Legislative Update from Rep. Peggy Scott

Dear Friends,

More laws passed during the 2023 legislative session are set to take effect August 1. Many of these changes reflect Democrats’ out of touch priorities. They pushed their extreme agenda last session that will raise taxes by nearly $10 billion instead of returning a $17.5 billion surplus to you in the form of permanent, meaningful tax relief. These new laws include:

• Adult-use cannabis legalized, and prior low-level cannabis convictions expunged. Adults aged 21 or older can possess or publicly transport 2 ounces of adult-use cannabis flower, and up to 8 grams of cannabis concentrates. Adults can also possess up to 2 pounds of adult-use cannabis flower in their home. Penalties are established for violating possession limits, making illegal cannabis sales, selling to a minor, and exceeding personal cultivation limits. Criminal records of Minnesotans with petty misdemeanor and misdemeanor cannabis convictions will begin to be expunged. Although the records are not destroyed, they are removed from public view and will not appear in criminal background checks.
• Statement of faith requirement removed from PSEO. Higher education institutions participating in the postsecondary enrollment option program (PSEO) will no longer be allowed to require a faith statement from applicants for admission. House Republicans fought hard against this provision, which is already in litigation. While this law takes effect August 1, a judge has already ordered state officials to not enforce it as this lawsuit unfolds.
• Universal Background Checks. Private transfers of pistols and semiautomatic military-style assault weapons without a firearms eligibility background check will be prohibited. A gun purchaser will be required to apply for a permit to carry first. Private transfers must complete a record of transfer which includes detailed information about the weapon and individuals involved.

While it is disappointing to see these changes take effect, there were some good laws including:

• Increased penalties for catalytic converter thefts. The new law prohibits the possession of a detached catalytic converter with a few narrow exceptions and provides that individuals found with illegally acquired detached catalytic converters could be charged with up to a felony.
• Permitting electronic signatures on wills. A new law allows a will to be witnessed and, where allowed, electronically notarized and completed.

More information on these laws and other changes can be found here. Overall, these new laws reflect the lack of balance in our current state government. Minnesotans have not been served well under one party control.