This bill seeks to enhance tenant rights and protections in Minnesota by introducing several key provisions aimed at improving the landlord-tenant relationship. It prohibits discrimination against tenants based on their participation in public assistance programs and bans practices such as pet declawing and devocalization. The bill also mandates that landlords disclose all nonoptional fees in lease agreements and establishes penalties for noncompliance. Additionally, it requires initial and move-out inspections of rental units, ensuring tenants can address deficiencies before any deductions from their security deposits. The legislation further strengthens tenant protections during eviction proceedings by establishing a right to counsel for financially disadvantaged tenants and clarifying the conditions under which landlords may enter rental properties.

Moreover, the bill modifies the eviction process, allowing tenants to combine claims of nonpayment of rent with lease violation allegations without needing to pay rent into court. It introduces a requirement for landlords to provide written notice detailing the total amount due before initiating eviction actions and specifies the documentation needed for filing eviction complaints. The bill also addresses the expungement of eviction records, allowing for both discretionary and mandatory expungement under certain conditions. These changes, effective January 1, 2024, represent a significant shift in Minnesota's housing law, aiming to create a more equitable and informed environment for tenants.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 504B.001, 504B.285, 504B.291, 504B.321, 504B.331, 504B.335, 504B.345, 504B.361, 504B.365, 504B.371, 504B.341
1st Engrossment: 363A.09, 363A.21, 504B.178, 504B.211, 504B.161, 504B.375, 504B.381, 504B.135, 504B.285, 504B.291, 504B.321, 504B.331, 504B.335, 504B.345, 504B.361, 504B.371, 484.014
2nd Engrossment: 363A.09, 363A.21, 504B.178, 504B.211, 504B.161, 504B.375, 504B.381, 504B.135, 504B.285, 504B.291, 504B.321, 504B.331, 504B.335, 504B.345, 504B.361, 504B.371, 484.014
3rd Engrossment: 363A.09, 363A.21, 504B.178, 504B.211, 504B.161, 504B.375, 504B.381, 504B.135, 504B.285, 504B.291, 504B.321, 504B.331, 504B.335, 504B.345, 504B.361, 504B.371, 484.014
3rd Engrossment: 363A.09, 363A.21, 504B.178, 504B.211, 504B.161, 504B.375, 504B.381, 504B.135, 504B.285, 504B.291, 504B.321, 504B.331, 504B.335, 504B.345, 504B.361, 504B.371, 484.014
2nd Engrossment: 363A.09, 363A.21, 504B.178, 504B.211, 504B.161, 504B.375, 504B.381, 504B.135, 504B.285, 504B.291, 504B.321, 504B.331, 504B.335, 504B.345, 504B.361, 504B.371, 484.014
1st Engrossment: 363A.09, 363A.21, 504B.178, 504B.211, 504B.161, 504B.375, 504B.381, 504B.135, 504B.285, 504B.291, 504B.321, 504B.331, 504B.335, 504B.345, 504B.361, 504B.371, 484.014