1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to local government; authorizing counties, cities, and townships to accept 
1.3 	certain documents or signatures electronically, by mail, or by facsimile.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS OR SIGNATURES 
1.6 	ELECTRONICALLY, BY MAIL, OR BY FACSIMILE.
 1.7 	(a) Notwithstanding any law, rule, or ordinance to the contrary, a township, home rule 
1.8 	charter or statutory city, or county may accept documents, signatures, or filings received 
1.9 	by United States mail, or may use Minnesota Statutes, chapter 325L, to accept documents, 
1.10 	signatures, or filings electronically or by facsimile, during a peacetime public health 
1.11 	emergency for:
1.12 	(1) planning and zoning applications and permits under Minnesota Statutes, chapters 
1.13 	394 and 462;
1.14 	(2) land use documents under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 505;
1.15 	(3) documents requiring a signature under Minnesota Statutes, sections 326.03, 
1.16 	subdivision 3, and 326.12, subdivision 3;
1.17 	(4) applications for birth and death certificates under Minnesota Statutes, section 144.225; 
1.18 	and
1.19 	(5) recording a notary commission under Minnesota Statutes, section 359.061.
1.20 	(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, there is no in-person requirement under 
1.21 	this section.
2.1 	(c) For purposes of this section, "peacetime public health emergency" means a peacetime 
2.2 	emergency declared by the governor in an executive order that relates to the infectious 
2.3 	disease known as COVID-19.

2.4 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment and 
2.5 	expires January 6, 2021, or 60 days after the peacetime public health emergency is terminated, 
2.6 	whichever is earlier.