SF5224

Purpose

To expand the disorderly house crime by clarifying what kinds of activities can lead to a designation of a disorderly house. The bill focuses on places where illegal activities happen regularly and repeatedly.

Main provisions

• Revises Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.33 subdivision 1 to define and apply the disorderly house concept more broadly.
• Defines a disorderly house as a building, dwelling place, establishment, or premises where actions or conduct habitually occur that violate laws related to:
  • The sale of intoxicating liquor or 3 percent malt liquor.
  • Gambling.
  • Prostitution (as defined in section 609.321 subdivision 9) or acts relating to prostitution.
  • The sale or possession of controlled substances (as defined in section 152.01 subdivision 4).
• Uses the term “habitually occur” to identify premises that routinely engage in these illegal activities.

Significant changes to existing law

• Expands the set of activities that can trigger a disorderly house designation to include alcohol sales (3% malt liquor), gambling, prostitution, and drug-related offenses.
• Extends the disorderly house framework to cover premises where these activities are recurrent, not just isolated incidents.
• Integrates cross-referenced definitions from other statutes (e.g., prostitution and controlled substances) to determine what counts as disorderly conduct.

Potential implications

• Premises where these activities occur regularly could be subject to disorderly house actions, potentially affecting enforcement, accountability of property owners, and remedies tied to the disorderly house designation.
• The expansion may influence how cities address recurring illegal activity in certain venues and how authorities prioritize interventions.

Definitions and terms to note

• Disorderly house
• Premises/building/establishment
• Habitually occur
• Sale of intoxicating liquor
• 3 percent malt liquor
• Gambling
• Prostitution (609.321 subd. 9)
• Acts relating to prostitution
• Sale or possession of controlled substances (152.01 subd. 4)

Relevant Terms - disorderly house - Minnesota Statutes 2024 - section 609.33 - subdivision 1 - sale of intoxicating liquor - 3 percent malt liquor - gambling - prostitution - section 609.321 subdivision 9 - acts relating to prostitution - sale or possession of controlled substances - section 152.01 subdivision 4 - premises - habitually occur