2025 Legislative Session Recap: Community Associations in the Spotlight 

 The 2025 Minnesota legislative session was packed with proposals impacting the 1.5 million Minnesotans living in community associations. CAI’s Minnesota Legislative Action Committee (MN LAC) and Omega worked tirelessly to advocate for balanced, practical laws. 

A key focus was SF 1063/HF 856, which proposed a state ombudsperson for common interest communities. The industry initially opposed the bill but successfully negotiated critical amendments that created a more balanced approach. The ombudsperson will now assist unit owners in understanding their rights, provide referrals to alternative dispute resolution, and help mediate disputes not already in litigation or resolved through internal association processes. The office will also analyze complaint trends and develop educational materials to help homeowners navigate governing documents. The revised proposal was passed during a special session, and is now law. 

Meanwhile, SF 1750/HF 1268, which would have limited an association’s ability to enforce rules and collect assessments, was strongly opposed. Advocates sent thousands of messages to legislators. The bill passed the Senate but failed in the House. 

Other measures—such as creating plain-language disclosures for buyers, banning fees for estoppel letters, and expanding flag display rights—were defeated after opposition from CAI for overreaching or conflicting with national policy standards. 

One win: the formation of an insurance task force (SF 2205/HF 2228), which includes community association input, was passed.