Bill to centralize certified-payroll reporting advances amid data-privacy concerns
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Summary
Representative Frazier's bill to create a centralized electronic certified-payroll portal won adoption of a technical DE1 but was laid over as amended after contractors and counties urged stronger worker-data safeguards and clearer implementation plans.
Representative Frazier presented House File 4543 on April 9, 2026, proposing a centralized electronic certified-payroll reporting portal that would allow contractors to submit required certified-payroll reports in one secure place rather than through fragmented systems.
Frazier told the committee the bill would not create new reporting mandates or expand prevailing-wage law; rather, it would modernize how already-required certified-payroll information is submitted and stored. The DE1 amendment — which the committee adopted by voice vote — incorporates technical corrections and allows local governments with prevailing-wage ordinances to opt into the portal for non-state-funded projects.
County and municipal witnesses described administrative benefits. Nathan Jessen of the Minnesota Intercounty Association cited growing data-practice requests — for example, Wright County rose from 288 requests in 2023 to 534 in 2025 and Crow Wing County from 63 to 228 — and said a centralized database would relieve local recordkeeping burdens.
Contractor groups supported streamlining but pressed for stronger protections. Joel Hansen, director of government relations for Associated Builders and Contractors, said trade groups were concerned about employee privacy if the portal were publicly accessible: "We have concerns that this portal will be public facing and upset that process," he said, noting certified-payroll forms include names, addresses, pay rates and hours.
Laura Ziegler of the Associated General Contractors urged avoiding duplication with existing payroll systems, ensuring interoperability with contractor software, building data-security safeguards, and conducting stakeholder engagement to smooth implementation.
Committee members repeatedly raised privacy and implementation questions. Vice Chair Bonner flagged sensitive information listed in Subdivision 2 and urged the committee to apply a —minimum data necessary— standard. Representative Frazier and Co-chair Nash said they would continue stakeholder conversations; the committee laid the bill over as amended to resolve outstanding concerns before advancing it.
Next steps: DE1 has been adopted; the committee postponed further action to allow proponents and stakeholders to negotiate implementation details and privacy safeguards.
