Minnesota Statutes

Minnesota Statutes
Title	Minnesota Statutes
Enacted by	Minnesota Legislature
Status	current

Minnesota Statutes are the codified general and permanent laws enacted by the Minnesota Legislature and organized for reference by practitioners, scholars, and the public. They interact with instruments such as the United States Constitution, decisions of the Minnesota Supreme Court, administrative rules from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and federal statutes like the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The statutes inform statutes in neighboring jurisdictions including Wisconsin, Iowa, and North Dakota and are cited in decisions involving entities such as the Hennepin County courts, the University of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Vikings in matters ranging from liability to taxation.

Overview

The statutes compile enactments passed by the Minnesota House of Representatives and Minnesota Senate following procedures grounded in the Minnesota Constitution and influenced by historical codes such as the Compiled Statutes of 1878 and the Revised Statutes of 1905. They coexist with session laws like the Laws of Minnesota, model legislation from organizations like the American Law Institute, and federal instruments including the Social Security Act. Courts including the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Minnesota Court of Appeals interpret their provisions in litigation involving parties such as Target Corporation, 3M Company, and labor unions like the Minnesota AFL–CIO.

Organization and Publication

The statutes are published by the Revisor of Statutes (Minnesota) and distributed in bound volumes and online editions comparable to publications from the Library of Congress and state equivalents like the California Codes. Official publication practices mirror those used by the United States Code and the Statutes at Large while incorporating tools used by legal publishers such as West Publishing and LexisNexis. The Revisor’s Office collaborates with entities including the Office of the Governor of Minnesota, county law libraries in St. Paul, and municipal legal offices like Minneapolis City Attorney to maintain accuracy.

Legislative Process and Codification

Bills originate in the Minnesota Legislature and proceed through committees such as the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee and the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, are reconciled in conference committees, and are enacted with the approval of the Governor of Minnesota. Enactments become session laws in the Laws of Minnesota and are then codified by the Revisor into subject-specific sections following precedents set by bodies like the American Bar Association and historical practices dating to lawmakers like Henry Hastings Sibley. Changes to the code reflect amendments influenced by stakeholders including the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, advocacy groups such as the Minnesota ACLU, and professional associations like the Minnesota State Bar Association.

Structure and Titles

The statutes are divided into numbered chapters and sections grouped into thematic titles similar to other state codifications such as the New York Consolidated Laws and the Texas Statutes. Titles cover areas involving entities like the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and the Minnesota Department of Health and address subjects affecting institutions including the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and corporations such as Best Buy. Numbering conventions and editorial annotations align with national standards used by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and mirror organizational models seen in the Florida Statutes.

Access, Updates, and Citation

Access is provided through official portals administered by the Revisor of Statutes (Minnesota) and through commercial databases including Westlaw and LexisNexis, with parallel distribution in legislative libraries like those at the Minnesota Historical Society. Updates occur after each legislative session and via technical corrections issued by the Revisor, similar to update cycles in the United States Code and the Code of Federal Regulations. Citation formats reference section numbers and session law chapters and are used in filings before tribunals such as the Minnesota Supreme Court and in administrative hearings before agencies like the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.

Impact and Legal Authority

As the authoritative compilation of Minnesota’s statutory law, the statutes provide the legal backbone for regulatory action by agencies such as the Minnesota Department of Revenue, enforcement by prosecutors in offices like the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, and adjudication by courts including the Minnesota Court of Appeals. They shape policy debates in the Minnesota Legislature on topics ranging from public finance with institutions like the Minnesota Management and Budget to public health matters involving the Mayo Clinic and guide municipal ordinances in cities such as Duluth and Bloomington. Their interaction with federal law, judicial interpretation, and administrative rulemaking underpins the legal environment for businesses like Hormel Foods and nonprofits such as the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.

Category:Minnesota law