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Committee debates background checks for tenant organizers; Homeline urges rejection
Summary
House File 935, which would authorize landlords to request criminal background checks of outside tenant organizers, prompted extended debate and a public witness urging the committee to vote no. The committee laid the bill over for possible inclusion.
Representative Nash presented House File 935, a proposal that would allow landlords to request criminal background checks for outside tenant organizers who enter rental buildings to canvass or hold meetings. Nash said the proposal is intended to give landlords and tenants a “reasonable expectation” of who is entering multi-unit housing.
“I'm not trying to take away people's opportunity to organize,” Nash said in committee debate. “My intent is to add another level of security for people.” He said his concern is organizers who may go door-to-door unaccompanied and therefore have access to multiple units.
Eric Hauge, executive director of Homeline, testified in opposition. Hauge described existing case law that protects tenants’ right to invite guests, citing State v. Hoyt (1981), and referenced Minnesota statute protections for canvassing and campaign volunteers (transcript referenced as Minnesota statute 211B.02). Hauge told the committee that expanding background checks to tenant organizers would create confusion and could sweep in family members, personal-care attendants, delivery drivers, inspectors, and volunteers. “Please vote no on this proposal which will not keep Minnesota tenants safer but will instead cause confusion within rental housing,” Hauge said.
Nonpartisan staff (Ms. Davis) identified the underlying tenant-organizer statute as 504B.212 and clarified that the statute allows a tenant organizer to enter a building with a tenant and distribute information, and that the only statutory requirement is independence from the owner.
Committee members split over the bill. Supporters said allowing a background check option would give landlords and tenants an additional tool to address safety concerns; opponents said the measure would erect barriers to organizing and singled out tenant organizers for scrutiny not applied to politicians, contractors or others who also enter buildings. Members raised practical questions about logistics, timelines, cost transparency, and landlord liability; nonpartisan staff told the committee liability is not addressed in the underlying statute.
Representative Nash renewed his motion that House File 935 be laid over for possible inclusion; the committee took no final vote.
Votes at this hearing: none; bill was laid over for further consideration.
