Committee approves exemption letting small farms (five or fewer employees) opt out of earned sick-and-safe-time

The Senate Labor and Industry Committee voted Jan. 23 to advance Senate File 310, a bill that exempts family farms and other agricultural employers with five or fewer employees from Minnesota’s Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) law. The committee passed the bill in a roll-call vote, 8–4, and re‑referred it to the Senate Committee on Agriculture.

Senator Doernick, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure provides a modest exemption for family farms and other small agricultural businesses that operate with a handful of employees and face unique operational burdens. He framed the change as a way to preserve family operations and address implementation challenges small farms reported after ESST took effect.

Supporters from multiple agricultural and small-business groups described the law’s administrative demands as onerous for very small operations. Lauren Schothorst of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce said small and mid-size employers—particularly those without HR staff—face “financial and operational impacts” and…