Minnesota House debates bill to narrow attorney general data privacy; House File 20 laid on table after votes

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota House spent much of its Feb. 19 floor session debating House File 20, a proposal to change how the attorney general's office classifies certain records under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. Representative Nyska, the bill's author, said the measure adds "two words" to restore a prior interpretation of the law after a 2022 Minnesota Supreme Court ruling.

"House File 20 is a very small change in the law. Adds 2 words to the Minnesota data practices act," Representative Nyska said in opening remarks, arguing the bill would correct what he described as a mistaken judicial expansion in Energy Policy Advocates v. Ellison and would improve transparency about who influences the attorney general's office.

Supporters said the bill would protect the public's right to know how the attorney general's office is influenced and operated. Representative Nyska also cited staffing numbers in the attorney general's office, saying it was "estimated to have 433.7 FTEs, which is a 34% increase since 02/2019," and that administrative operations are projected at "73.87 FTEs." He said those resources are adequate to handle any classification changes.

Opponents, including Representative Liebling and Representative Greenman, said the bill would jeopardize investigations and chill cooperation from small businesses, farmers and other private parties that provide information in investigations. "This bill puts a big part of that in jeopardy," Representative Greenman said, arguing protected data helps the attorney general build cases on behalf of consumers and workers.

The floor saw several procedural motions…