This bill addresses civil actions involving the attorney general of Minnesota, specifically regarding the discovery of state entity records in civil enforcement actions. It establishes that when the attorney general acts on behalf of the people of Minnesota, they do so in the public interest and not as a representative of any state department or agency. The bill includes provisions that state records from other departments, agencies, boards, and commissions are not subject to discovery in these actions unless they are explicitly named as parties in the litigation. Additionally, records maintained under an attorney-client relationship with the attorney general's office are not accessible to divisions prosecuting civil law enforcement actions.

Furthermore, the bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 15.17, by adding a subdivision that clarifies that each state agency is the sole custodian of its records. This means that each department, agency, board, commission, or other entity within the legislative, executive, and judicial branches is solely responsible for its own records and information, reinforcing the separation of records management among state entities.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 15.17