Grooming a minor established as a felony and other education provisions

A new law will establish grooming a minor as a felony offense.

Taking effect Aug. 1, 2026, the crime of grooming occurs when a person 18 years of age or older that “expresses the desire or intent to engage in sexual conduct with a child; and engages in a deliberate pattern of conduct to methodically develop a false trusting relationship with the child that is intended to strategically manipulate the child to engage in sexual conduct with the person at a future time, regardless of whether any sexual conduct occurs.”

A police department or county sheriff must notify the appropriate licensing board when a teacher is criminally charged with an offense that triggers automatic license denial, refusal to renew, or revocation without a right to a hearing, or with any other offense that requires the person to register as a predatory offender. This takes effect July 1, 2026.

Screening guidelines issued by the Department of Children, Youth and Families must not limit an agency’s ability to screen in and investigate a report of alleged grooming that occurred more than three years prior to the report.

By Aug. 1, 2027, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, in consultation with the Department of Education, must update the mandated reporter training for education professionals or professionals’ delegates engaged in education. The update must include, but not be limited to, “the requirement to report allegations of maltreatment of students, including students receiving special education services; and addressing grooming and threatened sexual abuse, including the duty to report grooming as maltreatment, … how to identify the signs of grooming, and recognizing environments and circumstances that present an increased risk of grooming.”

Rep. Peggy Bennett (R-Albert Lea) and Sen. Erin Maye Quade (DFL-Apple Valley) are the sponsors.

HF3489/SF3969*/CH108

HF3489* / SF3969 / CH108