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State panel hears overviews from four state ethnic and tribal councils, who outline staffing and budget priorities
Summary
The State Government Committee heard presentations from Minnesota’s Council on Latino Affairs, Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, Council on LGBTQIA2S+ Minnesotans (MNQT) and the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council about staffing, community demographics, priorities and budget requests for the biennium.
On Jan. 28 the State Government Committee received high‑level overviews from four executive councils that advise state government on issues affecting Minnesota’s Latino, Asian Pacific, LGBTQIA2S+ and American Indian communities.
Rosa Tock, executive director of the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs, said MCLA serves as a nonpartisan state agency with a five‑person staff (two vacancies) and focuses on education, health care access and economic development for Latino Minnesotans. She noted Latinos comprise roughly 6.4% of the state population, an estimated 367,000 residents, and highlighted community engagement products including an annual report and a community priorities report.
David Campana, MCLA’s legislative and policy director for economic development, listed policy priorities such as streamlined certification for foreign‑trained professionals, expanded bilingual workforce development and supports for Latino small businesses.
Sia He, executive director of the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, described the council’s duties under statute 15.0145, noted the community’s diverse composition and recommended a $370,000 increase over base funds to add one special projects coordinator and bring the council’s budget into parity with other ethnic councils.
Emma McBride, executive director of the Council on LGBTQIA2S+ Minnesotans (MNQT), said MNQT became operational in 2024, currently holds two permanent FTEs and has an annual budget of $499,000; she described primary priorities of research, community engagement and policy work on transgender youth issues, mental health and access to gender‑affirming care. McBride noted $419,000 in funds rolled over from FY24 that expire June 30, 2025.
Representatives of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council emphasized MIAC’s role as a government‑to‑government liaison with 11 tribal nations, its statutory duties (including work related to NAGPRA/Minnesota Graves Protection), cultural review of development plans and language revitalization work.
Committee members thanked the councils and said staff would meet to set agendas for subsequent hearings; members deferred detailed questions until after all councils had presented.
Next steps: Committee staff will circulate the agenda for the next meeting and legislators will continue budget and policy discussions with council staff during the session.
