SF4732 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Fourth-degree assault crime expansion provision
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
To expand the scope of the fourth-degree assault statute to better protect frontline workers and healthcare professionals by making assaults against certain emergency responders and health care workers more clearly punishable and by specifying when a harsher penalty applies.
Main provisions
- Amends Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 609.2231 subdivision 2 to apply to:
- a member of a municipal or volunteer fire department while performing duties, or
- a member of an emergency medical services (EMS) personnel unit while performing duties, or
- a physician, nurse, or other person providing health care services working in a hospital emergency department.
- Offense level:
- With these individuals, a physical assault is a gross misdemeanor, unless otherwise provided in paragraph b.
- Paragraph b creates a felony if the assault inflicts demonstrable bodily harm.
- Threshold for felony:
- If demonstrable bodily harm is inflicted, the offender may be sentenced to up to three years in prison or a fine of up to $6,000, or both.
Significant changes to existing law
- Broadens protection under the fourth-degree assault statute to include frontline firefighters and EMS personnel, as well as hospital-based health care workers (physicians, nurses, and others in the emergency department) when assaulted in the line of duty.
- Introduces a two-tier penalty structure:
- Base offense remains a gross misdemeanor for assaults on these groups.
- A felony is triggered specifically when the assault causes demonstrable bodily harm, with stricter penalties.
- Clarifies that the protections apply “in the performance of duties,” tying the offense to the time and context of official work.
Penalties and enforcement
- Gross misdemeanor penalty for assault against the protected individuals when not meeting the demonstrable bodily harm threshold.
- Felony penalty (up to 3 years imprisonment or up to $6,000 fine, or both) if demonstrable bodily harm is inflicted.
Effective date (note)
- Not specified in the provided text.
Relevant Terms - gross misdemeanor - felony - demonstrable bodily harm - firefighters - emergency medical services (EMS) personnel - hospital emergency department - physician - nurse - health care services - Minnesota Statutes 609.2231, subdivision 2 - in the performance of duties
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2026 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| March 23, 2026 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Judiciary and Public Safety |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Expands the protected class in Subd. 2 to include firefighters, EMS personnel, physicians, nurses, and other health care workers in hospital emergency departments.",
"Establishes a felony provision for assaults resulting in demonstrable bodily harm, with penalties up to 3 years in prison and/or a $6,000 fine."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill expands the fourth-degree assault statute (Minnesota Statutes 609.2231, Subd. 2) to include assaults on firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, and health care workers (physicians, nurses, or other health care staff) in hospital emergency departments. It maintains a two-tier punishment: a gross misdemeanor for the described assault, and a felony (up to 3 years' imprisonment or a $6,000 fine, or both) if demonstrable bodily harm is inflicted.",
"modified": [
"Modifies the scope of Subd. 2 to cover additional frontline and health care workers; clarifies the penalty structure between gross misdemeanor and felony based on the presence of demonstrable bodily harm."
]
},
"citation": "609.2231",
"subdivision": "2"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee