Bill > SF3044

This bill establishes new financial management provisions for the Minnesota Attorney General's office, focusing on how money recovered from consumer protection litigation and settlements will be handled. Specifically, the bill creates a new Consumer Protection Restitution Account where 50% of certain recovered funds will be deposited, with the primary purpose of distributing compensation to consumers harmed by unlawful business practices. The bill sets up detailed rules for how these funds can be distributed, including provisions for when it becomes impractical to pay individual consumers (such as when the individual payment would be too small or impossible to distribute). The legislation also establishes a maximum balance of $2 million for the consumer litigation account and requires the Attorney General to publish an annual report detailing the sources and uses of these funds. Additionally, the bill appropriates funds for the Attorney General's office for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with total appropriations of $53,165,000 in the first year and $52,225,000 in the second year, drawing from various fund sources including the general fund, state government special revenue fund, and environmental remediation fund. The bill emphasizes transparency and efficient use of funds recovered through consumer protection enforcement actions.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF3044&ssn=0&y=2025