[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6622561,"mediaKeyId","2783765-8d2eecef5227de54b33cdfe13e008caa","parentId",2783765,"title","Central and Northeast Minnesota group seeks $1M revolving capital to boost small-business lending","audioSeconds",168,"startMs",6420000,"endMs",6588000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2783765-8d2eecef5227de54b33cdfe13e008caa&start=6420&end=6588","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2783765-8d2eecef5227de54b33cdfe13e008caa/thumbnail_6420000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6622561/Minnesota/Central-and-Northeast-Minnesota-group-seeks-1M-revolving-capital-to-boost-small-business-lending","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622561-9033866e8e03b24e442f18018f3e974a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773618388&Signature=TixULZMdBRjUrJubFf729aT6Leb148w421dr7ihTJ4zNnboKBJ5CxRo5zGY~UJrAIIrLyx6UuWWSgiOK1X6n7XUNSd-rq4I-NxgsCSgPC-C3N1TCiD333nSW2nbKYe-pejj5yYrHtTEDXcQGyntn0bWSfAG-H09Ucn9KSINMYp6nLAY8DheQxJLc-dJ53~TqJqcfMMCQ2sypZKD3IbhJBidSHHyxEBYyh4Ice3N8Gyx6quETGHvypRRcNiZehM2DNFo4-FrIOIi5jqjVRWe1k0XRoFRpmD344jS0P5gCwS3yMCLMk7jroj4f0RlnsYnnlsVe2FiIsBhu-JWvmcVtlg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Minnesota Legislature","date","2025-03-26T19:56:34.43Z","article","Representatives heard a brief presentation on House File 1506 from the Entrepreneur Fund, which seeks a $1 million revolving-loan capital infusion the organization says it will leverage to provide small-business loans in parts of central and northeastern Minnesota.

CEO Sean Wellness told the committee the Entrepreneur Fund focuses on markets that private lenders under-serve, including start-ups and main-street projects, and said public capital can catalyze further private investment. \"We provide access to opportunities where markets don't serve well,\" Wellness said. \"To do that work we need capital to lend out.\" He said the requested $1 million would be leveraged at least threefold with private or federal matching funds.

Representative Kozlowski moved House File 1506 to be before the committee and the bill was laid over so members could consider it in a future omnibus or funding package.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 3/26/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Entrepreneur Fund requested a $1 million revolving-loan capital extension to leverage private and federal matching funds for small-business lending in 16 counties and five tribal nations; the committee laid the bill over for future consideration.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MN, Minnesota","taxId",77817,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6622565,"Committee extends availability of Ramsey County youth-work funds so summer program can run",117,6113000,6230000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2783765-8d2eecef5227de54b33cdfe13e008caa&start=6113&end=6230","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2783765-8d2eecef5227de54b33cdfe13e008caa/thumbnail_6113000.jpg","/articles/6622565/Minnesota/Committee-extends-availability-of-Ramsey-County-youth-work-funds-so-summer-program-can-run","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622565-03ee9a717226ad12aa1f5f046ee0d4b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1773618388&Signature=WKvsulMoDoMIzgj26AJQa7vHlD~bO4FQuQy9vOHHG0TnAJ72jgdbCnrEnwso2bowEvfnYvHOCjw24KfKzjETanPo3oSh~yjiJbwV-05Bj9FB7r1MaB~6l~EQO6289P1Rqs4FPBlAEjHeI0ZHI-1z9EOpeoTokKzzOzMJfOFejvh3iSVCLqOH2GoV~zq~461dd9eoRk~PDC~WXv2ka9TXb2ZipSPAFp4Cc9TXeTZ9NFnuRypiE8YE1nuHruF2Hn4lcFnwc-Z2baUqY4QvMUmetFSR5nrof1h1rFAwrwJm7x7fOWDnoU4KlU9MJHV6DySz37Ps5Yv6bNhi9KuRxpMmvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee agreed to extend previously appropriated funds for a Ramsey County youth employment program so the county can operate a summer cohort for 18-to-24-year-olds.

Representative Kaela Lee explained that House File 2565, as amended, would extend the availability of funds the county received in 2023 so the county can plan and recruit for a June 2025 cohort. \"Passing out this extension today to the general register would allow the county to be able to hold a program for this summer for youth 18 to 24,\" Lee said.

