Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that expands the right to use reasonable force in self defense situations in Minnesota.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the use of reasonable force by an individual upon or toward another individual without the other’s consent, when used by a public officer or an individual assisting a public office under the public officer’s direction in (Sec. 1):

• Effecting a lawful arrest;

• Executing the legal process;

• Enforcing an order of the court; or

• Executing any other duty imposed upon the public officer by law.

• Authorizes the use of reasonable force by an individual that is not a public officer to arrest another in the manner provided by the law and deliver the arrestee to a competent officer’s custody (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the use of reasonable force by an individual when (Sec. 1):

• Resisting or aiding another to resist an offense against the person;

• Resisting a trespass upon or other unlawful interference with such property;

• Preventing the escape or retake following the escape of a person lawfully held on a charge or conviction of a crime;

• Restraining or correcting a child, if done by parent, guardian, or other lawful custodian of the child;

• Restraining a child or pupil to prevent bodily harm or death to the child, pupil, or another, if done by a teacher, school principal, school employee, school bus driver, or other agent of a district;

• Expelling a passenger who refuses to obey a lawful requirement for the conduct of passengers, if done by a common carrier and reasonable care for the passenger’s safety is exercised;

• Restraining a person with a mental illness or a person with a developmental disability from self-injury to another; or

• Compelling compliance with reasonable requirements for the control, conduct, or treatment of the committed person, if done by a public or private institution providing custody or treatment against one lawfully committed to it.

• Specifies that the use of reasonable force while resisting or aiding another to resist an offense against the person, regardless of whether reasonable possibility of retreat from danger exists, is legal (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the effective date of this bill is August 1, 2025 (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text