Attorney
Kennedy & Graven, Chartered
Attorney
Kennedy & Graven, Chartered
As a result of the bravery and fierce advocacy of Eagan High School graduate Hannah LoPresto, who was groomed by her band director for several years, the Minnesota legislature unanimously passed HF 3489 – a bill which makes grooming a felony-level offense. Before, grooming was simply a behavior which eventually led to unlawful sexual offenses but was not a chargeable offense on its own. Indeed, LoPresto’s perpetrator was never charged for his misconduct due to gaps in the law. HF 3489 closes those gaps.
Governor Walz signed the bill into law on May 27, 2026. The bill amends several Minnesota statutes which directly affect Minnesota schools, including the Minnesota criminal code, reporting and training requirements for educators, and teacher licensing suspensions or revocations.
Under the new law, grooming is defined as a pattern of behavior by an adult where the adult builds a relationship of trust with a minor, expressing intimate and inappropriate physical or sexual desires, and using that relationship to manipulate the minor into future sexual conduct. Sexual misconduct does not actually need to take place for grooming to occur.
The legislature keenly added two subsections specifically to protect students in schools from adults they regularly interact with. The new law makes it a felony offense for an adult to groom a student when the adult is employed or contracted at a school or is a person in a position of authority, regardless of the student’s age.
These amendments to the State’s criminal code go into effect August 1, 2026, and apply to conduct after this date.
Teacher licensure and reporting requirements have also been updated. Beginning July 1, 2026, the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board or the Board of School Administrators are prohibited from renewing or issuing a teaching license if the teacher has been convicted of grooming. Law enforcement is also required to notify the appropriate licensing board when a teacher has been criminally charged with grooming.
Under the Maltreatment of Minors Act, maltreatment includes sexual abuse and threatened sexual abuse. The definition of sexual abuse under the Act now includes the offense of grooming. The new law requires the commissioner of children, youth, and families, in consultation with the Minnesota Department of Education (“MDE”), to update mandated reporter training to address grooming. The training must inform mandated reporters of their duty to report grooming under the Maltreatment of Minors Act, how to identify signs of grooming, and how to recognize environments or circumstances that may present an increased risk of grooming.
The deadline to update the training guidelines is August 1, 2027 – an entire year after the criminal grooming statute goes into effect. What does this mean for teachers and other mandated reporters in the interim?
Even without the updated training from MDE, mandated reporters should still be prepared to identify and report grooming behavior beginning August 1, 2026 (when the criminal grooming law goes into effect). The onus falls on school districts and school leadership to alert teachers and staff about the new anti-grooming law and reporting obligations in preparation for the upcoming school year.
Minnesota made significant strides to protect students and minors from grooming behavior – especially by trusted adults in school settings. Educators should familiarize themselves with what conduct constitutes grooming under the new laws and be aware of their obligation to report suspected grooming immediately. Educators should also be on the lookout for the MDE’s updated training guidelines, which must be released no later than August 1, 2027, but could be issued anytime.
This article is intended to provide general information with commentary. It should not be relied on as legal advice. If required, legal advice regarding this topic should be obtained from district legal counsel.
Mallory P. Nordberg is an attorney with the law firm of Kennedy & Graven, Chartered. Mallory brings extensive experience in civil litigation, employment law, special education, and appellate law. She has argued before the Colorado and Minnesota Courts of Appeals. Mallory is licensed in Arizona, Colorado, and Minnesota. Mallory shares a dual citizenship with Australia, where she lived for her elementary school years. She and her husband also own a coffee shop in the Minneapolis skyway. For more information, please contact her at (612) 337-9302 or mnordberg@kennedy-graven.com.
Carlos Soto-Quezada is an attorney with the law firm of Kennedy & Graven, Chartered. Carlos brings a wealth of experience in civil rights, municipal, land use, and appellate litigation. He has represented Minnesota counties, cities, and townships in state, federal, and administrative courts, and has argued before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Carlos is licensed in Minnesota. Before law school, Carlos was an upper elementary school teacher in the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. He is also involved in the Twin Cities live-reality-game community. For more information, please contact him at (612) 337-9208 or csoto-quezada@kennedy-graven.com.
© Mallory P. Nordberg and Carlos Soto-Quezada (2026). Used with permission.
