HF 5154
Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)
Posted on 05/16/2026 11:56 a.m.
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A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; establishing the Office of Business Regulation and Land
Ownership within the Department of Agriculture; requiring reports; appropriating
money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 17.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
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[17.034] OFFICE OF BUSINESS REGULATION AND LAND
OWNERSHIP.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Establishment. new text end
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The Office of Business Regulation and Land Ownership
is established within the Department of Agriculture. The Office of Business Regulation and
Land Ownership has the duties described in subdivision 2.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Duties; reports. new text end
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(a) The office must:
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(1) examine the establishment of monopolies and consolidation of agriculture-related
businesses in the state, including businesses that produce or sell agricultural commodities,
seed, and agricultural chemicals;
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(2) evaluate purchases of agricultural land and land consolidation across industries in
the state by:
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(i) individuals;
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(ii) limited liability companies;
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(iii) corporations;
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(iv) churches; and
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(v) other nonprofit organizations;
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(3) identify trends in agricultural land purchasing and land consolidation across industries
in the state; and
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(4) provide advice to the commissioner of agriculture.
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(b) The office must submit a biennial report with its findings to the chairs and ranking
minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over agriculture.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Director; other staff. new text end
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(a) The commissioner of agriculture must appoint a
director to manage the Office of Business Regulation and Land Ownership. The director
must have knowledge about antitrust law, property law, and agriculture-related businesses.
The director serves in the unclassified service.
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(b) The commissioner must hire staff, including lawyers and economists, to perform the
duties of the Office of Business Regulation and Land Ownership. The staff are in the
unclassified service of the state. Compensation for staff must be established pursuant to
chapter 43A. The staff must be reimbursed for the expenses necessarily incurred in the
performance of official duties in the same manner as other state employees.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; OFFICE OF BUSINESS REGULATION AND LAND
OWNERSHIP.
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$....... in fiscal year 2027 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
agriculture for the purposes of establishing and funding the Office of Business Regulation
and Land Ownership within the Department of Agriculture.
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