1450 Energy Park Drive, St. Paul, MN 55108 – Remote Access Optional*
Public Hearing Notice
Proposed Modifications
THE MINNESOTA SENTENCING GUIDELINES COMMISSION WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at 1:00 p.m., in the Afton Room at the Department of Corrections headquarters, 1450 Energy Park Drive, Saint Paul, MN 55108. Remote participation will be optional. The public hearing is being held to consider proposed modifications to the 2024 Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines and Commentary resulting from the Commission’s review of the 2025 Regular Session Laws and technical modifications to improve the Sentencing Guidelines. In brief, the nature and effect of these proposed modifications are as follows:
A. Legislative amendments to crime laws affecting the Sentencing Guidelines – 2025 Regular Session – Eff. Aug. 1, 2025, and Jan. 1, 2026. As a result of its review of 2025 Regular Session Laws, the Commission proposed the following modifications to sections 5.A and 5.B at its meeting on June 5, 2025. The Commission proposes to rank the new felony Violation of a Financial Exploitation Protective Order at severity level (SL) 4, effective January 1, 2026; and to rank the new felony Unauthorized Human Services Renumerations at SL 6 (over $35,000), at SL 3 (over $5,000), and at SL 2 ($5,000 or Less), effective August 1, 2025.
B. Other conforming amendments to crime laws affecting the Sentencing Guidelines – 2025 Regular Session – Effective August 1, 2025. As a result of its review of 2025 Regular Session Laws, the Commission proposed the following conforming modifications at its meeting on June 5, 2025. To conform to amendments regarding fentanyl exposure to children in Minn. Stat. § 152.137, the Commission proposes to amend sections 5.A, 5.B, and comment 2.B.108, and to retitle the offense. To conform to amendments to Minn. Stat. § 609.2232 regarding punishment for assaulting county sheriff or sheriff’s deputy in a local correctional facility, the Commission proposes to amend sections 2.C, 2.F, and Appendix 1, regarding presumptive sentences and consecutive sentences, with such sentences presumed to run consecutively to any unexpired portion of the earlier sentence or that may be imposed, following conviction, for any crime or offense for which the person was in custody when the person committed the assault, and make conforming changes so that it is clearer that the disposition for assault on secure treatment facility personnel is always presumptive commitment. To conform to amendments to Minn. Stat. § 609.322 regarding statutory presumptive sentences for sex trafficking, the Commission proposes to amend section 2.G.5. To conform to amendments to statutory terminology, the Commission proposes to amend sections 2.E, 4.B, 5.A, 5.B, 6, comment 2.B.105, and Appendix 3 to replace the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material,” and to include the latter term in the description of Use of Minors in Sexual Performance.
C. Technical amendments to the Sentencing Guidelines – Effective August 1, 2025. As a result of its review of technical issues and errors in the 2024 Sentencing Guidelines, the Commission proposed the following modifications at its meeting on June 5, 2025. The Commission proposes to amend sections 5.A and 5.B, to correct the statutory citation for Use of Deep Fake to Influence an Election under Minn. Stat. § 609.771, after the felony crime was moved to subd. 3(a)(1); and to amend Appendix 3, to add Criminal Vehicular Homicide under Minn. Stat. § 609.2112, subd. 1(a), to the non-exhaustive list that includes offenses in which the presumptive duration exceeds the statutory maximum sentence.
A complete copy of these proposed amendments will be posted on the Commission’s web site from June 16 through July 22, 2025. Information on how to attend the public hearing, both in-person and remotely, will be posted on the same web site prior to the public hearing. The Commission will hold the record open for five calendar days after the public hearing to accept written comment. Materials must be received no later than July 22, 2025. Any person who wishes to provide a written statement may do so in one of three ways:
- By personally delivering the written statement to Commission staff at the public hearing;
- By sending the written statement by United States Mail to Minn. Sentencing Guidelines Commission, 658 Cedar Street, Suite G-58, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155; or
- By emailing the written statement to Sentencing.Guidelines@state.mn.us.
After the written comment period ends, the proposed modifications are subject to final action by the Commission at its meeting on Thursday, July 24, 2025, with meeting details to be posted on the Commission’s web site. If adopted, modifications will take effect August 1, 2025, unless otherwise specified, and will apply as provided in Guidelines section 3.G.
1450 Energy Park Drive, St. Paul, MN 55108 – Remote Access Optional*
