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/HL 25-0338502/06/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 896
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Knudsen, Joy, Davis, Altendorf, Stier and others02/17/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Public Safety Finance and 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/HL 25-0338502/06/25 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/HL 25-0338502/06/25