Senate bill would add a workers-rights coordinator and $163,000 to enforce meat- and poultry-processing safety law

Senate File 4744, presented to the committee as a bill to strengthen enforcement of Minnesota’s Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers Act, would appropriate $163,000 from the general fund to hire an additional workers-rights coordinator at the Department of Labor and Industry.

Sponsor remarks noted that the workers-rights coordinator position was created by the 2023 act to bridge communication between DLI, employers and workers and that DLI’s coordinator has conducted dozens of on-site visits. Jessica Hayson, communications director for United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 663, testified the appropriation will improve outreach, complaint intake, education and enforcement and argued the one-time investment would reduce longer-term costs tied to worker injuries and turnover.

Josiah Moore, legislative director at DLI, said the 2025 department report recommended adding a coordinator to increase inspections, outreach and technical assistance; DLI staff clarified the appropriation in the a18 omnibus language reflects ongoing funding beginning in fiscal year 2027. Committee discussion included whether DLI could reallocate existing funds; DLI staff said internal flexibility was limited and that the recommendation was new to the 2025 report. The committee laid Senate File 4744 over for further consideration.

Next steps: Committee staff included the appropriation line in an A18 amendment outline for the labor omnibus; senators will return for markup.