Purpose

The bill updates Minnesota statutes to reorganize and expand two Explore Minnesota councils. It aims to strengthen tourism, business marketing, and economic opportunity in Minnesota, with a clear emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility to improve livability and workforce development.

Key changes to the Explore Minnesota for Business Council

• Size and appointment: Establishes a council of up to 14 voting members appointed by the governor for four-year terms. The executive director of Explore Minnesota and the commissioner of employment and economic development serve as co-chairs.
• Diverse representation: Adds multiple categories of members, including:
  • Three representatives from Minnesota-based companies with 100+ employees in key industries (health care, technology, food and agriculture, manufacturing, retail, energy, and support services) focused on marketing and leadership.
  • Two representatives from statewide or regional marketing or business associations, plus leaders from the Iron Range and nonprofits focused on economic development or HR management.
  • One representative from a Minnesota college or university related to staff/faculty leadership, student leadership, or alumni associations.
  • One representative from Minnesota’s small business or startup community who started at least one Minnesota-based business in the last five years and employs at least 20 people.
  • Two representatives from Minnesota Indian affairs and tribal leadership (including casino management).
  • Two representatives from Minnesota Ethnic Chambers of Commerce Leadership and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce (one Dakota and one Ojibwe representative).
  • One at-large representative in general marketing, talent attraction, or economic development.
  • One representative from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and one from the Department of Employment and Economic Development (the DEED commissioner, deputy commissioner, or an assistant commissioner).
• DEIA focus: Members must advise on marketing efforts with an emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and provide professional marketing insights to support these goals.
• Purpose of the council: To promote livability and broader workforce and economic opportunities in Minnesota, aligning marketing with DEI.

Key changes to the Explore Minnesota Tourism Council

• Size and appointment: Establishes a council of up to 35 voting members appointed by the governor for four-year terms, with the director of Explore Minnesota Tourism serving as chair.
• Broad representation: Includes:
  • Fourteen representatives from statewide tourism-related associations (e.g., bed and breakfast establishments, golf, festivals and events, counties CVBs, lodging, trails, campgrounds, restaurants, craft beverages, chambers of commerce, and Tribal nations).
  • Ten representatives from the tourism business sector (transportation, retail travel agencies, tour operators, travel media, convention facilities, arts and culture, sports, outdoor recreation, and tourism business owners from underrepresented communities).
  • One representative from each of the tourism marketing regions (five regions) as designated by the office.
  • One or more ex officio nonvoting members, including at least one representative from the University of Minnesota Tourism Center.
  • Four legislators (two from each house, one from each of the two largest party caucuses in their respective houses).
  • Other persons as designated by the governor.
• Purposes: The council is tasked with promoting activities that maintain and expand Minnesota’s domestic and international travel market to increase visitor expenditures, tax revenue, and employment.
• Terms and vacancies: Terms are set so half of the members’ terms end on different dates to stagger renewal; vacancies follow the state vacancy rules. Members are not compensated and may be reappointed.
• Meetings and participation: The council must meet at least four times per year (and as needed). The bill allows meetings by telephone or other electronic means when practical, with specific requirements to ensure the public can hear discussions, testimony, and votes. Roll-call voting is required for electronic meetings, and remote participation counts toward quorum.
• Notice and accessibility: When meetings are held remotely, notice must indicate that some members may participate electronically, and remote access may be provided. The timing and method for notices follow existing statutory rules. If remote participation is used, the council may require the remote participant to cover documented marginal costs.

Operational details and governance

• Meeting flexibility: Provisions enable remote participation while maintaining transparency, including roll-call votes and public notice requirements.
• Funding and compensation: Members are not compensated for serving on the councils.
• Compliance and administration: Vacancies and terms follow existing state rules; ex officio members and legislators have defined roles but nonvoting status for some participants.

Potential impact and intent

• Representational balance: Expanded and explicit inclusion of tribal nations, Dakota and Ojibwe representation, ethnic chambers, and leaders from underrepresented communities to reflect Minnesota’s diversity.
• Economic and travel growth: Intended to better market Minnesota as a destination and improve economic opportunities, job creation, and public revenue through tourism.
• Accessibility and equity: A formal focus on DEIA and accessibility in marketing and program decision-making.

Summary of significant changes

• Replaces or significantly reorganizes the business council’s composition to broaden industry, tribal, and diverse community representation.
• Embeds a DEIA-focused directive into the business council’s advisory role.
• Expands and diversifies the tourism council, including regional representation and underrepresented community participation.
• Introduces flexible meeting provisions to enable remote participation while preserving accountability and public notice standards.

Relevant terms - Explore Minnesota for Business Council - Explore Minnesota Tourism Council - diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility (DEIA) - livability - workforce and economic opportunity - Minnesota Chamber of Commerce - Minnesota Indian Affairs Council - Minnesota Tribal leadership - Dakota representative - Ojibwe representative - tribal nations - Ethnic Chambers of Commerce - underrepresented communities - tourism marketing regions - tourism-related associations - bed and breakfast establishments - golf - festivals and events - counties convention and visitor bureaus - lodging - trails - campgrounds - restaurants - craft beverage establishments - ex officio nonvoting members - University of Minnesota Tourism Center - remote participation (telephone/electronic meetings) - quorum - roll-call voting - notices (section 13D.04)