1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to public safety; permitting certain retired law enforcement officers to
1.3 carry firearms in schools; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.66,
1.4 subdivision 1d.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.66, subdivision 1d, is amended to read:
1.7 Subd. 1d.Possession on school property; penalty.(a) Except as provided under
1.8paragraphs (d) and (f), whoever possesses, stores, or keeps a dangerous weapon while
1.9knowingly on school property is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment
1.10for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.
1.11 (b) Whoever uses or brandishes a replica firearm or a BB gun while knowingly on school
1.12property is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
1.13 (c) Whoever possesses, stores, or keeps a replica firearm or a BB gun while knowingly
1.14on school property is guilty of a misdemeanor.
1.15 (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), (b), or (c), it is a misdemeanor for a person authorized
1.16to carry a firearm under the provisions of a permit or otherwise to carry a firearm on or
1.17about the person's clothes or person in a location the person knows is school property.
1.18Notwithstanding section 609.531, a firearm carried in violation of this paragraph is not
1.19subject to forfeiture.
1.20 (e) As used in this subdivision:
1.21 (1) "BB gun" means a device that fires or ejects a shot measuring .18 of an inch or less
1.22in diameter;
1Section 1.
REVISOR KLL/AD 25-0110912/18/24
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 261
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Knudsen, Novotny, Witte, Rymer, Davis and others01/23/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Education Policy 2.1 (2) "dangerous weapon" has the meaning given it in section 609.02, subdivision 6;
2.2 (3) "replica firearm" has the meaning given it in section 609.713; and
2.3 (4) "school property" means:
2.4 (i) a public or private elementary, middle, or secondary school building and its improved
2.5grounds, whether leased or owned by the school;
2.6 (ii) a child care center licensed under chapter 142B during the period children are present
2.7and participating in a child care program;
2.8 (iii) the area within a school bus when that bus is being used by a school to transport
2.9one or more elementary, middle, or secondary school students to and from school-related
2.10activities, including curricular, cocurricular, noncurricular, extracurricular, and supplementary
2.11activities; and
2.12 (iv) that portion of a building or facility under the temporary, exclusive control of a
2.13public or private school, a school district, or an association of such entities where conspicuous
2.14signs are prominently posted at each entrance that give actual notice to persons of the
2.15school-related use.
2.16 (f) This subdivision does not apply to:
2.17 (1) active licensed peace officers;
2.18 (2) military personnel or students participating in military training, who are on-duty,
2.19performing official duties;
2.20 (3) persons authorized to carry a pistol under section 624.714 while in a motor vehicle
2.21or outside of a motor vehicle to directly place a firearm in, or retrieve it from, the trunk or
2.22rear area of the vehicle;
2.23 (4) persons who keep or store in a motor vehicle pistols in accordance with section
2.24624.714 or 624.715 or other firearms in accordance with section 97B.045;
2.25 (5) firearm safety or marksmanship courses or activities conducted on school property;
2.26 (6) possession of dangerous weapons, BB guns, or replica firearms by a ceremonial
2.27color guard;
2.28 (7) a gun or knife show held on school property;
2.29 (8) possession of dangerous weapons, BB guns, or replica firearms with written
2.30permission of the principal or other person having general control and supervision of the
2.31school or the director of a child care center; or
2Section 1.
REVISOR KLL/AD 25-0110912/18/24 3.1 (9) persons who are on unimproved property owned or leased by a child care center,
3.2school, or school district unless the person knows that a student is currently present on the
3.3land for a school-related activity.; or
3.4 (10) persons authorized to carry a firearm under United States Code, title 18, part I,
3.5chapter 44, section 926C, and who are carrying in compliance with that law.
3.6 (g) Notwithstanding section 471.634, a school district or other entity composed
3.7exclusively of school districts may not regulate firearms, ammunition, or their respective
3.8components, when possessed or carried by nonstudents or nonemployees, in a manner that
3.9is inconsistent with this subdivision.
3.10 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective August 1, 2025, and applies to crimes
3.11committed on or after that date.
3Section 1.
REVISOR KLL/AD 25-0110912/18/24