Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota Senate Bill SF1685 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1.1 A bill for an act
2	2	1.2 relating to landlord and tenant; modifying requirements for a written lease; requiring
3	3	1.3 disclosure of additional landlord contact information; prohibiting landlords from
4	4	1.4 listing the name of a minor child of a tenant in a lease or eviction complaint;
5	5	1.5 establishing a right of a prospective tenant to view the rental unit; establishing
6	6	1.6 additional tenant remedies and penalties against landlords; amending Minnesota
7	7	1.7 Statutes 2024, sections 504B.111; 504B.181, subdivision 1; proposing coding for
8	8	1.8 new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 504B.
9	9	1.9BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
10	10	1.10 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 504B.111, is amended to read:
11	11	1.11 504B.111 WRITTEN LEASE REQUIRED; PENALTY.
12	12	1.12 (a) A landlord must include in any written lease all the terms of the tenancy. A landlord
13	13	1.13may not unilaterally amend or change a written lease. The written lease must identify the
14	14	1.14specific unit the residential tenant will occupy before the residential tenant signs the lease.
15	15	1.15Notwithstanding any other state law or city ordinance to the contrary, a landlord may ask
16	16	1.16for the tenant's full name and date of birth on the lease and application. A landlord and
17	17	1.17tenant may agree to amend a lease only if the amendment is supported by adequate
18	18	1.18consideration and the consideration is specifically set forth in a conspicuous writing. A
19	19	1.19landlord may offer a new lease to be effective after expiration of the current lease with terms
20	20	1.20different from the current lease.
21	21	1.21 (b) A landlord of a residential building with 12 or more residential units must have a
22	22	1.22written lease for each unit rented to a residential tenant. The written lease must identify the
23	23	1.23specific unit the residential tenant will occupy before the residential tenant signs the lease.
24	24	1.24Notwithstanding any other state law or city ordinance to the contrary, a landlord may ask
25	25	1Section 1.
26	26	25-02625 as introduced02/03/25 REVISOR JSK/DG
27	27	SENATE
28	28	STATE OF MINNESOTA
29	29	S.F. No. 1685NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
30	30	(SENATE AUTHORS: CLARK, Mohamed, Westlin, McEwen and Abeler)
31	31	OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
32	32	Introduction and first reading02/20/2025
33	33	Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety 2.1for the tenant's full name and date of birth on the lease and application. A landlord who fails
34	34	2.2to provide a lease, as required under this section, is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
35	35	2.3 (c) The tenant shall recover from the landlord treble actual and consequential damages
36	36	2.4or $500, whichever is greater, and reasonable attorney fees, for a violation of this section.
37	37	2.5 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective August 1, 2025, and applies to leases
38	38	2.6entered into, renewed, or extended on or after that date. For the purposes of this section,
39	39	2.7estates at will shall be deemed to be renewed or extended at the commencement of each
40	40	2.8rental period.
41	41	2.9 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 504B.181, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
42	42	2.10 Subdivision 1.Disclosure to tenant.(a) There shall be disclosed to the residential tenant
43	43	2.11either in the rental agreement or otherwise in writing prior to commencement of the tenancy
44	44	2.12the name and, occupied street address within 50 miles of the dwelling, phone number, and
45	45	2.13email address of:
46	46	2.14 (1) the owner of the premises;
47	47	2.15 (1) (2) the person authorized to manage the premises; and
48	48	2.16 (2) (3) the landlord of the premises or and an agent authorized by the landlord to accept
49	49	2.17service of process and receive and give receipt for notices and demands.
50	50	2.18 (b) An occupied street address does not include post office boxes and commercial mail
51	51	2.19boxes. The phone number and email address shall be normally answerable 24 hours a day,
52	52	2.20seven days a week, not subject to normal business hours. The persons designated shall
53	53	2.21respond to inquiries from tenants within a reasonable period of time.
54	54	2.22 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective August 1, 2025, and applies to leases
55	55	2.23entered into, renewed, or extended on or after that date. For the purposes of this section,
56	56	2.24estates at will shall be deemed to be renewed or extended at the commencement of each
57	57	2.25rental period.
58	58	2.26 Sec. 3. [504B.2136] LISTING OF MINORS AS LEASE PARTIES OR DEFENDANTS
59	59	2.27PROHIBITED.
60	60	2.28 (a) A residential lease shall not list a minor child of a residential tenant as a tenant. If a
61	61	2.29minor is the only person renting the unit from the landlord, the lease may list the minor as
62	62	2.30a tenant.
63	63	2Sec. 3.
64	64	25-02625 as introduced02/03/25 REVISOR JSK/DG 3.1 (b) A residential landlord shall not list a minor child of a residential tenant as a defendant
65	65	3.2in an eviction action complaint against the residential tenant. If a minor is the only person
66	66	3.3renting the unit from the landlord, the landlord may list the minor as a defendant in an
67	67	3.4eviction action complaint against the minor.
68	68	3.5 (c) The requirements of this section may not be waived or modified by the parties to a
69	69	3.6residential lease. Any provision, whether oral or written, of a lease or other agreement by
70	70	3.7which any provision of this section is waived by a tenant is contrary to public policy and
71	71	3.8void. The tenant shall recover from the landlord treble actual and consequential damages
72	72	3.9or $1,000, whichever is greater, and reasonable attorney fees, for a violation of this section.
73	73	3.10 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective August 1, 2025, and applies to leases
74	74	3.11entered into, renewed, or extended on or after that date. For the purposes of this section,
75	75	3.12estates at will shall be deemed to be renewed or extended at the commencement of each
76	76	3.13rental period.
77	77	3.14 Sec. 4. [504B.2143] PROSPECTIVE TENANT RIGHT TO VIEW DWELLING.
78	78	3.15 The landlord must notify a prospective tenant of their option to view the dwelling that
79	79	3.16the landlord intends to rent to the tenant. At the request of the prospective tenant, the landlord
80	80	3.17shall allow the prospective tenant to visit the dwelling before leasing the dwelling to the
81	81	3.18prospective tenant. If the prospective tenant cannot visit the dwelling in person, at the request
82	82	3.19of the prospective tenant, the landlord shall allow the prospective tenant to remotely and
83	83	3.20electronically view the dwelling before leasing the dwelling to the prospective tenant. Any
84	84	3.21agreement by which any provision of this section is waived by a tenant is contrary to public
85	85	3.22policy and void. The tenant shall recover from the landlord treble actual and consequential
86	86	3.23damages or $1,000, whichever is greater, and reasonable attorney fees, for a violation of
87	87	3.24this section.
88	88	3Sec. 4.
89	89	25-02625 as introduced02/03/25 REVISOR JSK/DG