Panel advances 'free the hot tubs' proposal, health department raises safety concerns

Representative Schultz and Representative Greenman presented House File 2147 on March 21, calling it the "free the hot tubs" bill. The measure would change state rules that currently treat short‑term‑rental hot tubs like public pools, a standard sponsors and industry witnesses said is impractical for single‑ or single‑household hot tubs. "Treating a single occupancy hot tub the same way as a public pool that may have hundreds of people a day just doesn't make sense from a regulatory perspective," Representative Greenman said.

The Minnesota Short Term Rental Association urged the committee to approve the bill. David Deebel, president of the association, said above‑ground residential hot tubs typically cannot meet Department of Health public‑pool standards and are enforced inconsistently across counties. "Across the state, there's thousands of current short term rentals that are safely operating hot tubs for guest use," Deebel said, adding many owners use professional water‑service companies and modern UV/ozone sanitizing systems.

Myra Kunis, assistant commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Health, appeared in opposition on safety grounds. Kunis listed risks the department watches for with unregulated hot tubs: drowning, entrapment, waterborne infections such as Legionella and cryptosporidium, "hot tub rash," and chemical hazards. The department said residential hot tubs often lack safety devices required for public pools and asked to work with authors on adjustments.

A small‑business testifier who runs a wilderness resort in Cook County said hot tubs are a competitive amenity and that commercial‑grade tubs inspected annually by health departments have not caused issues in their experience. Committee members asked about the bill's interaction with an existing houseboat hot‑tub exclusion and insurance levels for short‑term rental operators. Sponsors clarified the bill is intended to retain the houseboat exclusion and to apply a notice regime and minimum procedures for short‑term rentals.

The committee approved an A‑1 author amendment by voice vote to place the bill in the authors' preferred form and the chair laid House File 2147 over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill. Members and sponsors said they will continue working with the Department of Health on technical fixes.