MN HF4027

Establishes a common interest community ombudsperson position within the Department of Commerce, appointed by the governor to facilitate dispute resolution between unit owners and associations.

Ombudsperson must be selected without political affiliation, skilled in dispute resolution, and cannot be a unit owner, employed by management companies, or hold another public office.

Ombudsperson duties include advocating for unit owners, compiling complaints, providing dispute resolution services (except where court cases, arbitration, or alternative processes are pending), and maintaining a website with relevant statutes, information on available services, and alternative dispute resolution methods.

Ombudsperson is prohibited from rendering formal legal opinions or making formal determinations regarding disputes; data on individuals maintained by the office is confidential and may only be released with consent or by court order.

Appropriates unspecified funding from the general fund in fiscal year 2025 to the commissioner of commerce to establish and maintain the office, effective July 1, 2024.