Automated license plate reader data regulations and provisions modifications

Minnesota Senate Bill 4739, introduced on March 23, 2026, aims to strengthen regulations on Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) data. The bill mandates that all ALPR data be stored centrally at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). It restricts data collection to license plate numbers, timestamps, and photographs of vehicles and their surroundings. Data not tied to active criminal investigations must be destroyed within 48 hours. Access to this data by law enforcement agencies requires written authorization based on reasonable suspicion, with each access documented in an audit trail. The bill also prohibits sharing ALPR data outside Minnesota unless a court order or warrant is obtained. Additionally, it extends these regulations to private entities that share their collected data with law enforcement agencies. ([revisor.mn.gov](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/94/2026/0/SF/4739/versions/0/?utm_source=openai))

MN SF4739 is a senate bill in the Minnesota 94th Legislature 2025-2026, sponsored by Clare Oumou Verbeten (D), currently “Introduced” since March 23, 2026.

We track 10,590 Minnesota bills this session, 116 of them sponsored by Clare Oumou Verbeten.

The ACLU of Minnesota supports SF 4739, highlighting its potential to enhance restrictions on ALPR data, centralize data storage at the BCA, regulate private entities' use of ALPRs, and amend existing statutes. ([aclu-mn.org](https://www.aclu-mn.org/legislation/sf4739-alprs/?utm_source=openai))

While specific negative media coverage on SF 4739 is not readily available, concerns have been raised in Minnesota regarding the use of ALPR technology. For instance, the University of Minnesota decided to remove a recently installed Flock ALPR camera in the West Bank neighborhood of Minneapolis following public backlash over privacy concerns. This decision was influenced by criticism from state Representative Mohamud Noor and local community members, particularly due to worries about surveillance and data access by federal agencies like ICE. ([axios.com](https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/09/11/university-of-minnesota-flock-camera-west-bank?utm_source=openai)) These events suggest that while SF 4739 aims to regulate ALPR data usage, there may be ongoing debates and concerns about privacy and surveillance practices in the state.