MN SF1180

Limits local units of government to establishing petty misdemeanor penalties for ordinance violations, except when ordinance elements and penalties are substantively identical to state criminal law, which may carry misdemeanor penalties.

Changes terminology in Minnesota Statutes from "penal offense" to "petty misdemeanor" for local ordinance violations across municipal, county, and home rule charter city statutes.

Converts existing local ordinances providing for misdemeanor punishment, fines up to $1,000, or incarceration of 90 days or less to petty misdemeanor status effective August 1, 2018, unless substantively identical to state law.

Restricts local governments' authority to enact new criminal ordinances with incarceration sentences, deeming such authority limited to petty misdemeanor penalties unless matching state criminal law.

Repeals Minnesota Statutes section 609.034 effective August 1, 2018, with new restrictions applying to ordinances enacted after the bill's effective date.