Purpose

To limit how fast the state can increase the number of state employees in the executive branch. The bill ties growth in staffing to the growth of the state population as projected by the state demographer, effectively creating a staffing cap based on population trends.

Main Provisions

• The annual percentage growth in the total number of full-time equivalent positions (FTE) employed by all executive branch state agencies from one fiscal year to the next must not exceed the percentage growth of the state population during the same period, as projected by the state demographer.
• “Executive branch state agencies” are defined as in Minnesota Statutes section 16A.011 subdivision 12a.
• Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) are not included in applying this limit.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Establishes a new binding limit on year-to-year growth of staffing in the executive branch, tied to population growth projections rather than a separate internal hiring cap.
• Replaces unlimited or unconstrained staffing growth with a cap based on population projections, using FTE as the measure.
• Excludes MnSCU from the cap, meaning MnSCU’s staffing growth is not restricted by this provision.

Practical Implications (summary)

• Agencies would need to plan hiring within a cap that moves with population projections.
• Budgeting and workforce planning could be more tightly constrained, potentially slowing hiring even if positions become necessary.
• The limit relies on projections from the state demographer, so changes in projected population could affect the allowed staffing growth accordingly.

Relevant Terms - full-time equivalent (FTE) - executive branch state agencies - state population - state demographer - Minnesota Statutes §16A.011, subd. 12a - MnSCU (Minnesota State Colleges and Universities) - hiring cap - fiscal year - staffing growth - population growth projections