SF1723

This bill, Minnesota Senate File No. 1723, proposes amendments to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 327.30, related to sacred communities—housing initiatives run by religious institutions for chronically homeless individuals, those with extremely low incomes, or designated volunteers.

Key Provisions of the Bill:

1. Authorization of Sacred Communities (Subd. 2)

   • Religious institutions may establish permanent housing in the form of micro units for eligible residents.
     
   • Institutions must annually certify compliance with resident eligibility rules and any municipal approval process.

2. Sacred Community Requirements (Subd. 3)

   • Sacred communities must provide access to water and electricity, either directly to micro units or through common kitchen and sanitation facilities.
     
   • At least one-third to 40% of the micro units must be occupied by designated volunteers.
     
   • The religious institution must submit a written plan addressing sewage disposal, emergency access, security protocols, and weather safety measures.
     
   • Sacred communities must be located on land exclusively owned by the religious institution.
     
   • Municipalities can regulate sacred communities as conditional uses and cannot impose additional standards outside this section.
     
   • Sacred communities must comply with landlord and tenant laws (Chapter 504B).
     
   • At least one authorized individual with compliance authority must be present at all times.
     
   • Municipalities may approve or deny a community’s written plan and must follow state law on governmental approvals.

3. Municipal Rental Housing Licensing (Subd. 6)

   • Municipalities may regulate sacred community micro units as either rental single-family housing or rental multi-family housing, provided they establish a rental housing licensing program.
     
   • The religious institution is responsible for compliance with rental licensing regulations.

4. Administrative Approval Process (Subd. 7)

   • Municipalities can create an administrative approval process that sacred communities must complete before establishing housing.
     
   • The approval process is limited to verifying compliance with existing laws and regulations.
     
   • Approval renewal can only be required on a once-per-year basis.
     

5. Enforcement through Injunctions (Subd. 8)

   • Municipalities may seek temporary or permanent injunctions against a sacred community if it violates the administrative approval process or other laws.

Purpose and Impact:

• This bill formalizes the legal framework for religious institutions providing micro-unit housing for vulnerable individuals.
  
• It allows municipal oversight while preventing excessive local restrictions.
  
• Establishes clear compliance, safety, and enforcement measures to regulate sacred communities.
  

This legislation strikes a balance between religious institutions’ mission to provide housing and municipal authority over land use and safety regulations.