HF3362

Purpose

This bill changes state campaign and access rules to require that elected officials and certain candidates be allowed to enter various multi-unit living facilities within their district to conduct official work, campaign activities, or voter registration. It aims to ensure open access for outreach while balancing rules for residents and facility operations.

Key Provisions

• Access Right and Prohibition

  • It is unlawful to deny access to a multi-unit dwelling (including apartment houses, dormitories, nursing homes, manufactured home parks, or areas with two or more single-family homes on private roadways) to:
  • an elected official, or
  • a candidate who has organized a campaign committee, filed a financial report, or filed an affidavit of candidacy.
  • An elected official or candidate granted access may be accompanied by campaign staff or volunteers.

• Scope of Access

  • Access is allowed only if the facility or area is within the district or the territory the official represents or will represent.
  • The access must be for purposes related to official work, campaigning for a candidate, or registering voters.

• Who May Visit

  • The official must currently be in office, or the candidate must be seeking election in the next general or special election.

• Activities During Access

  • They may knock on individual unit doors to speak with residents and leave materials related to official work or campaign efforts.
  • Nursing home managers may require materials to be left at a central location within the facility.
  • If a facility has multiple buildings, access can be to more than one building during a visit, but only one building at a time. If several officials or candidates travel together, they may visit different buildings, but cannot be forced to all use the same building at the same time.

• Enforcement

  • Violating these access rights is classified as a petty misdemeanor.

Exceptions and Limitations

• Denial or Restrictions Under Certain Conditions
  • Denial of admittance to a specific apartment room or personal residential unit is permitted under certain conditions (e.g., reasonable identification or privacy concerns).
  • Denial of permission to visit certain persons for valid health reasons.
  • Access can be limited to a reasonable number of people or hours.
  • Access must be allowed during at least 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. each day.
  • Prior appointment may be required to gain access.
  • Denial of admittance or expulsion may occur for good cause.

Notice to Residents

• Building Owners/Managers
  • The owner, manager, or operator of a multi-unit dwelling is encouraged to inform residents about the days when an elected official or candidate has given notice of an intent to be present.

Definitions

• Elected Official

  • Includes individuals elected to or appointed to most elected offices at federal, state, or local levels (including special districts, school districts, towns, home rule charter cities, and counties), but excludes the President and Vice President of the United States and presidential electors.

• Additional Note on Text

  • The bill adds these provisions as new subdivisions to Minnesota Statutes and references updates to the Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement.

Practical Impact and Changes

• What changes for officials and candidates

  • Stronger, clearly defined rights to access several types of multi-unit housing within their district to interact with residents, share information, and conduct campaign or official outreach.

• What changes for residents and facilities

  • Residents gain more direct exposure to candidates and officials, while facilities gain guidance on how access is to be managed, including timeframes and central locations for materials in some settings.

• Legal and enforcement shift

  • Establishes a specific penalty (petty misdemeanor) for improper denial of access, creating a clearer enforcement pathway.

Summary in Plain Terms

The bill would make it illegal to block elected officials or certain candidates from visiting people in many kinds of multi-unit homes within their district. Officials can speak to residents door-to-door and leave campaign or official materials, and can visit multiple buildings (one at a time). There are specific exemptions and rules about identifying people, visiting hours, and health or privacy concerns. Building owners are encouraged to notify residents when officials plan to visit. It also defines who counts as an elected official and adds new rules to the state statutes.

Relevant Terms - access - denial of access - multi-unit dwelling - apartment house - dormitory - nursing home - manufactured home park - district - campaign committee - financial report - affidavit of candidacy - campaign staff - volunteers - knock on doors - leave materials - official work - campaigning - registering voters - central location - building - one building at a time - petty misdemeanor - exceptions - reasonable identification - health reasons - reasonable hours (9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.) - prior appointment - good cause - owner/manager/operator - notice to residents - elected official - local/state/federal offices