Minnesota
Every law and rule change USCLI tracks for Minnesota, across the professions, on one page. Each entry links to its full write-up and official sources.
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Licensing Law Tracker
Minnesota private detectives are licensed by the Board of Private Detective and Protective Agent Services. The commissioner of public safety appoints its licensed and public members.
Full Minnesota page: every change, its sources, and what has not changed (4 entries).
Partnerships removed; corporate officers must qualify
Removes partnerships from the parties that can apply for or hold a private detective or protective agent license. For a corporate applicant, the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, qualified representative, and any Minnesota manager must each…
Prisoner transport brought under protective agent licensing
Private companies that provide guards to transport prisoners or people arrested on a warrant now need a protective agent license. The board must revoke, suspend, or refuse to issue or reissue a license if the license holder or its staff commits criminal…
FBI fingerprint checks for license applicants
Amends Minn. Stat. 326.3381, subd. 3. Applicants must submit fingerprints and consent to a criminal history check by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI. The board decides whether the results show a disqualifying offense. A separate section of…
Board enforcement powers; training certificates belong to employees
The board may investigate and refer for prosecution criminal violations and unlicensed activity. Prior unlicensed operation became grounds to deny, suspend, or revoke a license. Employee identification cards must be presented on request. Preassignment…
Officer Certification Tracker
Minnesota’s Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST Board) licenses peace officers, and a felony conviction revokes a license automatically. Since 2023 the State has rewritten the POST rules to bar hiring anyone listed on the National Decertification Index, let the Board discipline conduct that brings no criminal charge, banned officers from hate and extremist groups, required agencies to hand misconduct files to the Board, and made Board-ordered inquiries into complaints discretionary.
Full Minnesota page: every change, its sources, and what has not changed (13 entries).
Disciplinary interviews: a broader “formal statement,” and electronic recording required
A “formal statement” now means questioning an officer to obtain “information” to be used as a basis for discipline or as evidence in a disciplinary proceeding. Before, it meant obtaining a recorded, stenographic, or signed statement to be used as evidence.…
New conduct standard: failing to comply with a Board order
Failing to “comply with any order of the board” becomes a listed violation of the conduct standards (new item F(4)). The catch-all moves to F(5).
BCA must investigate every officer-involved death; a prosecutor who declines to charge must disclose the file
The BCA’s Use of Force Investigations Unit has existed since 2020 (299C.80). New subd. 3 says it “must” investigate any officer-involved death, unless the subject is a BCA officer. Agencies “must” fully cooperate. The report goes to the county prosecutor.…
Training on “excited delirium” banned
The Board “may not” certify, credit, or reimburse any course that includes training on detecting or using the term “excited delirium,” including similar terms. Agencies “may not” provide such a course, directly or through a third party. Training on…
Board complaint inquiries become discretionary
Before 2023, when the Board received a complaint, the executive director “shall” designate an agency to investigate and “shall” order it to inquire. The 2023 act changed the order to “may.” The 2024 act deleted the duty to designate an investigating agency…
Forensic Science Tracker
Minnesota requires publicly funded forensic labs to be accredited but has no forensic science commission or analyst license. Since 2023 the State has given a BCA advisory group a duty to review lab audits and accreditation reports, set a 90-day target for testing sexual assault kits, removed probable-cause DNA collection from statute, required consent, a court order, or a warrant to take DNA from a minor, and eased the time bar for new scientific evidence.
Full Minnesota page: every change, its sources, and what has not changed (9 entries).
New warrantless drone uses; facial recognition limit unchanged
Minn. Stat. 626.19 subd. 3 now allows warrantless drone use “to document evidence that is at imminent risk of destruction” and “to facilitate the active search for a missing person.” Training flights over private areas are allowed with the occupant’s…
DNA from a minor needs consent, a court order, or a warrant
New Minn. Stat. 260B.009 says a biological specimen for DNA analysis “must not be taken from a minor without the consent of the minor’s parent or custodian, a court order, or a warrant.” A minor whose specimen was taken in violation may move to suppress…
Probable-cause DNA collection removed from statute
The act deleted the language in 299C.105 subd. 1 that covered people who had a judicial probable cause determination on a listed charge, and the matching juvenile language. Collection under the section now follows conviction or adjudication only. A 2006…
New scientific evidence no longer must prove innocence to beat the time bar
Under 590.01 subd. 4(b)(2), newly discovered evidence, including scientific evidence, must now provide “facts necessary to sustain one or more legally cognizable claims for postconviction relief.” It must still have been undiscoverable with due diligence…
No facial recognition in license data checks for TSA Registered Traveler
An amendment to 171.12 subd. 7b lets the commissioner use noncompliant licenses and ID cards to verify identity for TSA Registered Traveler participants, limited to listed data and credential security features, “which does not include facial recognition.”
Last updated October 19, 2026Source: United States Council for Law & Investigation