A program graduate, who identified herself as Gewa, told the committee the county program included Saint Paul College coursework, an internship and a stipend that helped pay for transportation and necessities while she trained: \"Thanks to this program I was able to gain work experience and now I'm working full time as a technician at Minnesota Tech for Success,\" she said.

Representative Berg moved House File 2565 to be before the committee and the committee adopted the deletion-and-replace (DE1) to convert the request into an extension of a prior appropriation. The committee then recommended placement of the amended bill on the general register so Ramsey County would have the necessary time to recruit and plan for a summer cohort.

","The committee approved an amendment to extend the availability of funds already appropriated to Ramsey County so the county can run a planned summer youth program for ages 18-24.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6622570,"Labor & Industry seeks fee alignment, added misclassification staff and teacher apprenticeship funding",3372,2693000,6065000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2783765-8d2eecef5227de54b33cdfe13e008caa&start=2693&end=6065","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2783765-8d2eecef5227de54b33cdfe13e008caa/thumbnail_2693000.jpg","/articles/6622570/Minnesota/Labor-Industry-seeks-fee-alignment-added-misclassification-staff-and-teacher-apprenticeship-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622570-7f9cb39d93bf75734fee3dc5967cd22b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773618388&Signature=ng~g2yp2ttIyYk7iOGtSy6ZPEUdcY9rVjgEHvbpj557jBUJMGSYWffGv5bEi83mOsWuaLd6cIlDlS5ODC7~j2MQtytxnaSrLbLqcB7lJY248YWYU2dyPQL8Wg10Kag9DKhAMgXShKnvUEEVPRdYYkXHbyCSl3vtprrWbocciEMPuF-oBtR~ahUYB2xUf~8ecpPoEmSOYlsw3mjBihuEsjC1BPaQa-Zv2d7Hd-pjv6sI8CB5PkZT7S09cR187KqcvqAA8dJrluT9Vgpfbwy54Ghn4GqqbPHDbjFZyS0lkihQ3OI7peqJcCYqD1ZMzle2KySBrYj3eymJPCcGUWHgKGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) told the House Workforce Development Finance and Policy Committee that the governor's proposed budget would align construction-permit and inspection fees with the department's costs, add staff for misclassification enforcement, and fund a statewide registered teacher apprenticeship program.

Commissioner Nicole Lisonbee opened the department's presentation by saying the fee alignment is intended \"to make those fees align with the cost of providing service and to for the department to be able to continue the current level of service that we provide.\" DLI staff told the committee many fees have not increased since 2007 and that the construction codes and licensing division operates on fee revenue and currently faces an operational deficit that delays plan review and inspections.

On enforcement, the governor's revised budget would fund 2.5 additional full-time equivalent employees in DLI's labor standards division to support misclassification investigations. Lisonbee said the department has seen a recent rise in misclassification complaints \"in mental health and substance abuse centers, health care, construction, transportation, restaurant and food services. So we're seeing this problem more than just in the construction industry and we need more resources to address it.\" She noted DLI received a $70,000 appropriation last year tied to misclassification but that it does not support a full-time investigator.

DLI also proposed $5 million (FY26) plus a follow-on amount to establish a statewide registered teacher apprenticeship, to be administered through labor entities representing educators and signatory school districts. The department described apprenticeships as a tested approach that can improve recruitment and retention.

Other items in DLI's presentation included an operating adjustment for general fund and workers' compensation fund costs, a proposed update clarifying rest and meal break rules, grants to certified worker organizations (funds to train nursing home workers on related law) and an extension of a previously appropriated study on single-egress stairways.

Stakeholders who testified included Education Minnesota, which supported the teacher-apprenticeship proposal, and industry groups including the Manufactured and Modular Home Association and the Minnesota Electrical and Mechanical Contractors associations, which said they support fee alignment but urged attention to specific provisions such as used-home decals and manufactured-home shipment-label proposals. Mark Bruner of the Manufactured Modular Home Association told the committee his group supports many fee increases but sought changes to elements that could unintentionally require licensure or impose inspection requirements on private home sales.

The committee adopted a DE1 amendment to an earlier bill and laid over House File 2441 for future consideration to allow additional stakeholder work and follow-up with DLI.

