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HF2974 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Landlords required to make apportioned and submetered utility service bills for residential buildings due not less than 31 days from the date of bill issuance.

Related bill: SF3221

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

This bill aims to regulate how landlords bill tenants for utility services that are submetered or apportioned. It ensures tenants receive fair billing practices and have enough time to pay utility bills.

Main Provisions

  • Billing Timeline: Landlords must issue utility service bills based on actual submeter readings and provide bills to tenants no less frequently than the utility bills the landlords receive.
  • Payment Deadlines: Tenants must be given at least 31 days from the bill's issuance date to make payments for both submetered and apportioned utility services.
  • Itemized Billing Information: Utility bills must include detailed information such as current and previous submeter readings, billing rates, taxes, any credits from the utility provider, administrative charges, and late payment charges.
  • Transparency in Billing: Landlords are required to inform tenants about the billing schedule in the lease or through a separate written notice.
  • Access to Utility Bills: Upon request, landlords must provide tenants with both current and past utility bills for services that have been apportioned.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Amends existing statutes to prohibit landlords from billing apportioned electricity, ensuring transparency and fairness in utility billing.
  • Establishes a mandatory minimum timeframe for bill payments, giving tenants more time to settle their bills.

Relevant Terms

  • Submetering
  • Apportioned utility service
  • Utility billing
  • Utility service bills
  • Tenant rights
  • Billing cycle
  • Utility provider

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 31, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toEnergy Finance and Policy

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Requires landlords to issue utility bills to tenants no less than 31 days from the bill issuance date."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill adjusts billing requirements for submetered utility services under Minnesota Statutes section 216B.023, subdivision 1.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "216B.023",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This legislation modifies the requirements for landlords regarding the apportionment of utility services to tenants under section 504B.216, subdivision 5.",
      "modified": [
        "Prohibits electricity apportionment.",
        "Clarifies the billing frequency for apportioned services.",
        "Outlines landlords' obligations to provide access to past utility bills upon request."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "504B.216",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 5"
  }
]

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