This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 628.26, to eliminate the statute of limitations for the crime of arson in the first degree, specifically referenced as section 609.561. The bill allows for indictments or complaints for this offense to be filed at any time after the commission of the crime. Additionally, the bill makes several other amendments to the limitations on various crimes, including provisions for offenses involving victims under the age of 18, and establishes different time frames for filing complaints based on the nature of the crime.

The bill also introduces new legal language regarding the time limits for filing complaints related to other offenses, such as those involving theft or violations of specific sections of the law. It clarifies that certain periods, such as those during which the defendant was not a resident of the state or was participating in a pretrial diversion program, will not count towards the statute of limitations. The effective date for these changes is set for August 1, 2025, and they will apply to crimes committed on or after that date, as well as to crimes committed before that date if the limitations period had not expired by then.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 628.26