Conference committee adopts jobs-policy package, keeps CAN startup private-match at 50%

The Minnesota Legislature conference committee on jobs policy, co-chaired by Chair Champion and Chair Baker, adopted a package of policy provisions during a May 18, 2025 meeting, approving changes to startup grants, training grants, construction-fee language and other job-related sections and directing staff to make technical edits.

The decision affects several workforce programs and appropriations: the CAN train grants will be limited to organizations rather than individuals, a proposed reduction of the CAN startup private match from 50 percent to 25 percent was removed so the 50 percent match remains, and several Department of Labor and Industry fee increases in the package were adopted while manufactured-home technical language was left for further review.

Committee members said the package was assembled from a staff memo titled "jobs policy sections for potential adoption, 05/18/2025," and that nonpartisan staff from both chambers had prepared the draft language. Chair Champion opened the meeting and set the process: staff would go line-by-line, confirm informal agreement, then the chairs would…