Court permitted to stay certain writs of recovery for up to 15 days.

A bill for an act

relating to landlords and tenants; permitting a court to stay certain writs of recovery

for up to 15 days; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 504B.345,

subdivisions 1, 2.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 504B.345, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

General.

(a) If the court or jury finds for the plaintiff, the court shall

immediately enter judgment that the plaintiff shall have recovery of the premises, and shall

tax the costs against the defendant. The court shall issue execution in favor of the plaintiff

for the costs and also immediately issue a writ of recovery of premises and order to vacate.

(b) The court shall give priority in issuing a writ of recovery of premises and order to

vacate for an eviction action brought under section
504B.171
or on the basis that the tenant

is causing a nuisance or seriously endangers the safety of other residents, their property, or

the landlord's property.

(c) If the court or jury finds for the defendant, then the court:

(1) shall enter judgment for the defendant, tax the costs against the plaintiff, and issue

execution in favor of the defendant; and

(2) shall expunge the records relating to the action under the provisions of section
484.014

or under the court's inherent authority at the time judgment is entered or after that time upon

motion of the defendant.

(d) Except in actions brought: (1) under section
504B.171
; or (2) on the basis that the

residential tenant engages in behavior that seriously endangers the safety of other residents,

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

shall stay the writ of recovery of premises and order to vacate for a reasonable period, not

to exceed
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seven
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15
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days. This paragraph does not apply when the court has issued a default

judgment.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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

actions pending on or after that date.

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Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 504B.345, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Expedited writ.

If the court enters judgment for the plaintiff in an action brought

under section
504B.291
as required by section
609.5317, subdivision 1
, the court may not

stay issuance of the writ of recovery of premises and order to vacate unless the court makes

written findings specifying the extraordinary and exigent circumstances that warrant staying

the writ for a reasonable period, not to exceed
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seven
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15
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days.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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

actions pending on or after that date.

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