Bill > HF1188

This bill expands the prosecutorial powers of city attorneys in Minnesota across several key areas. Specifically, city attorneys will now be authorized to file juvenile delinquency petitions when a county attorney declines to do so, and they can prosecute certain felony and gross misdemeanor offenses that county attorneys choose not to pursue. The bill also grants city attorneys the ability to issue administrative subpoenas in specific circumstances, such as welfare fraud and identity theft investigations. Additionally, the legislation modifies language throughout various statutes to replace references to "county attorney" with the more flexible term "prosecuting authority," which allows for greater prosecutorial flexibility. The changes are primarily focused on providing city attorneys more discretion and capability to handle legal matters when county attorneys opt not to take action. Most of these provisions will become effective on August 1, 2025, and will apply to offenses committed on or after that date, with some exceptions for ongoing legal matters. The bill aims to create more comprehensive and responsive prosecutorial options at the local government level, particularly in counties like Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Scott, and Washington.

Justice

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF1188&ssn=0&y=2025