A new law clarifies protections within the Minnesota Human Rights Act, including:
• ensuring people with episodic disabilities are covered by disability protections;
• allowing parties to a claim of discrimination filed with the Department of Human Rights to use alternative dispute resolution, including mediation, to try and resolve the matter;
• extend from six months to one year how long the department has to decide on a discrimination claim;
• extending credit discrimination protections to include familial status;
• clarifying exemptions for religious organizations; and
• requiring district courts hearing discrimination lawsuits brought by the department to order a civil penalty against a party guilty of discrimination and require them to pay a party who has suffered from the discrimination damages.
Sponsored by Rep. Luke Frederick (DFL-Mankato) and Sen. Bonnie Westlin (DFL-Plymouth), the law takes effect Aug. 1, 2024.