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    Crown Act Signing

    Government Relations

    The Government Relations team advances civil rights through public policy by working with communities, public agencies, and elected officials. 

    Questions? Contact our Government Relations team at Government.Relations.Mdhr@state.mn.us.

    Legislative priorities 

    As the state's civil rights enforcement agency, we're focused on proposals that advance civil rights and prevent discrimination. 

    Housing Stability Act Thumbnail

    Housing Stability Act

    The Housing Stability Act clarifies that property owners and management companies cannot refuse to rent to or otherwise discriminate against someone because they receive and use public assistance to pay their rent.


    Signature accomplishments

    • Disability rights: The Minnesota Human Rights Act added protections against disability discrimination for Minnesotans with intermittent health conditions like diabetes or epilepsy, or Minnesotans with cancer in remission. (2024)
    • Familial status rights: The Minnesota Human Rights Act better reflects the many ways people live and care for each other. The law clarifies that familial status means parent(s) or guardian(s) having legal status and removes any reference to a minor “being domiciled.” The law also clarifies that familial status includes living and caring for someone of any age who lacks the ability to meet essential requirements for physical health, safety, or self-care. (2024)
    • Addressing racial discrimination: The CROWN Act clarified that discrimination based on raced-based natural hair texture and styles such as braids, locs, and twists is prohibited under the Minnesota Human Rights Act. (2023) 
    • Closing the pay gap: The Preventing Pay Discrimination Act will help close Minnesota’s gender and racial pay gap by prohibiting employers from asking about or considering an applicant’s past or current pay during the hiring process. (2023)
    • LGBTQIA+ rights: The Take Pride Act helped clarify critical protections for LGBTQIA+ Minnesotans, while also removing outdated and prejudicial language from the Minnesota Human Rights Act. (2023) 
    • Investments in civil rights: The Minnesota legislature provided a transformational investment to support the Minnesota Department of Human Rights to carry out its mission. (2023) 
    • Equity in bonding: To help ensure state investments are used to intentionally undo disparities and inequities, contractors selected for a capital project funded entirely, or in part, by General Obligation (GO) bonds by a city, county, political subdivision, or the University of Minnesota may now be required to have a Workforce and Equal Pay Certificate. (2020)
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