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SF3044 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Attorney General duties and activities appropriation, consumer protection restitution account establishment provision, consumer litigation account provisions modifications, and proceeds of litigation or settlement account establishment provision

Related bill: HF2846

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to appropriate funds for the Attorney General’s duties, establish and manage specific accounts for consumer protection and litigation proceeds, and enforce related policies.

Main Provisions

  1. Appropriation for Attorney General: The bill specifies appropriations for the fiscal years 2026 and 2027, detailing amounts from various funds including the general fund and special revenues for attorney general activities.

  2. Consumer Protection Restitution Account:

    • Establishes a new consumer protection restitution account to manage money recovered through consumer enforcement actions.
    • Allows funds to be used strictly for consumer compensation and covering administrative costs.

  3. Consumer Litigation Account:

    • Mandates annual transfers to ensure the consumer litigation account maintains a balance of $2,000,000.
    • Details the requirement for annual reporting on the activities and balances of this account.

  4. Proceeds of Litigation or Settlement Account:

    • Creates a special account for money recovered through litigation or settlement. The bill outlines the management and transfer of these funds to support the consumer litigation account and the state's general fund.

  5. Unpaid Compensation and Distribution:

    • Details procedures for distributing consumer compensation from enforcement actions.
    • Addresses scenarios where compensation distribution is impractical or unreasonable.
    • Establishes a structure for appointing an account administrator to oversee funds and distributions.

  6. Annual Reporting Requirements:

    • The Attorney General must produce an annual report on the funds collected and distributed from consumer enforcement actions.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Amends existing statutes to introduce new subdivisions and accounts related to consumer protection and litigation proceeds.
  • Provides a structured process for the management and distribution of funds recovered through legal actions by the Attorney General.

Relevant Terms

  • Attorney General Appropriations
  • Consumer Protection Restitution Account
  • Consumer Litigation Account
  • Proceeds of Litigation or Settlement
  • Consumer Enforcement Action
  • Eligible Consumer Compensation

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 26, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
March 26, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toState and Local Government
April 01, 2025SenateFloorActionComm report: To pass and re-referred toJudiciary and Public Safety
April 01, 2025SenateFloorActionComm report: To pass and re-referred toJudiciary and Public Safety

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Clarifies deposition of unredeemed funds to consumer protection restitution account."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This section of the bill modifies the disposition of undistributed funds recovered by the attorney general for injured persons.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "8.31",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2c"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Adds details on the annual reporting including starting and ending balances."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This section amends reporting requirements for the attorney general's consumer litigation account.",
      "modified": [
        "Requires reporting on funds transferred from proceeds of litigation."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "8.315",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Defines the proceeds of litigation or settlement account."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This section specifies the handling of state funds recovered in litigation or settlements.",
      "modified": [
        "Ensures balance of consumer litigation account is maintained through transfers."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "16A.151",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  }
]

Sponsors