Minnesota Legislature Proposes Ombuds for Homeowners Associations

The Minnesota House of Representatives approved an omnibus budget bill that includes language to create a new Ombuds to facilitate disputes between residents and homeowner associations. Unlike HOA Ombuds in other states, the Minnesota proposal does not grant the Ombuds investigatory powers. Other features echo standards used by Organizational Ombuds, including independence, informality, trend reporting, and dispute resolution expertise. The bill is before the Commerce Committee before heading to the State Senate. (HPIS; HF2443 Bill Info.)