University of St. Thomas Law Journal

New Laws Taking Effect in Minnesota in 2025

By: Grace Pilz*

With the new year comes a number of new laws taking effect in Minnesota.1 Their impact spans many different areas, including commerce, consumer protection, labor law, public safety, and healthcare. Lawyers and laypeople alike should consider the following overview of these new laws.

Consumer Protection and Economic Regulation

Regulation of Add-On Fees (“Junk Fees”)
Effective January 1, Minnesota prohibits advertising, displaying, or offering a price for goods or services that does not include all mandatory fees or surcharges.2 “Mandatory fees” include those that: (1) must be paid in order to purchase the goods or services being advertised; (2) are not reasonably avoidable by the consumer; or (3) a reasonable person would expect to be included in the purchase of the goods or services being advertised.3

The law, championed by Rep. Emma Greenman (DFL-Minneapolis),4 advances consumer protection by addressing deceptive pricing tactics in industries such as hospitality, entertainment, and dining.

Concert Ticket Market Reform
A related law enacted last session—colloquially termed the “Taylor Swift Bill”5—requires transparent pricing and other conspicuous disclosures when tickets to “any place of entertainment” are sold or resold.6 Further, it restricts the use of automated software (bots) that manipulate ticket availability and drive up costs for prospective buyers.7 By explicitly banning preemptive and speculative ticket sales and curtailing the use of deceptive resale practices,8 the new law combats consumer frustration, confusion, and disappointment during the ticket-buying process.

Labor and Employment Law

Mandatory Salary Disclosures
All Minnesota employers with a workforce of at least 30 employees are now required to disclose salary ranges or fixed pay rates in job postings.9 This legislative requirement, part of the Omnibus Labor and Industry policy bill,10 aims to enhance pay transparency and reduce wage disparities.

Tenant Rights and Housing Protections
Tenants organizing associations now have legally recognized protections against retaliatory actions by landlords.11 Additionally, landlords are obligated to offer remedies if a move-in date is delayed due to construction issues.12 A separate provision prevents the termination of electric or gas utility services between October 1 and April 30, safeguarding tenants from loss of essential services during Minnesota’s harsh winters.13

Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Automatic Expungement for Certain Offenses (“Clean Slate” Law)
A new expungement statute facilitates the automatic sealing of certain low-level criminal offenses for individuals who have remained offense-free for two to five years.14 The reform, applicable to an estimated 500,000 Minnesotans,15 covers petty misdemeanors, misdemeanors, and certain gross misdemeanors, excluding DWI and domestic violence-related offenses.16

Prohibition of Binary Triggers
The state has enacted a prohibition on firearms equipped with binary triggers—mechanisms that discharge a round upon both the pull and release of a trigger.17 This measure aligns with broader firearm safety initiatives aimed at reducing rapid-fire capabilities.18

Healthcare and Medical Coverage

Expanded Insurance Coverage Mandates
Health insurance providers are now legally required to include coverage for:

  • Abortion and abortion-related services.19
  • Medically necessary gender-affirming care.20
  • Affordable chronic disease medications.21
  • Biomarker testing to diagnose, treat, manage, and monitor illness or disease if the test provides clinical utility.22
  • Scalp prostheses for hair loss caused by conditions like alopecia areata or cancer treatment.23
  • Amino acid-based formula for conditions like cystic fibrosis and eosinophilic colitis.24

Environmental Protections

Ban on PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”) in Consumer Products
Minnesota has initiated restrictions on the sale of products containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS),25 widely recognized for their environmental persistence and potential health risks, including cancer and thyroid disorders.26 The ban applies to items such as carpets, cosmetics, cookware, dental floss, and cleaning agents.27 A complete prohibition of PFAS-containing products is set to take effect by January 1, 2032.28

Election Laws and Candidate Eligibility

Expanded On-Campus Voting Access
Post-secondary institutions providing on-campus housing for at least 100 students may now request and receive an early voting polling location during state general elections or off-year municipal elections.29 This initiative aims to increase voter accessibility for college students.30

New Candidate Filing Requirements
Candidates for public office must now present valid government-issued identification reflecting their current residence or provide alternative proof of residency at the time of filing.31 This measure is directed at enhancing electoral integrity and ensuring compliance with domicile requirements.32

Emergency Medical Services Regulation

Creation of the Office of Emergency Medical Services
The newly established Office of Emergency Medical Services replaces the former Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board.33 This entity, directed by a gubernatorial appointee, is responsible for the certification of paramedics, registration of medical response units, oversight of ambulance operations, and the enforcement of regulatory compliance.34

Conclusion

The 2025 legislative changes in Minnesota introduce substantial reforms and restrictions across multiple sectors. These laws reinforce consumer protection, increase employment transparency, expand healthcare accessibility, and enhance public safety. Employers, businesses, and residents should remain informed and ensure compliance with these new legal requirements to navigate the evolving statutory landscape effectively.

