HF5153

Purpose

Create a Minnesota Entrepreneurship Task Force to evaluate how well current programs work, suggest new programs, consider reforms to permitting and licensing, and identify barriers to starting a business in Minnesota. The goal is to make Minnesota the easiest and most rewarding state to start, own, and grow a business.

Key Provisions

• Establishment

  • The commissioner of employment and economic development must establish a Minnesota Entrepreneurship Task Force to study programs, propose new ones, consider licensing and permitting reforms, and identify barriers to starting a business discovered by the task force.

• Membership

  • The task force includes the commissioner (or a designee) plus ten members appointed by the commissioner, with:
  • Two members with direct entrepreneurship experience
  • Two members representing small and large business owners
  • One representative of organized labor
  • One representative of registered apprenticeship programs
  • One representative from K-12 education
  • One representative from higher education
  • One representative with expertise in career and technical education
  • One representative with expertise in business financing
  • The commissioner of labor and industry (or a designee) must also be a member.

• Administration

  • The commissioner must convene the first meeting by September 15, 2027 and provide staff support.
  • Members serve without compensation or per diem.

• Duties

  • Focus on:
  • Building robust support systems for small businesses from launch through succession
  • Reducing barriers and friction to starting and running a business through streamlined licensing and permitting and technical assistance
  • Providing access to capital, mentors, and other support systems
  • Delivering entrepreneurship education for students and adults
  • Providing apprenticeship supports
  • Addressing real-life barriers such as access to health care and child care
  • Analyze current programs, develop new programs, and pursue licensing and permitting reforms to address the identified issues and other barriers to entrepreneurship.

• Report

  • On or before February 15, 2028, the task force must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees/divisions with jurisdiction over economic development, outlining findings and recommendations.

• Expiration

  • The task force expires the day after it submits its report.

Significance and Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a new, standing advisory body (the Minnesota Entrepreneurship Task Force) and a structured process for evaluating and reforming entrepreneurship-related programs, licensing, and permitting in Minnesota. This represents a shift in how the state reviews and improves support for starting and growing businesses, rather than making immediate statutory changes to programs themselves.

Timeline and Key Dates

• First task force meeting: by September 15, 2027
• Final report due: February 15, 2028
• Task force expiration: the day after the report is submitted

Relevant Terms - Minnesota Entrepreneurship Task Force - commissioner of employment and economic development - licensing reforms - permitting reforms - barriers to starting a business - streamlined licensing and permitting - technical assistance - access to capital - mentors - entrepreneurship education - apprenticeship supports - health care access - child care access - small business - large business - organized labor - registered apprenticeship programs - kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) education - higher education - career and technical education - business financing - report due February 15, 2028 - expiration after report submission - staff support - compensation and per diem (not paid)