HF 4080
Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)
Posted on 03/18/2026 11:49 a.m.
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A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; prohibiting certain retailers from obtaining an ownership
interest in livestock dealers or meat packing companies; prohibiting certain
exclusive contracts; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17A.03, by adding
a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 17A.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17A.03, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:
new text begin Subd. 17. new text end
new text begin Dominant retailer. new text end
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"Dominant retailer" means an entity that:
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new text begin
(1) is primarily engaged in the sale of meat at retail;
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new text begin
(2) has annual retail sales of meat exceeding $18,000,000,000, as adjusted each year for
inflation by multiplying that amount by the cumulative inflation rate as determined by the
United States Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers; and
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new text begin
(3) has at least one retail location or distribution center located in at least 20 states,
including Minnesota.
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Sec. 2.
new text begin
[17A.075] PROHIBITED OWNERSHIP INTERESTS AND EXCLUSIVE
CONTRACTS.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Ownership interests and exclusive contracts. new text end
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(a) A dominant retailer
must not directly or indirectly own, acquire, or otherwise obtain any ownership interest in
a livestock dealer or meat packing company.
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new text begin
(b) A dominant retailer must not enter into an exclusive contract with any livestock
dealer or meat packing company that requires the livestock dealer or meat packing company
to sell their product exclusively to the dominant retailer.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Certification. new text end
new text begin
By October 1, 2026, all dominant retailers doing business in
Minnesota must certify whether the dominant retailer is in compliance with subdivision 1.
A dominant retailer not in compliance with subdivision 1 by October 1, 2026, may request
an extension from the commissioner. The commissioner may provide an extension for 180
days for a dominant retailer to be in compliance, provided that the dominant retailer shows
a good faith effort in its attempts to be in compliance. To qualify for an extension, a dominant
retailer must submit a divestiture plan to the commissioner, in the form approved by the
commissioner, for each livestock dealer or meat packing company in which the dominant
retailer has an ownership interest.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Public comment, enforcement, and penalties. new text end
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(a) The attorney general must
accept public comment with information on any dominant retailer acting in violation of this
section.
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(b) An action to enforce this section may be brought by the attorney general in the name
of the state on behalf of the commissioner for injunctive relief or civil penalties. A dominant
retailer found to be in violation of this section may be subject to a civil penalty of $25,000
for each day a dominant retailer violates this section.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
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Subdivision 3 is effective August 1, 2027.
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