* Publications Editor, University of St. Thomas Law Journal; J.D. Candidate, University of St. Thomas School of Law, Class of 2025.

  1. See generally Minn. H.R., New Laws Effective Jan. 1, 2025 (Dec. 18, 2024), https://www.house.mn.gov/hinfo/leginfo/01012025NewLaws.pdf. ↩︎
  2. Minn. Stat. § 325D.44 subd. 1a(a). ↩︎
  3. Minn. Stat. § 325D.44 subd. 1a(b). ↩︎
  4. Anna Haecherl & Anika Besst, New Year, New Laws: These Laws Are Now in Effect in Minnesota, MPR News (Jan. 1, 2025, 4:00 AM) https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/01/01/new-minnesota-laws-2025-january-1. ↩︎
  5. Id. Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL-Shoreview), author of HF 1989 (which coincidentally shares part of its title with that of Swift’s nonuple platinum album, 1989), said the bill was inspired by her experience trying to buy tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour performance in Minneapolis back in summer 2023. ↩︎
  6. Minn. Stat. § 325F.676. “Place of entertainment” means amphitheaters, theaters, stadiums, arenas, racetracks, museums, amusement parks, venues, clubs, or other places where performances, concerts, exhibits, athletic games, contests, or other forms of entertainment are held. However, the definition does not include movie theaters. Minn. Stat. § 325F.676 subd. 1(h). ↩︎
  7. See, e.g., Minn. Stat. § 325F.676; Dana Ferguson & Clay Masters, ‘Look What You Made Me Do’: Minnesota Lawmakers Pass Proposals to Crack Down on Ticket, Junk Fees, MPR News (Apr. 12, 2024, 8:30 AM), https://www.mprnews.org/story/2024/04/12/minnesota-lawmakers-pass-1989-taylor-swift-bill-to-crack-down-on-ticket-junk-fees. ↩︎
  8. Minn. Stat. § 325F.676 subd. 3. ↩︎
  9. Minn. Stat. § 181.173. ↩︎
  10. Omnibus Labor and Industry Policy Bill, ch. 110, 2024 Minn. Laws. ↩︎
  11. Minn. Stat. § 504B.212. ↩︎
  12. Minn. Stat. § 504B.153. ↩︎
  13. Minn. Stat. § 504B.161 subd. 1(a)(5). ↩︎
  14. See Minn. Stat. § 609A.015. ↩︎
  15. Haecherl & Besst, supra note 4. ↩︎
  16. Minn. Stat. § 609A.015 subd. 3(b) (defining “qualifying offense”). ↩︎
  17. Minn. Stat. § 609.67. ↩︎
  18. Prohibit Auto Sears, Bump Stocks, and Other Rapid-Fire Devices, Everytown for Gun Safety https://www.everytown.org/solutions/prohibit-bump-stocks/ (last visited Jan. 29, 2025). ↩︎
  19. Minn. Stat. § 62Q.524. ↩︎
  20. Minn. Stat. § 62Q.585. ↩︎
  21. Minn. Stat. § 62Q.481 (capping patient co-pays at $25 per month for prescription drugs treating chronic conditions, including diabetes and asthma). ↩︎
  22. Minn. Stat. § 62Q.473. ↩︎
  23. Minn. Stat. § 62A.28. ↩︎
  24. Minn. Stat. § 62Q.531. ↩︎
  25. Minn. Stat. § 116.943. ↩︎
  26. Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), Nat’l Inst. of Env’t Health Sci., https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pfc (last updated Jan. 6, 2025). ↩︎
  27. Minn. Stat. § 116.943 subd. 5(a). ↩︎
  28. Minn. Stat. § 116.943 subd. 5(c). ↩︎
  29. Minn. Stat. § 203B.081 subd. 4. ↩︎
  30. Rep. Mike Freiberg (DFL-Golden Valley) said of the bill: “Our goal this past session has been to make voting as safe, secure and accessible to people as possible. This was a group that we felt was kind of underserved by the current voting infrastructure.” Emily Haugen, Rep. Mike Freiberg Talks New Campus Election Law, CCX Media (Dec. 30, 2024, 4:29 PM), https://ccxmedia.org/news/rep-mike-friberg-talks-new-campus-election-law/. ↩︎
  31. Minn. Stat. § 204B.06 subd. 1b. ↩︎
  32. See Ryan Faircloth & Briana Bierschbach, DFL Residency Case Has Thrown Minnesota Legislative Session into Doubt. Could It Have Been Avoided?, Minnesota Star Tribune (Jan. 25, 2025, 2:19 PM), https://www.startribune.com/dfl-residency-case-has-thrown-minnesota-legislative-session-into-doubt-could-it-have-been-avoided/601210517 (describing the “partisan standoff between Democrats and Republicans in the Minnesota House” resulting from DFL candidate Curtis Johnson’s residency issue and invalidated election win). ↩︎
  33. Minn. Stat. § 144E.011. ↩︎
  34. Minn. Stat. § 144E.011 subd. 3. ↩︎

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