ST. PAUL, MN - Governor Tim Walz today signed a bill into law giving service dogs in training the same protections and support as active service dogs. The Governor signed the bill alongside bill authors Senator Bonnie Westlin and Representative Cedrick Frazier, advocates, and service dogs Mato and Flint. Photos from the signing are linked here.

“Service dogs are vital to the many Minnesotans who depend on their services,” said Governor Walz. “This bill ensures service dogs in training can live with their trainers, who dedicate hundreds of hours working with these animals to ensure they can do their jobs reliably once they’re matched with a client and placed in their forever home.”

Chapter 16 House File 688 modifies service dog provisions in housing accommodations, ensuring service dogs in training are exempt from HOA and apartment rules that don’t allow dogs. Currently, only active service dogs are covered under the law.

The Governor signed two additional bills today:

Chapter 18 Senate File 2847 amends the statutory forms used to garnish the wages and bank accounts of a person who has a court ordered judgement against them. These forms now conform with the changes to garnishment laws that passed last year.

Chapter 19 Senate File 3196 allocates $9 million to the Department of Corrections to address a fiscal year 2025 budget deficiency. It also allows the Department of Corrections to reallocate $10 million from unspent fiscal year 2024-25 appropriations.