Five state advisory councils brief committee on work and seek modest budget increases

Representatives of five state advisory councils appeared before the House State Government Finance and Policy Committee on March 11, 2025, to summarize agency missions, recent work and requests for additional resources in the next biennium. Each council described its statutory role, core activities and planned work for the year, and several requested incremental increases to staff or operating funds to expand capacity.

Why this matters: these councils are statutorily-created advisory bodies that provide culturally specific research, community engagement and policy advice to state government. Modest budget increases would fund staff and expanded programming that councils say would improve the states ability to serve diverse communities.

Highlights by council

Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans (CAPM)

Sia Her, Executive Director, said CAPM represents a diverse refugee-majority Asian and Pacific Islander population and is working on a "fiftieth anniversary" commemoration of the end of the conflict in Southeast Asia. The council requested a $370,000 increase over base to add one full-time employee and to bring its budget closer to parity with the other ethnic councils.

Council on LGBTQIA2S+ Minnesotans (MNQT)

Emma Watts, Executive Director, described MNQTs recent start-up and its current staffing and research plans. MNQT became operational in May 2024 and is using rollover funds to temporarily support five FTEs; the council said its base appropriation of $499,000 comfortably funds two FTEs. MNQT described a planned statewide community needs assessment (survey, community conversations and partner survey) and agency scan to produce policy recommendations.

Minnesota Indian Affairs Council (MIAC)

Shannon Gieszuk (Executive Director) and Brandon Elkayer (Legislative Director) described MIACs government-to-government role, statutory duties under Minnesota Statute 3.922, the councils language-revitalization and cultural-resource programs, and its regulatory role concerning cultural resources. MIAC said it currently operates with eight staff (nine including the director) and provides technical assistance, tribal-state coordination and education.

Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs (MCLA)

Rosa Tock, Executive Director, summarized MCLAs focus areas (education, healthcare access and economic development) and said the council has five FTE and a 15-member board. MCLA asked for a $272,000 increase to preserve its five FTEs and stressed the value of demographic data and local fact sheets it provides to legislators.

Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage (CMAH)

Theodore Rose, Managing Director for Policy, presented CMAHs priorities, including addressing child-welfare disproportionality, housing and homeownership gaps, and health and mental-health disparities. Rose highlighted the councils role in bipartisan efforts and recent legislative progress on family-preservation and child-welfare reforms.

Member response and next steps

Committee members were invited to consult with councils directly; chairs encouraged follow-up meetings. Several members thanked council staff for outreach and noted the councils comparative budget sizes; some members asked for office visits or one-on-one follow-up rather than extended committee questioning during the hearing.

Speakers (selected)

- Sia Her, Executive Director, Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans - Andy Morris, Public Affairs & Legislative Liaison, Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans - Emma Watts, Executive Director, Council on LGBTQIA2S+ Minnesotans (MNQT) - Shannon Gieszuk, Executive Director, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council - Brandon Elkayer, Legislative Director, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council - Rosa Tock, Executive Director, Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs - David Campana, Executive and Policy Director, Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs - Theodore Rose, Managing Director for Policy, Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage

Clarifying details

- CAPM requested $370,000 over base to add one FTE and to support commemorative programming for Southeast Asian veterans and community events. - MNQT reported a base appropriation of $499,000 (funding two FTEs comfortably) and said it is using rollover funds to temporarily support five staff while it builds research and engagement products (community needs assessment launching in 2025). - MCLA requested $272,000 to maintain five FTEs; the director said without the increase the council would lose one FTE. - MIAC said it is staffed at eight FTEs (nine including the director) and runs language-revitalization and cultural-resource regulatory programs.

No formal committee votes were taken on appropriations during the hearing; councils requested members consideration during the budget process.

Searchable tags: advisory councils, CAPM, MNQT, MIAC, MCLA, CMAH, budget requests, community engagement