Minnesota movers may get some regulatory relief

The business of moving Minnesotans’ household belongings could catch a little regulatory relief.

Passed, as amended, Wednesday by the House on a 95-31 vote, HF3282/SF2869* would eliminate a mandate that movers file a list of rates and terms for specific purposes with the Department of Transportation.

Rep. Cal Bahr

Called a tariff, moving companies are required to file the lists with MnDOT for review. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Cal Bahr (R-East Bethel), would narrow a provision on household goods movers to scrap that mandate. It would also set requirements on how consumers can access movers’ tariffs, including a mandate that they post the lists at their places of business and making them available for public inspection.

Bahr likened the proposed change to keeping movers’ tariffs “in a different filing cabinet.”

“This is the same tariff, filed by the same people … only kept in a different place, and it’s open to public scrutiny at any time,” he said.

The amended legislation now goes back to the Senate, which previously passed the bill 55-4. There, Sen. Mark Koran (R-North Branch) is the sponsor.

Some members expressed concern the bill would do more than simply change where the tariffs are kept.

“What this bill will do is, essentially, remove consumer protections,” said Rep. Andrew Carlson (DFL-Bloomington).