Minnesota Action Alert: Help Privacy Bill Move Forward

Minnesota bill HF3173 requires government entities to obtain search warrants before obtaining personal identifying information, particularly electronic data, on an individual.

Status: This bill was introduced in the House on March 19, 2014 and was referred to the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee on the same date.

YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED NOW to make sure this legislation is passed by the committee.

1. Call the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee.  Be strong, but respectful. Urge them to support HF3173 and move the bill forward in their committee. If they do not commit to a YES vote, ask them why.

A phone call holds as much as 10x the impact of an email.

Committee Chair: Michael Paymar, 651-296-4199
Committee Vice-Chair: Paul Rosenthal, 651-296-7803

2. Call the chief author of the bill, who also is a member of this committee.  Thank him for introducing the bill and voice your support for it.  Let him know you are calling all the committee members to urge them to support HF3173.

Bill Chief Author: John Lesch, 651-296-4224

3. Call all the other members of the Committee.  Again, be strong but respectful. Ask them each for a YES vote on HF3173. If they say they’re opposed, ask them why. If they’re undecided or will not commit to a YES vote, let them know you will be following up in a few days after they have a chance to consider it.

Again, make sure to contact them with a phone call rather than an email.

Tony Cornish, 651-296-4240
Debra Hilstrom, 651-296-3709
Brian Johnson, 651-296-4346
Tim Kelly, 651-296-8635
Andrea Kieffer, 651-296-1147
Kathy Lohmer, 651-296-4244
Joe Mullery, 651-296-4262
Jim Newberger, 651-296-2451
Shannon Savick, 651-296-8216
Dan Schoen, 651-296-4342
Steve Simon, 651-296-9889
Erik Simonson, 651-296-4246
Linda Slocum, 651-296-7158
Mark Uglem, 651-296-5513
John Ward, 651-296-4333
Lyndon Carlson Sr., 651-296-4255 (ex-officio committee member)

4.  Call Back – any NO or UNDECIDED – in 3-4 days.  Ask if they’ve had a chance to review the legislation and what their opposition might be. Comment below or contact us with any information you get.

5.  Write a letter to the editor Look up your local newspaper and submit a letter to the editor voicing your support for HF3173.  It’s essential that the State of Minnesota protects private identifying information, including electronic data, by requiring any government entity to obtain search warrants before acquiring and using any personal information.  Passing HF3173 will update Minnesota laws, to make them consistent with the letter and intent of the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution.

6. Report Back. Tell us how your actions went. Click the button below