","The Department of Labor and Industry presented the governor's budget, proposing construction-fee alignment, 2.5 new FTEs for misclassification enforcement, a pilot statewide registered teacher apprenticeship and clarifications to break laws; the committee laid the bill over after testimony from business and labor groups.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6622575,"DEED presents governor's budget to House committee, highlights Drive for 5 and vocational rehab support",1530,2844000,4374000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2783765-8d2eecef5227de54b33cdfe13e008caa&start=2844&end=4374","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2783765-8d2eecef5227de54b33cdfe13e008caa/thumbnail_2844000.jpg","/articles/6622575/Minnesota/DEED-presents-governors-budget-to-House-committee-highlights-Drive-for-5-and-vocational-rehab-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622575-2901bbdaccadbea0b516863d005556f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1773618388&Signature=V914t3MTpLKXF4c-E1ndrF1eiW3upBzfyblLdbZF9PZtiDxSi68XuKhRLZ30O2qCv8tvOEPHwmWn9sJfCF2oOIAd4h~UqvoVTDCbI9Q6Xa8jItyGo9lBZUBK4qNWc~WvwhubeYyIgrCT53JU01ZbnI0E75EaM7~pZkZMthitnz6-jBQFMnFfhfDay6Bx~Unqp6n5u27o2Gz8doVQuE~-JT4VPmjw9rmnf2A-5SbJqsW1BzTKwVNon-BzD72jKCnMH4Zk2pd8Nj4cKfB9d~8hVuYYXnBdY5NSjKMcfIJWjB53J1KZ6pY5mDPqb7rT5TBysFWDCfNHLz2MKubiYoTgYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) presented the governor's budget recommendations to the House Workforce Development Finance and Policy Committee, highlighting targeted investments in sector-based training programs and a proposed increase for vocational rehabilitation services.

Commissioner Matt Varilek told the committee the governor recommends a mix of reallocations and targeted investments in the workforce development fund and the general fund. \"First, one recommended new investment is the Service to Success initiative,\" Varilek said, describing a proposal for support of public-service pathways. He also described an $8 million proposed increase for the Drive for 5 workforce initiative, a sectoral pipeline grant program created in 2023, and recommended ongoing increases to vocational rehabilitation services: \"VRS is facing budget constraints due to increasing cost pressures, increasing demand, and, also relatively flat funding,\" Varilek said.

The department proposed general-fund reductions in a number of economic development line items and targeted reductions in smaller workforce programs to meet the governor's fiscal framework. Varilek said the administration calibrated the cuts so programs could still provide services while fitting within current fiscal constraints.

Representative Berg moved House File 2440 to be before the committee and moved an 825-0030 amendment to reflect the department's supplemental request. The committee adopted the amendment and, after testimony and questions, laid over House File 2440 as amended for later consideration.

Committee members pressed DEED on program impacts and staffing implications; several members called for additional hearings focused on vocational rehabilitation services and for agencies to discuss internal data-sharing and enforcement coordination. Varilek said some items will be discussed in more depth in subsequent hearings and underscored that workforce programs like Drive for 5 aim to direct more people into \"family-sustaining wages\" industries.

The department also recommended technical changes to grant programs and outcome reporting to recognize non-postsecondary credentials. Varilek briefed the committee on the Minnesota Forward Fund, Minnesota Job Skills Partnership updates, and the administration's approach for winding down some federal-match priorities while enabling state incentives for large projects.

