Children with autism additional accommodations in rental properties provision
Summary
SF2287 would create a new section in Minnesota Statutes chapter 504B requiring landlords to consider reasonable accommodations for tenants who have a child with autism when the tenant identifies a nearby body of water or other attractive nuisance that is accessible and close to the rental property. The accommodation is intended to protect the child from harm and may involve changes to policies, practices, procedures, or the property itself, so long as the changes do not fundamentally alter the nature of the facilities or create structural issues that are not reasonable.
The bill also allows a landlord to request documentation of the child’s autism unless the condition is already known or readily apparent, and it prohibits retaliation against a tenant who requests or receives an accommodation under the new law. In practical terms, the bill would expand housing-related disability accommodation obligations in Minnesota by specifically addressing safety concerns tied to children with autism and nearby hazards such as lakes, rivers, streams, and other attractive nuisances.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would add a new tenant-protection provision to Minnesota’s landlord-tenant law in chapter 504B. It would require landlords to engage in a reasonable-accommodation process for a narrow category of requests involving children with autism and environmental hazards near rental property, while preserving a landlord’s ability to deny requests that are not reasonable or that would fundamentally alter the property. The measure would also create an anti-retaliation protection tied to these requests and clarify that documentation may be requested in some cases.
Sentiment
The available record shows the bill was introduced and referred to the Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention Committee, but there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes in the provided materials. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to be framed as a targeted housing-access and child-safety protection for families affected by autism, with no documented opposition or support statements in the supplied context.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is the scope of the accommodation duty: landlords may be concerned about obligations to modify policies or property near natural hazards or other attractive nuisances, especially where the requested change could affect property operations or structural features. Another likely issue is the documentation requirement, since tenants may view it as an added burden while landlords may see it as necessary to verify eligibility. The bill’s narrow focus on children with autism and proximity to water or similar hazards may also raise questions about whether the protection is sufficiently tailored or whether it should be broader or more limited.