Minneapolis will implement expanded civil rights protections beginning Aug. 1, 2025, prohibiting discrimination based on housing status, criminal justice history, height and weight.

The new ordinance defines housing status as whether someone has a stable, regular place to sleep at night. Criminal justice history encompasses arrests, charges, convictions, jail time or probation. However, employers may still consider how criminal history relates to specific job requirements, taking into account factors such as whether there was a conviction, time elapsed since the offense, severity and nature of the crime, the person's age at the time and evidence of rehabilitation.

Height and weight protections cover both actual measurements and how others perceive someone as tall, short, thin or overweight. In education, employment, housing and public services, any decisions based on height or weight must be reasonably necessary for normal operations and cannot have alternative solutions without causing significant problems or safety risks.

The ordinance also expands existing protections related to race, family status and disability, while strengthening protections for pregnant individuals and religious observances. Federal and state licensing requirements continue to apply, and educational institutions must consider how criminal history might affect professional licensing eligibility.

Employers and educational institutions must review the ordinance to understand new requirements. The city advises visiting its website for more information or to file discrimination complaints.