These New Minnesota Laws Take Effect Aug. 1

ST. PAUL, MN — Minnesotans caught creating fake nude images of someone without consent, or adults who methodically groom a child for future abuse, will now face felony charges under a wave of new state laws taking effect Thursday, Aug. 1, 2026.

The changes, passed during the 2026 legislative session, also touch renters, crypto kiosk operators, kratom buyers and drivers who impersonate police, according to Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services.

Grooming a minor is now a felony

Grooming occurs when someone 18 or older expresses intent to engage in sexual conduct with a child and carries out a deliberate pattern of behavior meant to build a false trusting relationship with that child, regardless of whether sexual conduct ever takes place.

Nudification technology banned

Websites, apps and programs can no longer let users create nudified images or videos, or advertise a service that does so. Violators face civil penalties up to $500,000 per violation, and victims can sue for up to triple their actual damages plus punitive damages and attorney fees.

Impersonating a peace officer

Penalties jump from a misdemeanor to a felony in most cases, with maximum prison time reaching 10 years for repeat offenders or those carrying a firearm while impersonating an officer. Officers themselves will be required to identify their employer, name and ID number when making stops, detentions or arrests.

Other public safety changes

A new felony covers creating or operating a prediction market wagering platform. The age to buy or possess kratom rises from 18 to 21. Organized retail theft penalties now cover stolen gift cards. And domestic violence offenders face a standardized process to surrender firearms within a set timeline.

Virtual currency kiosks banned

Kiosks will be banned statewide, with operators required to remove machines and pay out customer balances by Dec. 31, 2026. Separately, banks and credit unions will be allowed to offer virtual currency custody services.

Payment Transparency Act

State and local governments must share project payment information with contractors and subcontractors within seven days of a written request.

Renter and landlord rules

Landlords can estimate a tenant's final utility bill when billing cycles do not line up with move-out dates, must offer a free backup payment option if an online rent portal goes down, and cannot name a minor child as a defendant in an eviction unless that child is the sole renter.

Education changes

The READ Act now requires annual reading screeners for students in grades 4 through 12 who are not yet reading at grade level. School districts must issue diplomas, upon request, to Korean War and Vietnam War veterans who did not finish high school. Minnesota voters will also decide a constitutional amendment in November on raising the annual payout cap from the permanent school fund.

Disability accommodations

A new law strengthens the Minnesota Human Rights Act, clarifying that an employer's failure to engage in the interactive process for a disability accommodation can itself be an unfair discriminatory practice.

The full list of new laws, including agriculture, energy, environment, higher education, local government and veterans provisions, is available from nonpartisan House Public Information Services.