Minnesota narrows dissolution notice language to cases with children

Minnesota’s 2026 judiciary act clarifies which dissolution and legal-separation proceedings trigger notice to the public authority under section 518A.44. Section 3 of chapter 71 adds a children qualifier after each of those two categories. The statute continues to cover parentage determinations and child-custody proceedings when either party receives public assistance or applies for it after the proceeding begins.

The petitioner remains responsible for giving the notice. The restated provision specifies identifying information for the parties and addresses the setting of child support after notice. The amendment does not replace those support provisions or create a new support formula. Its specific change is to the description of the dissolution and separation proceedings covered by this notice requirement.

The same act extends the Supreme Court Council on Child Protection’s final-report deadline to December 15, 2026, and its expiration to June 30, 2027. It also extends the availability of the council’s onetime appropriation through June 30, 2027. Those are separate provisions from the notice amendment.

The governor signed chapter 71 on May 7, 2026. The official bill-status page lists July 1, 2026 as the effective date; the act itself contains no separate effective-date section. This report uses the date stated in that official status record without attributing an unstated explanation to the legislature.