ST. PAUL — Some of the laws passed in the Minnesota Legislature in the last session went into effect on Aug. 1.
One that was passed with near-unanimous support creates more stringent requirements for repeat driving-while-intoxicated offenders.
The bill expands the state’s ignition interlock program — a device like a breathalyzer that won’t allow a vehicle to start until the driver has proven they’re not impaired.
The legislation was inspired by a 2024 incident in which a drunk driver, with several prior DWI convictions, killed two people on a restaurant patio and injured several others in St. Louis Park.
As of Aug. 1, consequences for DWIs will get tougher, extending the "lookback period" for prior DWIs from 10 to 20 years. Anyone who gets a DWI with a prior one in the last 20 years will have to use an interlock device for 2 years.
The penalties get stricter for repeat offenders; with two new DWIs requiring 6 years of interlock, and offenders with three new DWIs will have to use the interlock for 10 years.
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Plus: Cloquet-Esko-Carlton sports co-op to end; state grants to fund workforce development programs with Central Lakes College, Consolidated Equipment Group and Lexington Manufacturing; and Sec. of State Steve Simon to host elections town hall. -
Contributed/Nicole Neri / Minnesota ReformerGov. Tim Walz commended Minnesotans’ compassion during tragedy and praised their resilience after a federal immigration crackdown, political assassination and school shooting. -
Contributed/Adobe Stock Image via Minnesota News ConnectionExtra dollars in the state will fund the public input process ahead of possible changes to the state's financial aid program. -
Plus: the federal government approved St. Louis County's public labor agreements for road and bridge projects; an additional 5,000 trees will be distributed in the ReForest Bemidji event; and four Northern Minnesota fire departments will host Women Explore Fire Day events on May 2, 2026.
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Lorie Shaull/KAXEResearch indicates that in the coming decades, the state is likely to see more risk days of wildfires starting on the ground due to more extreme droughts connected to climate change. -
Matt C/UnsplashWomen Explore Fire Day in Minnesota offers hands-on opportunities to learn more about volunteer, paid on-call and full-time positions in local fire departments in all regions.
