Committee corrects protective‑order statute to explicitly recognize Canadian and other foreign orders

ST. PAUL — The House Public Safety Committee on Feb. 25 placed House File 2169 on the general register after brief testimony that the bill closes a gap in Minnesota law so that protective orders issued in Canada, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories receive the same recognition under a statute addressing deaths that occur while an order is in effect.

Representative Schwartz said the 2021 law already recognized Canadian protective orders generally, but a gap remained in the homicide statute’s wording; the bill updates second‑degree unintentional murder provisions to include orders issued in Canada, D.C., tribal jurisdictions and territories. Liz Richards, director of victim services and restorative justice for the Minnesota Department of Corrections, was present to answer questions about protective‑order comparability and noted full‑faith‑and‑credit provisions exist under federal law for many protective orders.

Members asked about differences in wording and how courts assess validity; Richards said protective orders can vary but are afforded full faith and credit when validly issued, and committee members cited prior uniform‑law work recognizing Canadian orders. The committee approved placing the technical correction on the general register by voice vote.