Data Practices (Minnesota Government Data Practices Act)

A Minnesota law that gives you the right to see data the government has about you and controls what government agencies can share about you with others.

The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act is a state law that controls how government agencies collect, store, and share information. It applies to every level of government in Minnesota: cities, counties, school districts, state agencies, and more. This law gives you specific rights when it comes to data the government holds about you.

Under the Act, government data falls into three categories. Public data is information anyone can ask to see, like government salaries or meeting minutes. Private data is information about you that only you (or people you authorize) can access, like your medical records held by a government agency. Confidential data is information that neither you nor the public can see, because the law has determined it must stay restricted (for example, certain law enforcement investigation details).

If you want to see data the government has about you, you have the right to make a request. The agency must respond within 10 business days. You do not need to explain why you want the data. If the agency refuses or fails to respond, you may have grounds to take legal action under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13.

Why it matters: This law is unique to Minnesota and gives residents strong protections over their personal information held by government. If a government agency is collecting information about you, sharing your records without permission, or refusing to let you see your own data, the Data Practices Act is the law that protects you.

Example: You apply for a county housing program and provide personal financial information. Later, you learn the county shared your income details with another department without your permission. Under the Data Practices Act, you can request to see exactly what data the county has about you and challenge the unauthorized sharing of your private information.