Bill > HF1392

This bill establishes a new Consumer Protection Restitution Account to manage funds recovered by the Attorney General in consumer enforcement actions. The account will receive 50% of money recovered in consumer protection legal actions, with the other 50% going to the general fund. When the Attorney General wins a legal action that includes compensation for consumers but those consumers cannot be easily located or the distribution costs would be too high, the money will now be deposited into this special account instead of the general fund. The bill creates detailed rules for how money in the account can be used, including distributing funds to eligible consumers who were directly impacted by unlawful business practices. The account can also cover administrative costs up to 3% of its total funds. The Attorney General is required to publish an annual public report detailing the account's activities, including which consumer enforcement actions resulted in deposits, how much money was distributed, and which actions have concluded. The bill also includes a tax provision that makes consumer enforcement public compensation distributions non-taxable for recipients. Importantly, the bill specifies that no individual has a private right of action regarding the account, meaning consumers cannot sue over its administration, and the Attorney General retains full authority to collect and enforce judgments related to consumer protection actions.

Business and Industry

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF1392&ssn=0&y=2025