Minnesota Senate Bill SF4717

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/23/26
• Refer: 3/23/26

Caption

Certain damage to farm machinery and equipment crime establishment

Summary

SF 4717 creates a new criminal offense for intentionally placing hard objects in growing crops on agricultural land, without the owner’s or operator’s consent, when done with the intent to damage harvesting, spraying, tillage, irrigation, fertilizing, or planting equipment. That conduct would be a gross misdemeanor, and a court would be required to order restitution to the owner of any damaged machinery or equipment. The bill also amends Minnesota’s trespass statute to add agricultural land to the list of places where trespass can be charged as a gross misdemeanor when a person enters with intent to take or injure an agricultural crop or to damage farm machinery or equipment used to produce the crop. In effect, the bill elevates certain crop- and equipment-related interference on farm property from ordinary misdemeanor treatment to a more serious gross misdemeanor offense.

Impact

The bill would add a new section to Minnesota Statutes chapter 609 and revise section 609.605 to expand gross misdemeanor trespass provisions. It would specifically affect criminal liability for conduct on agricultural land, including sabotage-like acts involving hidden hard objects in crops and trespass with intent to damage crops or farm equipment. Farmers, landowners, operators, and prosecutors would gain a clearer statutory basis for charging and seeking restitution in these cases.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and its introduction status, the measure appears to be framed as a protective response to agricultural property damage and trespass, with an emphasis on deterrence and restitution. No committee testimony or recorded votes are available in the provided materials, so there is no documented opposition or support beyond the bill’s sponsor-driven introduction. The overall posture of the bill is punitive and protective toward agricultural producers.

Contention

The main policy issue is the scope of criminalization on agricultural land. Supporters would likely view the bill as necessary to deter intentional sabotage of farm equipment and crop damage, while potential critics could question whether existing trespass, property damage, or criminal mischief laws already cover the conduct and whether the new offense is broader or duplicative. Another possible point of contention is the use of a gross misdemeanor penalty for conduct that may be difficult to prove, especially the requirement to show intent to damage machinery or equipment.