SF 1990

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 02/28/2025 10:43 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to state government; requiring legislators to disclose financial ties to
entities seeking state funding; prohibiting legislative staff from being paid by an
entity seeking state funding; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 3.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [3.0845] FINANCIAL INTERESTS OF LEGISLATORS AND STAFF.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Compensation" means anything of value that is not a gift under section 10A.071.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Designated legislative staff" means the secretary of the senate for reports from
senators and senate staff, and the chief clerk of the house of representatives for members
and staff of the house of representatives.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Family member" means a spouse, child, stepchild, sibling or sibling's spouse, mother,
father, stepmother, or stepfather, or person who maintains a permanent residence at the
legislator's homestead property.
new text end

new text begin (e) "Grant" means a transfer of cash or something of value to a recipient to support a
public purpose authorized by law.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Financial disclosure required. new text end

new text begin A legislator must report to designated legislative
staff if the legislator or a family member of the legislator receives compensation from an
entity that is seeking state funding through a grant that is the subject of a bill that has been
introduced in either body of the legislature. The report must be made within five days of
the date the bill is introduced in the senate or house of representatives, and before action is
taken on the bill by a legislative committee or by the senate or the house of representatives.
The designated legislative staff must promptly notify the author of the bill and the chair and
ranking minority member of any committee to which the bill has been referred or rereferred
regarding the reported compensation. The designated legislative staff must post all disclosures
under this subdivision on the website for the senate or house of representatives, as applicable.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Preclusion on certain outside employment. new text end

new text begin A person employed by the house
of representatives, the senate, or a joint office of the legislature is prohibited from accepting
compensation from an entity that makes a request for funding through a bill authored by a
legislator or through a grant request or response to a request for proposal to a state agency
or constitutional officer. A violation of this subdivision is grounds for discipline, up to and
including dismissal.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Relationship to other requirements. new text end

new text begin The requirements and prohibitions under
this section are in addition to the conflict of interest requirements under section 10A.07,
the representation disclosure requirements under section 10A.08, and the requirement to
file a statement of economic interest under section 10A.09.
new text end