Minnesota SF 2421: Landlords requirement to provide an alternative payment method to a digital platform

Bill Text

1.1 A bill for an act​
1.2 relating to landlord and tenant; requiring landlords to provide an alternative payment​
1.3 method to a digital platform; clarifying a prohibition on disclosure of victim​
1.4 information; limiting rate for billing tenants for apportioned utility service;​
1.5 amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 504B.118; 504B.206, subdivision 2;​
1.6 504B.216, subdivision 5.​
1.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:​
1.8 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 504B.118, is amended to read:​
1.9 504B.118 RECEIPT FOR RENT PAID IN CASH PAYMENT OF RENT; DIGITAL​
1.10 PLATFORMS.​
1.11 Subdivision 1.Definitions.(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have​
1.12 the meanings given.​
1.13 (b) "Digital payment platform" means an electronic application or system that permits​
1.14 a user to conduct financial transactions. Digital payment platform includes electronic funds​
1.15 transfers.​
1.16 (c) "Electronic funds transfers" means a transfer of money, other than a transaction​
1.17 originated by check, draft, or similar paper instrument, that is initiated through an electronic​
1.18 terminal, telephone, computer, or magnetic tape for the purpose of ordering, instructing, or​
1.19 authorizing a financial institution to debit or credit a consumer's account, including, but not​
1.20 limited to, through the use of an automated clearing house system or alternative payment​
1.21 system.​
1.22 Subd. 2.Receipt for rent.A landlord receiving rent or other payments from a tenant in​
1.23 cash or money order must provide a written receipt for payment immediately upon receipt​
1​Section 1.​
25-04347 as introduced​02/27/25 REVISOR JSK/BM​
SENATE​
STATE OF MINNESOTA​
S.F. No. 2421​NINETY-FOURTH SESSION​
(SENATE AUTHORS: PORT and Boldon)​
OFFICIAL STATUS​D-PG​DATE​
Introduction and first reading​748​03/13/2025​
Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety​
Author added Boldon​942​03/20/2025​
HF substituted in committee HF2296​
See SF2298​

2.1 if the payment is made in person, or within three business days if payment in cash is not​
2.2 made in person.​
2.3 Subd. 3.Digital platforms.(a) If a landlord requires or permits a tenant to pay rent and​
2.4 other charges via a digital platform, the landlord must offer a tenant an alternative to using​
2.5 the digital platform if the payment capability is unavailable.​
2.6 (b) A tenant may request an alternative to using a digital platform if the tenant has a​
2.7 physical, technological, or financial access barrier that prevents the tenant from using the​
2.8 digital platform to pay rent and charges. Financial access barriers include the lack of a credit​
2.9 or debit card or a bank account.​
2.10 (c) No fee may be charged to the tenant to use the digital platform or any alternative.​
2.11 (d) If the digital payment platform is known to be unavailable for use, the landlord must​
2.12 restore access to the digital payment platform or offer an alternative means of payment as​
2.13 soon as practicable.​
2.14 (e) A landlord is prohibited from taking any adverse action, including but not limited to​
2.15 filing an eviction or assessing any late fees, when payment of rent or other charges is not​
2.16 timely because the digital payment platform or the alternative payment method is unavailable​
2.17 for use by the tenant. The tenant has an affirmative defense against an eviction action if the​
2.18 landlord violates this section. Upon a showing that the landlord has violated this section,​
2.19 the eviction action must be dismissed and the tenant is entitled to reasonable attorney fees​
2.20 and any other equitable relief the court deems appropriate.​
2.21 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective August 1, 2025.​
2.22 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 504B.206, subdivision 2, is amended to read:​
2.23 Subd. 2.Treatment of information.(a) A landlord must not disclose:​
2.24 (1) any information provided to the landlord by a tenant in the written notice required​
2.25 under subdivision 1, paragraph (b);​
2.26 (2) any information contained in the qualifying document;​
2.27 (3) the address or location to which the tenant has relocated; or​
2.28 (4) the status of the tenant as a victim of violence.​
2.29 (b) The information referenced in paragraph (a) must not be entered into any shared​
2.30 database or provided to any person or entity but may be used when required as evidence in​
2​Sec. 2.​
25-04347 as introduced​02/27/25 REVISOR JSK/BM​

3.1 an eviction proceeding, action for unpaid rent or damages arising out of the tenancy, claims​
3.2 under section 504B.178, with the consent of the tenant, or as otherwise required by law.​
3.3 (c) The requirements of this subdivision to treat the information enumerated in paragraph​
3.4 (a) are paramount and supersede any other document or form signed by the tenant, including​
3.5 but not limited to any release of information form.​
3.6 (c) (d) A landlord who violates this section is liable to the