Chapter 363A — Minnesota Human Rights Act

15.001 Application of Laws 2005, Chapter 56, Terminology Changes State agencies must use updated disability terminology from a 2005 law when they replace printed materials and signs. … 363A.001 This section number is reserved. The substantive content has been moved or was never enacted under this number. 363A.01 Citation This section establishes the official name of Minnesota's civil rights law: the Minnesota Human Rights Act. The Act … 363A.02 Public Policy Minnesota declares it public policy that all people have the right to be free from discrimination in employment, … 363A.03 Definitions This section defines the key terms used in the Minnesota Human Rights Act, including 'disability,' 'employer,' 'sexual … 363A.04 Construction and Exclusivity The Minnesota Human Rights Act must be read broadly to protect people from discrimination. The rights and remedies in … 363A.05 Department of Human Rights This section creates the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and places it under the direction of a commissioner … 363A.06 Powers and Duties of Commissioner The Commissioner of Human Rights has broad authority to investigate discrimination complaints, issue subpoenas for … 363A.07 Local Commissions Cities and counties in Minnesota can create their own local human rights commissions to handle discrimination … 363A.08 Unfair Discriminatory Practices Relating to Employment or Unfair Employment Practice It is illegal for employers, labor organizations, and employment agencies in Minnesota to discriminate based on race, … 363A.09 Unfair Discriminatory Practices Relating to Real Property It is illegal in Minnesota for landlords, property owners, real estate agents, and financial institutions to … 363A.10 Real Property; Disability Discrimination Landlords must allow tenants with disabilities to make reasonable modifications to their rental units at the tenant's … 363A.11 Public Accommodations Businesses and places of public accommodation in Minnesota cannot deny anyone full and equal enjoyment of their goods, … 363A.12 Public Services State and local government agencies, facilities, and public transit systems in Minnesota cannot discriminate against … 363A.13 Educational Institution It is illegal for any educational institution in Minnesota -- public or private, from kindergarten through college -- to … 363A.14 Aiding and Abetting and Obstruction It is illegal to help, encourage, or pressure someone to discriminate, or to interfere with anyone's efforts to comply … 363A.15 Reprisals It is illegal to retaliate against someone for reporting discrimination, filing a discrimination charge, testifying in a … 363A.16 Credit Discrimination It is illegal in Minnesota to discriminate in the extension of personal or commercial credit based on race, color, … 363A.17 Business Discrimination It is illegal for a business to refuse to do business with, refuse to contract with, or discriminate in the terms of a … 363A.18 This section has been repealed or relocated. It no longer contains active law. 363A.19 Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities Prohibited It is illegal for hotels, restaurants, buses, and other public places to ban service animals that help people with … 363A.20 Exemption Based on Employment Certain situations are exempt from the employment discrimination rules. The law does not apply to a person employed by … 363A.21 Exemption Based on Real Property Some housing situations are exempt from discrimination rules. A nonprofit-run residence home can limit rooms by sex. A … 363A.22 Exemption Based on Familial Status in Housing This section allows certain housing that is exempt under the Human Rights Act to evict or deny continued tenancy based … 363A.23 Exemption Based on Education This section creates exemptions to discrimination rules for certain education situations. Religious schools may prefer … 363A.24 Exemption Based on Public Accommodations The ban on sex discrimination in public places does not apply to restrooms, locker rooms, and similar facilities. It … 363A.25 Exemption Based on Disability Programs designed to help people with disabilities are allowed under the Human Rights Act. An employer may defend … 363A.26 Exemption Based on Religious Association Religious organizations and schools controlled by religious groups are exempt from many parts of the Human Rights Act, … 363A.27 This section was repealed by Laws 2023, chapter 52. It no longer contains active law. 363A.28 Grievances If you have been discriminated against, you can file a charge with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights or go … 363A.29 Hearings When the Department of Human Rights issues a complaint of discrimination, the case goes to a hearing before an … 363A.30 District Court, Review Orders of Panel or Examiner; Enforcement; Misdemeanor Either the commissioner or an aggrieved person can appeal a Department of Human Rights decision to the courts. If a … 363A.31 Limitations on Waiver You cannot sign away your future civil rights protections in advance -- any agreement that tries to waive your rights … 363A.32 Department Attorney The attorney general is the lawyer for the Department of Human Rights. Communications between the attorney general's … 363A.33 Court Actions, Suits by Private Parties, Intervention, District Court Jurisdiction, Attorney's Fees, and Costs A person who has experienced discrimination can file a lawsuit directly in Minnesota district court, without first going … 363A.331 Actions Involving Architectural Barriers That Limit Accessibility Before filing a lawsuit over architectural barriers that limit access for people with disabilities, an attorney must … 363A.34 Notice of Appeal to Commissioner When a case involving a Human Rights Act issue is appealed to the Minnesota Supreme Court or Court of Appeals, the … 363A.35 Access to Case Files This section controls who can see the files in a Human Rights Department investigation. Open case files are mostly … 363A.36 Certificates of Compliance for Public Contracts Businesses with 40 or more employees that want state contracts over $100,000 must have a certificate of compliance from … 363A.37 Certificates of Compliance The commissioner of human rights must adopt rules for reviewing affirmative action plans and issue certificates of … 363A.38 Manufactured Home Parks Manufactured home park owners must follow specific procedures under state law when they adopt or change rules about who … 363A.39 Affirmative Marketing Regulations The commissioner of human rights must create marketing rules for housing developers who receive more than $50,000 in … 363A.40 Rental Housing Priority; Accessible Units Landlords who have accessible rental units must give priority to disabled people or families with disabled members. If a … 363A.41 Criminal Code; Effect The Minnesota Human Rights Act does not change any criminal penalties found in Chapter 609 or other criminal laws. 363A.42 Public Records; Accessibility Public records from state and local government must be made available in accessible formats for people with disabilities … 363A.43 Continuing Education; Accessibility State-approved continuing education and professional development courses must be made accessible to people with … 363A.44 Equal Pay Certificate Businesses with 40 or more employees that want state contracts over $500,000 must get an equal pay certificate from the … 363A.50 Nondiscrimination in Access to Transplants It is illegal for hospitals, doctors, and organ transplant organizations to discriminate against a person based on race, …