Minn. committee hears competing testimony on bill to delay paid family and medical leave

Representative Baker moved House File 11, a proposal to delay implementation of Minnesota''s Paid Family and Medical Leave program by one year, and the House Workforce, Labor, Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee heard more than two hours of testimony Monday on the measure.

The bill's sponsor, Representative Baker, told the committee the pause "will just allow us to hear from more" people and to address outstanding questions about the program's design and fiscal calculations. The committee recessed to the call of the chair and planned additional discussion later the same day and follow-up with authorizing committees.

The hearing drew sharply divided testimony. Representatives of chambers of commerce, trade associations, school officials and business groups urged a delay, citing unresolved administrative rules, uncertainty about payroll tax impacts and concern that small employers lack the payroll and HR systems to comply by Jan. 1, 2026. Lauren Shothorst, policy director at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, said, "We are fundamentally opposed to the idea of the state mandating an employer benefit," and argued the program could create an "undue or…