SF57 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Interagency group meeting requirement to be open to the public
Related bill: HF1202
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- To increase transparency by ensuring that meetings related to public decision-making are open to the public, including meetings where interagency groups recommend permitting decisions.
Main Provisions
- Expands the open-meeting requirements in Minnesota Open Meeting Law (Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 13D.01, subdivision 1) to cover more public bodies.
- Requires all meetings of executive branch local government and related entities to be open to the public. This includes:
- state agencies, boards, commissions, or departments
- governing bodies of school districts
- counties
- statutory or home rule charter cities
- towns or other public bodies
- committees and subcommittees
- boards and departments of public pension plans (statewide and local)
- Adds that an interagency group of state employees, which makes recommendations regarding permitting decisions of a public body, must have its meetings open to the public.
- Keeps open-meeting framework consistent with existing law, including the possibility of executive sessions only when permitted by law.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The bill explicitly adds interagency groups of state employees that advise on permitting decisions to the list of bodies whose meetings must be open to the public.
- Broadens the scope of entities subject to the open-meeting requirement to include various public bodies, committees, and pension plan governance groups.
Implications and Considerations
- Increased transparency and public access to discussions and recommendations on permitting decisions.
- Potential for greater public participation and scrutiny of decision-making processes.
- May require interagency groups to adjust practices to accommodate open meetings and public access.
Relevant Terms - open meetings - executive sessions - interagency group - state employees - permitting decisions - public body - Minnesota Open Meeting Law - 13D.01 - public transparency - governing body - school district - county - city - town - public pension plan - boards, commissions, departments - committees and subcommittees
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 16, 2025 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| January 16, 2025 | Senate | Action | Referred to | State and Local Government | |
| February 27, 2025 | Senate | Action | Author added |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Explicit requirement that interagency groups of state employees making recommendations regarding permitting decisions of a public body be subject to open meeting rules."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 13D.01 to require that meetings of executive branch entities and related public bodies, including interagency groups, be open to the public, extending open meeting requirements to interagency groups of state employees making permitting decisions for public bodies.",
"modified": [
"Expands open meeting coverage to include various public bodies (state agencies, boards, commissions, departments; school districts; unorganized territory; counties; statutory or home rule charter cities; towns; and other public bodies) and to interagency groups."
]
},
"citation": "13D.01",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill references Minnesota Statutes 356A.01 subdivision 24 to define what constitutes a statewide public pension plan for purposes of the data practices/open meetings provisions.",
"modified": [
"Uses the definition of 'statewide public pension plan' from 356A.01 subdivision 24 to determine scope within the bill."
]
},
"citation": "356A.01",
"subdivision": "subdivision 24"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill references Minnesota Statutes 424A.091 to 424A.096 to describe local public pension plans within the scope of the interagency/open meeting provisions.",
"modified": [
"Incorporates cross-reference to local public pension plan governance as defined in 424A.091–424A.096 for scope purposes."
]
},
"citation": "424A.091 to 424A.096",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee