Minnsights Blog

As we enter a new legislative chapter this year, the uncertainty surrounding the balance of power in the House has caused some initial drama. However, we expect these issues to be resolved, enabling progress during this legislative session. Last fall’s state elections spoke volumes about what matters most to Minnesotans: the economy and costs. Minnesotans desire a balanced approach to governance, and the business community shares this expectation for our elected officials. Bipartisan solutions are crucial to improving our economy, lowering costs for families and businesses, and addressing the challenges facing our state.

The Minnesota Chamber Foundation Business Education Network (BEN) partners gathered at Owatonna High School in mid January. BEN partners reflect more than 20 local and regional chambers across the state who partner with the Minnesota Chamber Foundation on workforce strategies. They are specifically focused on connecting students to employers in the community, and helping them understand the paths to high demand careers in their region – whether its going to work out of high school, or attending a two or four year post secondary institution.

We at the Chamber are paying close attention to the start of the 2025 legislative session, which begins next week. The balance of power at the Capitol, both in the House and Senate, is a focus of much attention and headlines. However, it's important to recognize the significant work ahead for the Legislature, and we encourage them to get organized and prepare for the session.

The Minnesota Chamber is pleased to offer valuable information to our members and community business leaders. We have received many, many questions from our members about what happened during this legislative session, and we’re here to help you make sense of how it’s going to impact your business. The purpose of this information is to provide an overview of policies and laws and equip business leaders with an understanding of compliance requirements and upcoming changes.

Here we are at the end of 2024, and we want to wish all of you an enjoyable holiday season and a happy new year! Right around the corner, we also have the start of the 2025 legislative session. On January 14, the Legislature will be sworn in, and the next evening, January 15, the Chamber will host our largest event of the year, Session Priorities. This program will feature legislative leaders and the governor, and we expect a robust discussion around business policy priorities for the upcoming legislative session.