MN HF859

Expands tenant lease termination rights to include victims of domestic abuse, criminal sexual conduct, and stalking (previously limited to domestic abuse only), with broadened documentation options including statements from qualified third parties like healthcare professionals and domestic abuse advocates.

Requires tenants terminating leases under violence provisions to pay rent only through the full month of termination and forfeit security deposit claims, eliminating the previous requirement to pay an additional month's rent.

Establishes a covenant in all residential leases prohibiting tenants from committing acts of domestic abuse, criminal sexual conduct, or stalking against other tenants or authorized occupants.

Prohibits landlords from commencing eviction actions solely based on a tenant's status as a victim of violence covered under the lease termination provisions.

Creates the Housing Opportunities Made Equitable (HOME) pilot project administered by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency in collaboration with racial and ethnic affairs councils to support affordable homeownership for communities of color and American Indians through financial education, credit assistance, homebuyer education, and first mortgage lending.