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House approves jobs, labor and economic development budget with labor protections and targeted grants
Summary
Senate File 17, funding DEED, DLI and workforce programs, passed the House after debate on earned sick-and-safe time, paid family medical leave and workforce grants, including UI extension for miners.
The Minnesota House passed Senate File 17, the biennial budget bill funding job, labor and economic development agencies, after the House suspended its rules to take up the conference agreement. Sponsors said the bill funds the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), Explore Minnesota, the Film Board, Bureau of Mediation Services and related programs, and includes a mix of funding, reforms and competitive grant changes.
Co-chair Representative Dave Pinto said the measure funds workforce and worker protections and reforms how some competitive grant programs are administered. Co-chair Representative Baker and other proponents highlighted provisions to expand teacher apprenticeship pathways, worker misclassification enforcement and paid family medical leave adjustments negotiated during conference.
Representative Greenman and other members emphasized provisions to expand economic security for workers, including earned sick-and-safe time coverage and the coming paid family and medical leave program, which the bill modifies. Representative Warwas and Representative Igoe thanked the authors for a provision extending unemployment insurance for miners in affected Iron Range communities.
Representative Schultz offered, then withdrew, an amendment intended to change earned sick-and-safe time exemptions for very small employers and public employers; the amendment was withdrawn by the mover. Debate covered concerns about mandate relief for small employers and the interaction of paid family medical leave with collective‑bargaining agreements for public employers.
The final vote was recorded by roll call; the clerk announced “96 ayes and 37 nays,” and the bill passed. Remote roll-call entries show Representative Olson voted no in the roll call as recorded on the transcript.
Sponsors described the bill as a compromise that advances worker protections while attempting to limit certain costs to employers and local governments; supporters said additional work will continue in future sessions on implementation details.
Votes at a glance: Senate File 17 — final passage: 96 ayes, 37 nays (passed).
