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House bill would require cities to give landlords the attorney general's landlord-tenant guide when issuing rental licenses
Summary
Committee adopted an amendment and referred House File 1471 to the general register after the author and tenant advocates said the measure would improve landlord awareness of tenant rights with minimal administrative burden.
House File 1471, introduced by Representative Mamani Hiltzley, would require a city, statutory city, or town that issues or renews a rental license, certificate of occupancy or similar permit to provide the landlord a physical copy or a digital link to the Minnesota attorney general's landlord-tenant handbook. The committee adopted the A-1 amendment placing the bill in the shape the author preferred, then approved a motion to refer the bill to the general register.
Representative Mamani Hiltzley told the committee she calls the measure "the let's make sure landlords read the rules bill." She said the change is small but would ensure landlords have the same information tenants often try to find online late at night. "This bill is simple . . . when a home rule charter city statutory city or town issues a renewal or renews a rental license certificate of occupancy or similar document they must provide landlords with a physical copy or a digital link to the attorney general's landlord tenant guide," Hiltzley said.
Michael Dahl, public policy director at HomeLine, testified in support and described the volume of tenant questions his organization fields. "Nearly 30% of all Minnesotans live in rental housing," Dahl told the committee, and he said HomeLine's hotline handled 19,932 rental households in the previous year. He listed common reasons tenants call -- repairs (5,341 calls), security deposits (2,103 calls) and privacy/entry concerns (874 calls in 2024) -- and said the attorney general's handbook explains rights and responsibilities landlords and tenants often do not know.
Dahl said the handbook includes specifics such as the 21-day requirement for landlords to return or explain withholding security deposits, the requirement to disclose total monthly rent and mandatory fees on the first page of the lease, and notice requirements for landlord entry. He said better-informed landlords and tenants would reduce disputes and strengthen housing stability.
The committee did not take additional changes to the bill during the hearing. After questions and a brief member discussion that the measure was "straightforward," the committee approved the motion to re-refer the bill as amended to the general register by voice vote.
The committee record shows a voice vote; no roll-call tally was provided in the transcript.
