SF3894

Purpose

This bill makes it illegal for a sitting member of Minnesota’s legislature to take certain jobs or receive pay from lobbying-related businesses. The goal is to prevent conflicts of interest by limiting lawmakers’ employment with entities that work in lobbying, government relations, or government affairs.

Main Provisions

• Prohibition on employment or compensation: A sitting legislator cannot:
  • Work for or be paid by a business whose main revenue comes from lobbying government relations or government affairs services.
  • Work for or be paid by a business whose main revenue comes from facilitating government relations or government affairs services between two third parties.
  • Work for or be paid by any other business or public employer that employs or contracts with lobbyists, government relations, or government affairs professionals if the legislator’s duties include:
  • acting as a lobbyist or performing government relations or government affairs work,
  • providing direct or indirect consulting or advice, or
  • providing administrative support that helps the business or public employer engage in lobbying or government relations services.
• Location of work: The prohibition applies no matter where the work is substantially conducted or where the business’s clients are located.
• Enforcement: The House of Representatives and the Senate must adopt rules to enforce this section.

Definitions (Key Terms)

• Business: Includes corporations, partnerships, proprietorships, firms, enterprises, franchises, associations, organizations, self-employed individuals, or any other legal entity that engages in nonprofit or profit-making activities.
• Public employer: Any branch of the federal government, state government or territory, local government, or a political subdivision of any state or territory.
• Primary source of revenue: The main way a business earns money, specifically from lobbying or facilitating government relations/government affairs.
• Lobbying government relations or government affairs: The activity defined by the bill as part of the business’s core revenue or services.

Signficant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds a broad prohibition to Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 3.084 subdivision 2, restricting certain employment by sitting legislators with lobbying-related businesses.
• Requires the legislature to establish enforcement rules, clarifying how this prohibition will be applied and policed.

Practical Implications

• This creates a clear conflict-of-interest restriction for lawmakers who might otherwise work in or be compensated by lobbying or government-relations entities.
• It may affect lawmakers who previously engaged in related professional work or who relied on such work for income.

Relevant Terms - sitting member of the legislature - employment with or compensation for services performed - business - primary source of revenue - lobbying - government relations - government affairs - facilitating government relations or government affairs services - two third parties - public employer - lobbyists - government relations professionals - job duties - direct or indirect consulting or advice - administrative support - enforcement rules - House and Senate rules