court order. This type of data involves identifying individuals based on their location data or their search terms on electronic devices.
Court Order Restrictions: Courts are restricted from issuing orders that compel the collection of reverse location and reverse keyword data, except in cases of sudden emergencies (e.g., natural disasters, technological failures, terrorist incidents).
Use of Data in Legal Proceedings: Any data obtained in violation of these rules cannot be used as evidence in criminal or civil proceedings, and any evidence derived from such data is also inadmissible.
Civil Rights and Penalties: Individuals whose data has been improperly accessed can be notified of the breach, and they have the right to sue the responsible government entity. Successful lawsuits can lead to compensation, punitive damages, and the coverage of attorney fees.
The bill aims to protect individual privacy by regulating access to potentially invasive data collection methods and enforcing strict controls on the use of such data within legal and government frameworks.
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 05, 2025 | Senate | Floor | Action | Introduction and first reading | |
| February 05, 2025 | Senate | Floor | Action | Referred to | Judiciary and Public Safety |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"summary": "Defines 'Government entity' for the purposes of the bill in accordance with the existing definition provided in section 13.02, subdivision 7a."
},
"citation": "13.02, subdivision 7a"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Specifies events like acts of nature, technological failures, terrorist incidents, industrial accidents, or hazardous materials accidents as 'sudden emergencies' for reverselocation data access."
],
"summary": "References the authority of the governor to declare a peacetime emergency under existing legal statute section 12.31."
},
"citation": "12.31"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Clarification that the bill overrides the contempt provisions for non-compliance with specified unlawful requests or orders relating to data requests."
],
"summary": "Asserts that failure to comply with certain court orders or requests shall not be the basis for contempt under existing section 588.01."
},
"citation": "588.01"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Allows for punitive damages in cases where reverselocation or reversekeyword data requests violate the new bill's provisions."
],
"summary": "Allows for claiming punitive damages in civil actions allowed under the bill and refers to consistency with existing processes for punitive damages as outlined in section 549.191."
},
"citation": "549.191"
}
]