Criminal penalties increased for extortion using private sexual images

Minnesota laws on coercion (also commonly known as blackmail or extortion) penalize anyone who causes another to pay money for committing, or refrain from committing, some act.

For example, a person can commit the crime by threatening to violate state laws prohibiting the nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images.

A new law that takes effect Aug. 1, 2026, will enhance penalties when the threat to disseminate private sexual images is a substantial contributing factor in the victim sustaining great bodily harm or death.

Per the law, a perpetrator may be sentenced up to 10 years in prison if the threat is a substantial factor in the victim sustaining great bodily harm, 15 years if the violation is a substantial factor in the victim’s death.

Rep. Scott Van Binsbergen (R-Montevideo) and Sen. Andrew Lang (R-Olivia) are the sponsors.

HF2358*/SF281/CH76

HF2358* / SF0281 / CH76