Legislature Tackles Protests Outside Personal Residences This Session

It should come as no suprise one of the first bills submitted in this year’s Minnesota Legislature has to do with protesting. Protests, who can participate, and what they can do while participating will be a hot-button issue for the next few months.

But House File #2809 seems like a pretty common-sense place to start.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Walter Hudson, along with Reps. Paul Novotny, Harry Niska, Lisa Demuth, and more than two dozen others would make it a gross misdemeanor for anyone to protest outside a personal residence. There are a few exceptions: if the residence is used as a place of business, or if the building is commonly used as a meeting place or a place to discuss matters of community interest.

Protestors found in violation of this bill, if passed, will face misdemeanor charges of “residential protesting”.

It is unclear if places like the Minnesota Governor’s Mansion, a common place for political protests, would be protected by this bill, but it would protect the personal residences of judges, legislators, and others who may find themselves in the political spotlight.

House File #2809 has been assigned to the House Public Safety Policy and Finance Committee.