Listing a minor as a defendant prohibited in an eviction action, and expedited eviction process requirements modified.

A bill for an act

relating to housing; prohibiting listing a minor as a defendant in an eviction action;

modifying the requirements in an expedited eviction process; amending Minnesota

Statutes 2024, section 504B.321, subdivision 2; proposing coding for new law in

Minnesota Statutes, chapter 504B.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

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[504B.2136] MINORS AS DEFENDANTS PROHIBITED.

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(a) A residential landlord shall not list the minor child of a residential tenant as a

defendant in an eviction action complaint against a residential tenant. If a minor is the only

person renting the unit from the landlord, the landlord may list the minor as a defendant in

an eviction action complaint against the minor.

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(b) The requirements of this section may not be waived or modified by the parties to a

residential lease. Any provision, whether oral or written, of a lease or other agreement by

which any provision of this section is waived by a tenant is contrary to public policy and

void.

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(c) The tenant shall recover from the landlord actual damages or $300, whichever is

greater, for a violation of this section
.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective August 1, 2026, and applies to eviction

actions filed on or after that date.

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Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 504B.321, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Expedited procedure.

(a) In an eviction action brought under section
504B.171

or on the basis that the residential tenant engages in behavior that seriously endangers the

safety of other residents
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, assaults the landlord or the landlord's employees or contractors
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,

or intentionally and seriously damages the property of the landlord or a tenant, the person

filing the complaint shall file an affidavit stating specific facts and instances in support of

why an expedited hearing is required.
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For the purposes of this subdivision, "assault" has

the meaning given in section 609.02, subdivision 10.
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(b) The complaint and affidavit shall be reviewed by a referee or judge and scheduled

for an expedited hearing only if sufficient supporting facts are stated and they meet the

requirements of this paragraph.

(c) The appearance in an expedited hearing shall be not less than five days nor more

than seven days from the date the summons is issued. The summons, in an expedited hearing,

shall be served upon the residential tenant within 24 hours of issuance unless the court

orders otherwise for good cause shown.

(d) If the court determines that the person seeking an expedited hearing did so without

sufficient basis under the requirements of this subdivision, the court shall impose a civil

penalty of up to
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$500
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$750
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for abuse of the expedited hearing process.

(e) The court may only consider allegations under paragraph (a) during an expedited

hearing. The court may not consolidate claims heard under the expedited procedure with

any additional claims, including but not limited to breach of lease, holding over under section

504B.285
, or nonpayment of rent under section
504B.291
.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective August 1, 2026, and applies to eviction

actions filed on or after that date.

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