The committee laid over the bill as amended to permit additional review and member questions.","The Department of Employment and Economic Development presented the governor's budget recommendations, including funding increases for Drive for 5 and vocational rehabilitation services and several proposed reductions. The committee adopted a supplemental amendment and laid the bill over for future consideration.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6622580,"Minn. committee hears testimony on two bills to measure and deter worker misclassification",2729,171000,2900000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2783765-8d2eecef5227de54b33cdfe13e008caa&start=171&end=2900","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2783765-8d2eecef5227de54b33cdfe13e008caa/thumbnail_171000.jpg","/articles/6622580/Minnesota/Minn-committee-hears-testimony-on-two-bills-to-measure-and-deter-worker-misclassification","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622580-e26e943831e1379c7806ae62ca8bccb5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773618388&Signature=pAtLbCQ1PwaU5KxxDqFbfdaab~UKyrOsjGOtuScRsxg1KM-TMpe9dcNfdcrb3vMw4M3eB0zyvBUadgkmGijJm1XKQkiRoeKi95l2UKlZ2EWDw446OGfJ2mspryXENiJnuwoaePS8OhvZXgeidHw05lXfDBEzdhKacwQnYiS5Y1pC~M2G8wctqXyAerPFjlTRZdCnuofgOHU8VbQRN2NMkSa~nXOpW6I5BYP-urcHVh9xEUWTGnA6NdBHPu0ylOkOlPtBBEI0wUBiBkOSMjFFGmnx0z1HDiZHGz7PviK7GTBJhIOhYX8e-q5Ss-gAJWMiGXtvTwFNEnzQaeBLoiW-~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives and witnesses told the House Workforce Development Finance and Policy Committee on April 1 that worker misclassification is widespread and costly to workers and state programs, and they described two bills intended to measure the problem and strengthen penalties.

Representative Heather Greenman, sponsor of the bills, said the measures come from the attorney general's task force on misclassification and aim to both quantify the scale of misclassification and raise penalties where enforcement has been weak. \"They come as a larger set of recommendations,\" Greenman said, describing the package as intended to \"strengthen our efforts to prevent misclassification fraud and the impact it has on our public coffers and on workers.\"

The first bill before the committee, House File 2145 as amended, would direct state agencies to develop an ongoing estimate of misclassification and its fiscal effects on state programs such as unemployment insurance, the Workforce Development Fund and workers' compensation. The second bill, House File 2146, focuses on penalties and enforcement and would raise the potential consequences where the Office of Legislative Auditor warned existing penalties were inadequate.

Jake Schweitzer, executive director of Northstar Policy Action, summarized a September study his organization produced estimating misclassification's economic effect. \"Approximately 316,000 individuals, or 9.4 percent of all private sector workers, experienced misclassification fraud in 2019,\" Schweitzer said, adding his group's estimate that working Minnesotans lost between $2.9 billion and $6.2 billion in compensation and that state government lost between $506 million and $1.3 billion in revenue in 2019. Schweitzer emphasized limitations in his group's data and urged a state-run, recurring analysis to provide accountability and better enforcement.

Business and labor witnesses described how misclassification affects different sectors. Jesse Madison, founder and CEO of Purple Tally Productions, said production and live-event businesses face competition from employers who treat workers as independent contractors and can undercut law-abiding firms. \"When they do that, they can undercut us by 30 to 40 percent,\" Madison said. Alana Olson, a stagehand and IATSE Local 13 member who described a workplace injury she suffered, said workers often perform the same duties as employees yet are told they are independent contractors and therefore denied protections. Tony McGarvey, a union organizer and city council member, testified that the practice depresses wages, undercuts employers who follow the law and is increasingly part of an exploitable business model.

Committee members discussed the bills at length. Some raised concern that increasing penalties could unintentionally affect legitimate subcontracting and small employers, and others pushed for better agency data-sharing and use of existing reporting (for example, 1099 filings) before adding more penalties. Representative Greenman and other supporters said that the bills were a response to multiple OLA audits and task force recommendations and that the reporting bill is necessary to know how large the problem is before determining the appropriate level of investment in enforcement.

The committee adopted the DE1 amendment to House File 2146 and laid over both House File 2145 (reporting) and House File 2146 (penalties) for future consideration.

The committee's next steps will be to reconcile member concerns about scope and enforcement resources and to await the agencies' ability to supply the data the reporting bill requests.

","The House Workforce Development Committee heard testimony on House Files 2145 and 2146, a pairing of bills that would require regular measurement of worker misclassification and raise penalties to deter employers who misclassify employees as independent contractors.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Central and Northeast Minnesota group seeks $1M revolving capital to boost small-business lending

Committee extends availability of Ramsey County youth-work funds so summer program can run

Labor & Industry seeks fee alignment, added misclassification staff and teacher apprenticeship funding

DEED presents governor's budget to House committee, highlights Drive for 5 and vocational rehab support

Minn. committee hears testimony on two bills to measure and deter worker misclassification