1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to public safety; enhancing the penalty for arson directed at a political
1.3 organization or motivated by a political purpose; amending Minnesota Statutes
1.4 2024, sections 609.561, by adding a subdivision; 609.563, by adding a subdivision;
1.5 609.5631, by adding a subdivision; 609.5632.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.561, is amended by adding a subdivision
1.8to read:
1.9 Subd. 4.First degree; political organization.Whoever unlawfully by means of fire or
1.10explosives intentionally destroys or damages any building, whether the property of the actor
1.11or another, commits arson in the first degree and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not
1.12more than 25 years or to a fine of not more than $40,000, or both, if:
1.13 (1) the building housed a political organization;
1.14 (2) the offense was committed in whole or in substantial part because of an actual or
1.15perceived association between the building, building's owner, or building's occupant and
1.16any political organization; or
1.17 (3) the offense was committed in whole or in substantial part to make any political
1.18statement.
1.19 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective August 1, 2025, and applies to crimes
1.20committed on or after that date.
1Section 1.
25-00702 as introduced12/05/24 REVISOR KLL/AD
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 1367NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: LIMMER and Howe)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading02/13/2025
Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety 2.1 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.563, is amended by adding a subdivision to
2.2read:
2.3 Subd. 1a.Political motivation.Whoever violates subdivision 1 may be sentenced to
2.4imprisonment for not more than 90 months or to payment of a fine of $12,500, or both, if:
2.5 (1) the real or personal property is owned or controlled by a political organization;
2.6 (2) the offense was committed in whole or in substantial part because of an actual or
2.7perceived association between the real or personal property and any political organization;
2.8or
2.9 (3) the offense was committed in whole or in substantial part to make any political
2.10statement.
2.11 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective August 1, 2025, and applies to crimes
2.12committed on or after that date.
2.13 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.5631, is amended by adding a subdivision
2.14to read:
2.15 Subd. 3.Political motivation.Whoever violates subdivision 2 may be sentenced to
2.16imprisonment for not more than one year or to payment of a fine of $5,000, or both, if:
2.17 (1) the personal property is owned or controlled by a political organization;
2.18 (2) the offense was committed in whole or in substantial part because of an actual or
2.19perceived association between the personal property and any political organization; or
2.20 (3) the offense was committed in whole or in substantial part to make any political
2.21statement.
2.22 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective August 1, 2025, and applies to crimes
2.23committed on or after that date.
2.24 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.5632, is amended to read:
2.25 609.5632 ARSON IN THE FIFTH DEGREE.
2.26 (a) Whoever intentionally by means of fire or explosives sets fire to or burns or causes
2.27to be burned any real or personal property of value is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be
2.28sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 90 days or to payment of a fine of not more
2.29than $1,000, or both.
2Sec. 4.
25-00702 as introduced12/05/24 REVISOR KLL/AD 3.1 (b) Whoever violates paragraph (a) may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than
3.2364 days or to payment of a fine of $3,000, or both, if:
3.3 (1) the real or personal property is owned or controlled by a political organization;
3.4 (2) the offense was committed in whole or in substantial part because of an actual or
3.5perceived association between the real or personal property and any political organization;
3.6or
3.7 (3) the offense was committed in whole or in substantial part to make any political
3.8statement.
3.9 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective August 1, 2025, and applies to crimes
3.10committed on or after that date.
3Sec. 4.
25-00702 as introduced12/05/24 REVISOR KLL/AD