Bill > SF1063

This bill creates a Common Interest Community Ombudsperson position within the Minnesota Department of Commerce to help unit owners in common interest communities (like condominiums or homeowners associations) resolve disputes and understand their rights. The ombudsperson, who will be appointed by the governor and must be politically neutral and skilled in dispute resolution, will have several key responsibilities: creating plain language explanations of community governing documents, providing dispute resolution services like mediation, compiling and analyzing complaints to identify trends, maintaining a comprehensive website with relevant information, and reporting to legislative committees. The bill establishes strict qualifications for the ombudsperson, including prohibitions on being a unit owner, working for a management company, or holding another public office. The ombudsperson cannot render legal opinions or issue formal orders but can help facilitate communication and understanding between unit owners and associations. Additionally, the bill establishes a mandatory registration system for common interest communities, requiring them to annually provide detailed information about their organization, leadership, governing documents, and finances to the Department of Commerce, with registration fees based on the number of units. The bill includes appropriations to fund the ombudsperson's office and the community register, and sets effective dates in 2026 for full implementation.

Business and Industry, Government Affairs, Justice

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF1063&ssn=0&y=2025