This bill seeks to enhance data privacy for judicial officials in Minnesota by classifying their real property records as private data. It amends several sections of the Minnesota Statutes, including sections 13.991, 480.40, and 480.45, to limit access to these records and establish penalties for violations. A key provision requires judicial officials to submit a "real property notice" to the county recorder and the Secretary of State, which includes specific personal details and is classified as private data. The bill outlines conditions for disclosing this information, emphasizing that it cannot be shared without the judicial official's consent or under specific legal circumstances. Additionally, a new section, 480.50, is introduced to define terms related to personal information in real property records and establish protections for such data.

Moreover, the bill introduces provisions for service fees related to the handling of personal information, allowing county recorders and other government entities to charge a $40 service fee for transactions involving real property notices and requests. These fees will be deposited into the general fund of the respective entity and are not classified as standard county recorder or registrar of titles fees. The bill also amends the definition of forgery to include offenses related to the misuse of personal information of judicial officials, clarifying the definitions of "judicial official" and "personal information." All changes, including those related to the forgery statute, will take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 13.991, 480.40, 480.45, 609.63