Minn. Human Rights commissioner briefs Senate Judiciary on investigations, equal-pay portal and consent decree monitoring

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Commissioner Rebecca Lucero of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights told the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on Feb. 7 that the agency is advancing an online portal for workforce and equal-pay certificates, continuing court-ordered monitoring of a consent decree with the City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Police Department, and managing a marked increase in discrimination charges filed by Minnesotans.

The presentation to the committee focused on the agency’s two core duties under state law: neutral fact‑finding investigations and administration of workforce and equal‑pay certification requirements for state contractors. Lucero also outlined the department’s modest budget request for the 2026 biennium, described as “a little bit over a 2% increase” from the adjusted base.

The portal for workforce and equal‑pay certificates — documents contractors must provide when contracting with state agencies — has been in development to reduce duplicate data entry and streamline compliance. Lucero said testing with vendors is planned for the summer and the agency aims to launch the system “by fully by the end of the year.”

The department’s enforcement work spans employment,…