These New MN Laws Kick In On Aug. 1

ST. PAUL, MN — A set of new laws passed during the 2024 legislative session are set to take effect Aug. 1. The new regulations tackle issues from parental leave and immunity rules to DNA testing.

The nonpartisan House Public Information Services released the following summaries of the laws about to go into effect:

Find more information on all the laws passed last session here.

Tip payments

Effective Aug. 1, 2024, and as part of the labor and industry policy law, gratuities received by an employee through a debit, charge, credit card, or electronic payment must be credited to the pay period in which they are received by the employee and paid out in the next scheduled pay period.

Drug and alcohol testing

An employer can use oral fluid testing procedures as an alternative way to test when drug and alcohol or cannabis testing is requested for employees and job applicants.

Parental leave

An employer must continue group insurance and health care benefits for the employee and any dependents while on pregnancy or parental leave. The length of pregnancy and parental leave cannot be reduced by any period of paid or unpaid leave taken for prenatal care medical appointments.

Straw purchase penalties increase

A straw purchase occurs when an individual buys a firearm for someone ineligible to purchase or possess it. Effective Aug. 1, 2024, the penalty for a straw purchase will increase from a gross misdemeanor to a felony. An affirmative defense is provided for defendants if they can show by clear and convincing evidence the transfer was made because of “reasonable apprehension ... that refusal would result in the transferee inflicting substantial bodily harm or death on the defendant or a family or household member of the defendant.”

Immunity

Immunity will be provided for individuals acting in good faith who assist someone else to seek medical assistance for a drug-related overdose.

DNA

Parental consent, a warrant, or a court order will be required to collect DNA from a juvenile.

Penalties for threatening public and judicial officials

It is a misdemeanor to knowingly publish personal information of a judicial official with the intent to threaten, intimidate, harass, or physically injure. It will be a felony if actions result in bodily harm.

Swatting

The charge for making a fictitious emergency call that a serious crime is underway will rise from a gross misdemeanor to a felony when a “swatting” call sends first responders to the home of an elected official, judge, prosecuting attorney, employee of a correctional facility or peace officer.

Trunk highway rumble strips

Effective Aug. 1, 2024, for road construction, resurfacing, or reconditioning projects on or after that date, the Department of Transportation must establish in-road rumble strips at each location on the trunk highway system outside of a city where there is a stop sign and a speed limit of at least 55 mph.