SF 1063 Minnesota Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Common interest community ombudsperson creation and appropriation

SF 1063 creates a new Office of the Common Interest Community Ombudsperson within Minnesota's Department of Commerce. The ombudsperson, appointed by the governor, helps resolve disputes between unit owners (e.g., condo or townhome residents) and their community associations. Key duties include compiling complaints, providing dispute resolution services, publishing resources about rights under Minnesota law, and maintaining a public website with relevant information. The bill also appropriates funds for the office's operations starting in fiscal year 2026.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 6, 2025 Last action Apr 2, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

1st Engrossment → 2nd Engrossment · 1 edit · Apr 1, 2025

MINOR

The bill was updated from its first to second engrossment, changing the legal reference from 'chapter 515B' to 'this chapter' throughout the text. This change ensures the registration requirements apply to the specific chapter containing the new bill rather than a separate, existing statute, effectively integrating the new rules into the current legislative framework.

Scope change

The scope of applicability was clarified to reference the current chapter instead of a separate chapter (515B), ensuring the new registration rules apply directly to the text of this specific bill.

SCOPE

Replaced references to 'chapter 515B' with 'this chapter' to align the registration requirements with the specific chapter containing the new bill, rather than an external statute.

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 7 edits · Mar 24, 2025

MODERATE

This bill was updated from its introduction to its first engrossment version, incorporating significant substantive changes to the Common Interest Community Ombudsperson and a new registration requirement for associations. The Ombudsperson's role was expanded to include assistance for tenants and the authority to mediate disputes, while the bill now mandates that all common interest communities register annually with the Department of Commerce, providing detailed financial and governance data. Funding timelines were adjusted to align with the new effective dates, and the scope of data protection was clarified to cover both unit owners and tenants.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to explicitly include tenants in the ombudsperson's services and introduced a mandatory annual registration requirement for all common interest communities and associations operating in Minnesota, requiring them to disclose financial and governance details.

REQUIREMENT

The Ombudsperson's duties were broadened to assist tenants and provide formal mediation services for disputes between unit owners and associations, whereas the original version focused primarily on advocacy and compiling complaints.

A new requirement was added for all common interest communities and associations to register annually with the Department of Commerce, submitting legal names, contact information, governing documents, and financial data.

Registration fees were established based on the number of units owned, with a tiered schedule for communities with under 20, 20 to 80, and over 80 units.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the Ombudsperson section was delayed from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026, while the new registration section is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

FISCAL

The fiscal year for the Ombudsperson appropriation was changed from 2026 to 2025 to align with the new effective date, and a separate one-time appropriation was added for the new registration program.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added to clarify terms such as 'Unit owner' and 'Nonpublic data,' and the bill explicitly states that board member contact information collected during registration is private data.

ENFORCEMENT

Failure to register under the new requirements is classified as an unlawful business practice, enforceable by the Department of Commerce and the Attorney General.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Comm report: To pass and re-referred to Commerce and Consumer Protection

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to State and Local Government

upper

Mar 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Commerce and Consumer Protection

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Introduced

Introduction and first reading

upper

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors