Senate File 571, which would update Minnesota's Uniform Trust Code and related probate provisions, was presented and recommended to pass by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Jan. 27, 2025.

Proponents said the bill makes technical corrections and modernizes multiple trust- and probate-related statutes. Lauren Baron of the Minnesota State Bar Association's Probate, Trust and Estates Section walked the committee through the draft, describing changes that extend the rule against perpetuities, clarify when an agent under a power of attorney may modify a trust, raise the threshold for terminating an uneconomic trust, and add procedural clarifications to trust-related certificates and affidavits.

The bill also includes revisions to directed-trust provisions, adjustments to how expenses are allocated between income and principal to include revocable trusts, changes to the Power of Appointment/decanting provisions, and probate-code changes related to inheritance by estranged parents and treatment of ex-spouse relatives after divorce. Baron said the changes mostly track uniform law and recent Minnesota court interpretations.

Senator Westlund offered an A2 author's amendment described as technical; the committee approved it by voice vote. After discussion and the presentation, Senator Westlund moved that Senate File 571 as amended be recommended to pass and move to the Senate floor; the committee approved the motion by voice vote. No roll-call tallies were provided in the transcript.

Committee members asked few technical questions during the presentation. Baron told the committee the changes reflect about a decade of practice-driven proposals and are intended to reduce litigation, update terminology, and align Minnesota with practices in other states.

The committee record shows no public testimony for or against the bill at the hearing. With the committee recommendation, SF 571 will be scheduled for floor consideration according to Senate procedures and calendars.