SF 1662

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 06/18/2025 08:47 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to campaign finance; defining what constitutes major decisions of
nonelected local officials; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 10A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [10A.52] MAJOR DECISION OF NONELECTED LOCAL OFFICIALS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Major decision regarding the expenditure of public money. new text end

new text begin (a)
Attempting to influence a nonelected local official is lobbying if the nonelected local official
may make, recommend, or vote on, as a member of the political subdivision's governing
body, a major decision regarding an expenditure or investment of public money.
new text end

new text begin (b) The mere act of submitting an application for a grant or responding to a request for
proposals is not lobbying. Communications of a purely administerial or technical nature
regarding the submission of a grant application or response to requests for proposals are
not lobbying.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Actions that are a major decision regarding public funds. new text end

new text begin A major decision
regarding the expenditure or investment of public money includes but is not limited to a
decision on:
new text end

new text begin (1) the development and ratification of operating and capital budgets of a political
subdivision, including development of the budget request for an office or department within
the political subdivision;
new text end

new text begin (2) whether to apply for or accept state, federal, or private grant funding;
new text end

new text begin (3) selecting recipients for government grants from the political subdivision; or
new text end

new text begin (4) tax abatement, tax increment financing, or expenditures on public infrastructure used
to support private housing or business developments.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Actions that are not a major decision. new text end

new text begin A major decision regarding the
expenditure of public money does not include:
new text end

new text begin (1) the purchase of goods or services with public funds in the operating or capital budget
of a political subdivision;
new text end

new text begin (2) collective bargaining of a labor contract on behalf of a political subdivision; or
new text end

new text begin (3) participating in discussions with a party or a party's representative regarding litigation
between the party and the political subdivision of the local official.
new text end