A Minnesota Senate committee on January 30 considered two bills aimed at improving safety for renters and homeowners, including a proposal by Senator Rich Draheim (R-Madison Lake) to allow landlords to conduct background checks on non-residents organizing in rental buildings.     

“Whether you are a renter or a homeowner, you deserve to feel safe where you live. For renters, landlords have a responsibility to provide that security,” Senator Draheim said. “My bill is about basic safety and making sure the folks that enter residential buildings to organize tenants are not violent offenders. It’s a simple step to keep residents safe while still respecting the rights of tenant organizers.”   

The other tenant safety bill to be heard during the committee was a Republican proposal reinforcing private property rights and giving homeowners more authority to remove squatters from their property.  

“Both of these bills are common-sense safety measures,” Draheim added. “For renters, it means a safer place to live with fewer risks of crime. For landlords, it gives property owners a tool to keep their residents safe by preventing bad actors from accessing their buildings. And for homeowners, it gives you the power to remove potentially dangerous squatters and unauthorized occupants without costly legal battles.”    

Senator Draheim’s Senate File 222: Tenant Organizer Background Checks  

• Allows landlords to request a criminal background check on non-resident tenant organizers before they enter a rental building.   

• Permits landlords to deny access to organizers who:   

• Have been convicted of a violent crime (such as assault, robbery, or sex trafficking).   

• Refuse to consent to a background check.   

Senate File 558: Removing Squatters from Property  

• Provides property owners with a clear legal process to remove unauthorized occupants.   

• Allows the sheriff to intervene and remove unlawful squatters if specific conditions are met.   

• Ensures protections against wrongful removal, including legal penalties for fraudulent claims.   

Both bills were laid over by the committee.