Several new Minnesota laws took effect January 1st of 2026, covering public safety, elections, employment, and environmental regulations.
One major change strengthens protections for vulnerable adults. Courts will now be able to issue protection orders against financial exploitation, including freezing assets and limiting contact with suspected abusers. Filing fees will be waived, and hearings must be held quickly.
Election laws are also changing. Minnesotans applying online for an absentee ballot will be required to provide a driver’s license or state ID number and the last four digits of their Social Security number. Mailings that include absentee ballot applications or sample ballots must clearly state they are not official government communications.
Workers will see clearer break requirements. Employees must receive a 15-minute rest break every four hours and a 30-minute meal break for every six consecutive hours worked.
In the environment category, watercraft surcharges used to fund invasive species prevention will increase, with fees now based on boat size and type. Water-use permit fees will also rise. In addition, Minnesota’s southern “shotgun-only” deer hunting zone will be repealed, allowing legal firearms statewide during the regular firearms season unless restricted locally.
These laws took effect January 1, 2026.
Story by Karen Downing