SF3175 would create a statewide landlord database administered by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency and made available to the public at no cost. Landlords would be required to submit and annually update information about ownership, business and contact information, rent amounts, and any rental license details for each residential building or rental unit they rent in Minnesota. The database would also allow tenants and prospective tenants to report landlords or rental units that cannot be found in the system.
The bill adds the statewide landlord database requirements to the list of laws the attorney general may investigate and enforce under Minnesota’s consumer protection enforcement statute. It also creates a process for tenants or prospective tenants to notify the agency when a landlord is missing from the database, after which the agency must send notice to the landlord and provide a copy to the tenant. If the landlord still does not comply, the bill authorizes civil actions for injunctive relief, costs, attorney fees, and, for repeated knowing and willful violations, civil penalties of up to $5,000. The bill also prohibits retaliation against tenants who exercise rights under the section.
Impact
The bill would add a new chapter 462A section establishing statewide landlord registration and disclosure requirements, while also amending section 8.31 to make violations enforceable by the attorney general. It would create new duties for landlords, new public-facing information access through the Housing Finance Agency, and new tenant remedies and civil penalties for noncompliance. The effective date is January 1, 2026, and it applies only to causes of action accruing on or after that date.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes, the available context suggests the measure is framed as a tenant transparency and enforcement bill rather than a controversial omnibus proposal. Its structure indicates support for stronger oversight of rental housing and landlord accountability, with enforcement tools aimed at ensuring compliance. No formal vote history or transcript evidence is available to show broader legislative sentiment.
Contention
The main points of contention likely concern the scope of landlord disclosure, the administrative burden of annual reporting, and the privacy implications of requiring disclosure of natural persons with property interests and business addresses. Landlord interests may object to public access to ownership and rent information, while tenant advocates are likely to support the database as a tool for transparency and accountability. The bill also creates potential disputes over retaliation claims, civil penalties, and attorney general enforcement authority.
Similar To
Statewide landlord database created, civil penalty for failure to register with statewide landlord database created, civil remedies provided, and attorney general enforcement provided.