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Dakota County adopts 2025 legislative platform, delays endorsement language for association positions
Summary
The Dakota County Board approved its 2025 legislative platform but agreed to postpone a new clause that would broadly list association partners; commissioners also asked staff to refine language on environmental mandates, DHS technology, eviction-court costs and broadband.
The Dakota County Board of Commissioners approved a 2025 legislative platform on Jan. 7 but agreed to delay a new line that would list and broadly endorse external associations’ positions until the General Government & Policy (GGP) committee could review procedural safeguards.
Paul Castillo of the Stinson law firm, the county’s legislative representative, framed the work for the year and told commissioners, “The legislature is a mess,” adding that the county’s team would continue drafting bills and educating legislators. Dan Dwight of Stinson said the firm was drafting carryover proposals and meeting with legislators to find bill authors.
Board discussion focused on process and timing. Several commissioners said drafting should continue immediately because the reviser’s office and committee hearings create an early-season pipeline that favors bills already prepared. Commissioner Workman urged caution on an association‑endorsement clause, saying staff latitude in the past had produced positions the full board had not discussed; others agreed to move that specific item to GGP for a procedural discussion.
Commissioner Atkins proposed approving the platform while tabling a small set of items for further wordsmithing — including a revised environmental funding sentence (“mandates should come with full funding”), stronger language to direct investments in modernization of systems county staff use to administer state programs, additional language about the county costs tied to eviction court and homelessness services funding, and clearer broadband policy. The motion to approve the platform with those exceptions carried; Commissioner Holberg voted no.
Stinson and county staff emphasized the practical need to have draft bills and policy positions ready early in session to secure reviser’s office review and to request committee hearings. The board also noted plans for a legislative breakfast and invited commissioners to participate in outreach to state legislators in coming weeks.
