MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Minnesota Makes Grooming a Child for Sexual Conduct a Felony

ST. PAUL, MN (August 2, 2026). A Minnesota law making it a felony for an adult to groom a child for future sexual conduct took effect Saturday, expanding the state’s ability to intervene before physical abuse occurs.

Under the new law, an adult may face criminal charges for deliberately building a false relationship of trust with a child while intending to engage in sexual conduct later.

Prosecutors will not have to establish that sexual contact ultimately occurred. The grooming conduct and the adult’s criminal intent may be sufficient to support a charge.

The law applies to individuals age 18 or older.

Supporters said the change addresses conduct that can precede child sexual abuse, including manipulation, secrecy, isolation and the deliberate creation of an inappropriate relationship between an adult and a minor.

The legislation also establishes new reporting responsibilities when licensed educators face certain criminal charges.

Police departments and county sheriff’s offices must notify the appropriate licensing board when a teacher is charged with an offense that can result in automatic license denial, revocation without a hearing or registration as a predatory offender.

Those notifications are intended to prevent serious criminal charges from remaining unknown to the state entities responsible for reviewing educator licenses.

The law also changes how the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families handles reports involving alleged grooming.

The department may no longer decline or limit an investigation solely because the reported grooming occurred more than three years earlier.

By August 1, 2027, the department must update mandated-reporter training for education professionals. The training must address how to identify and report grooming and threatened sexual abuse, recognize warning signs and understand environments that may place children at greater risk.

The law creates a criminal offense based on intentional grooming behavior. It does not make ordinary interaction between adults and children a crime. Prosecutors must still prove the elements required under the statute.

Lawmakers presented the legislation as an effort to strengthen child protection, improve information-sharing and ensure that allegations involving educators reach the appropriate licensing authorities.

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