Bill > SF558

This bill provides a new legal procedure for property owners to quickly remove unauthorized persons from residential real property by allowing them to request sheriff intervention under specific conditions. The bill outlines a detailed process where property owners must submit a verified complaint meeting six key criteria: the person must have entered the property without authorization, the property was not publicly accessible when entered, the owner has asked the person to leave, the occupant is not a current/former tenant or immediate family member, and there is no pending litigation related to the property. The sheriff is required to verify the complaint and then serve an immediate vacate notice to the occupants, potentially with the ability to arrest individuals for trespassing. Property owners can request sheriff assistance in changing locks and removing personal property, though they may be liable for damages if the removal is deemed wrongful. The bill includes protections for both property owners and potential occupants, allowing for civil action if an improper removal occurs, with potential damages including triple the fair market rent, court costs, and attorney fees. The legislation aims to provide a streamlined legal mechanism for property owners to regain possession of their residential property from unauthorized occupants while maintaining certain due process protections.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF0558&ssn=0&y=2025