Minnesota § 617.293 - HARMFUL MATERIALS; DISSEMINATION AND DISPLAY TO MINORS PROHIBITED
Full text of Minnesota Minnesota Statutes § 617.293 — HARMFUL MATERIALS; DISSEMINATION AND DISPLAY TO MINORS PROHIBITED, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 617.293. HARMFUL MATERIALS; DISSEMINATION AND DISPLAY TO MINORS PROHIBITED
Subdivision 1.Dissemination.
It is unlawful for any person knowingly to sell or loan for monetary consideration to a minor:
(a) any picture, photograph, drawing, sculpture, motion picture film, or similar visual representation or image of a person or portion of the human body which depicts nudity, sexual conduct, or sadomasochistic abuse and which is harmful to minors, or
(b) any book, pamphlet, magazine, printed matter however reproduced, or sound recording which contains any matter enumerated in clause (a), or which contains explicit and detailed verbal descriptions or narrative accounts of sexual excitement, sexual conduct, or sadomasochistic abuse which, taken as a whole, is harmful to minors.
Subd. 2.Display.
(a) It is unlawful for any person commercially and knowingly to exhibit or display any material which is harmful to minors in its content in any place of public accommodation where minors are or may be present and where minors are able to view the material unless each item is kept in a sealed wrapper at all times.
(b) It is unlawful for any person commercially and knowingly to exhibit or display any material the cover or packaging of which, standing alone, is harmful to minors in any place of public accommodation where minors are or may be present or allowed to be present and where minors are able to view the material unless each item is blocked from view by an opaque cover. The opaque cover requirement is satisfied if those portions of the cover or packaging containing the material harmful to minors are blocked from view by an opaque cover.
(c) The provisions of this subdivision do not apply to the exhibition or display of materials harmful to minors under circumstances where minors are not present or are not able to view the material or the material's cover or packaging. A person may comply with the requirements of this paragraph by (1) physically segregating the material in a manner that physically prohibits access to and view of the material by minors, (2) prominently posting at the entrance to the restricted area: "Adults only--you must be 18 to enter," and (3) enforcing the restriction.
History:
1969 c 1071 s 3; 1971 c 25 s 95; 1988 c 452 s 1
Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes
Source: official Minnesota text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Minnesota § 617.293
What does Minnesota Statutes § 617.293 cover?
Section 617.293 ("HARMFUL MATERIALS; DISSEMINATION AND DISPLAY TO MINORS PROHIBITED") is part of the Minnesota Statutes, the codified statutory law of Minnesota. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Minnesota § 617.293?
A common citation format is "Minnesota Statutes § 617.293" (Minnesota). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Minnesota law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Minnesota official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Minnesota attorney.
How does Minnesota § 617.293 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Minnesota can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Minnesota.