Chamber News C LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Chamber advocating for the business community
The 2023 legislative session is well underway and is off to a busy start with nearly 1,000 bills having been introduced already! To assist with advocacy efforts, the Chamber engaged with membership to develop the 2023 legislative agenda. While it’s not a comprehensive list, this agenda functions as a guiding document while remaining broad enough and flexible to adapt to the variety of legislation underway in Saint Paul. The agenda includes numerous areas of focus, with the top two key legislative areas being infrastructure and workforce. The focus on infrastructure includes the support of bonding efforts that foster development in the Rochester region. Examples of projects that foster continued development include: • Extending the bonding authority of RST • Constructing a regional park-and-ride parking deck • Constructing the Willow Creek Regional Trail and safety connection • Improvements to Graham Park • Constructing a materials recovery facility for Olmsted County Another key priority of the agenda is workforce, specifically in the support of workforce development through training and educational programs coupled with experimental learning opportunities. Examples of ways to enhance workforce development include: • Providing funds to construct the Southeast Minnesota Nursing Simulator for area colleges/ universities to train with • Continued investments in PTECH and CTECH programs As a complimentary piece to the development of the legislative agenda, the Chamber monitors relevant legislation that could have a potential impact on the business community. HF31/SF25 was the first bill signed into law during the 2023 session which passed with bipartisan support before it went to the governor’s desk for his signature. This law is a win for the business community and modified select income and corporate franchise tax provisions
to bring conformity with federal tax provisions. In simpler terms, this law reduces the tax on COVID monies that businesses received under various federal acts (CARES Act, ARPA, IIJA, Inflation Reduction Act, etc). Another fast-moving piece of legislation that the Chamber is tracking is HF2/SF2. This bill would mandate paid leave benefits for Minnesota employees for up to 24 weeks. As the legislation currently reads, all employers regardless of size, would be required to participate in the program. Employers would be required to provide up to 12 weeks of medical leave and 12 weeks of family leave which would be funded through a .7% increase to the payroll tax for employers. Due to the increase in business taxation and the potential impacts to workforce in an already tight labor market, the Chamber has opposed this bill. While not opposed to the idea, the legislation as it currently reads is not beneficial to the business community. As a regional center, Rochester is home to the Rochester International Airport (RST), a vital asset to the region and the business community. The bipartisan Rochester area delegation has introduced HF265/SF715 which would modify the appropriation for the airport. This legislation is essential for RST to continue making runway and associated improvements at the airport. As the legislative session marches forward, the Chamber will continue tracking legislation and advocating on behalf of our members. We thank you, our members for providing the feedback to craft our legislative agenda. We also thank our local delegation who continue to advocate on behalf of Rochester for her businesses and citizens.
Jonathon Krull, Public Affairs & Leadership
Development Director at the
Chamber, keeping you posted on the legislative session.
| Advantage Magazine 16
February 2023
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