All local officials required to file statements of economic interest, reporting periods modified for statements of economic interest, and place of filing modified.

A bill for an act

relating to campaign finance; requiring all local officials to file statements of

economic interest; modifying reporting periods for statements of economic interest;

modifying place of filing for certain statements of economic interest; amending

Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 10A.07, subdivisions 1, 2; 10A.08, subdivision

1; 10A.09, subdivisions 5a, 6a; Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section

10A.09, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.07, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Disclosure of potential conflicts.

(a) A public official or a local official

elected to or appointed by a
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political subdivision or a
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metropolitan governmental unit who

in the discharge of official duties would be required to take an action or make a decision

that would substantially affect the official's financial interests or those of an associated

business, unless the effect on the official is no greater than on other members of the official's

business classification, profession, or occupation, must take the following actions:

(1) prepare a written statement describing the matter requiring action or decision and

the nature of the potential conflict of interest;

(2) deliver copies of the statement to the official's immediate superior, if any; and

(3) if a member of the legislature
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or of the
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, a
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governing body of a metropolitan

governmental unit,
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or a political subdivision,
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deliver a copy of the statement to the presiding

officer of the body of service.

If a potential conflict of interest presents itself and there is insufficient time to comply

with clauses (1) to (3), the public or local official must orally inform the superior or the

official body of service or committee of the body of the potential conflict.

(b) For purposes of this section, "financial interest" means any ownership or control in

an asset that has the potential to produce a monetary return.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.07, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Required actions.

(a) If the official is not a member of the legislature or of the

governing body of a metropolitan governmental unit
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or of a political subdivision
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, the superior

must assign the matter, if possible, to another employee who does not have a potential

conflict of interest.

(b) If there is no immediate superior, the official must abstain, if possible, by assigning

the matter to a subordinate for disposition or requesting the appointing authority to designate

another to determine the matter. The official shall not chair a meeting, participate in any

vote, or offer any motion or discussion on the matter giving rise to the potential conflict of

interest.

(c) If the official is a member of the legislature, the house of service may, at the member's

request, excuse the member from taking part in the action or decision in question.

(d) If an official is not permitted or is otherwise unable to abstain from action in

connection with the matter, the official must file a statement describing the potential conflict

and the action taken. A public official must file the statement with the board and a local

official must file the statement with the governing body of the official's political subdivision.

The statement must be filed within a week of the action taken.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.08, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Disclosure required.

(a) A public official
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or elected local official
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who

represents a client for a fee before an individual, board, commission, or agency that has

rulemaking authority in a hearing conducted under chapter
14
, must disclose the official's

participation in the action to the board within 14 days after the public official's initial

appearance at a hearing. If the public official fails to disclose the participation by the date

that the disclosure was due, the board may impose a late filing fee of $25 per day, not to

exceed $1,000, starting on the day after the disclosure was due. The board must send notice

by certified mail to a public official who fails to disclose the participation within ten business

days after the disclosure was due that the public official may be subject to a civil penalty

for failure to disclose the participation. A public official who fails to disclose the participation

within seven days after the certified mail notice was sent by the board is subject to a civil

penalty imposed by the board of up to $1,000.

(b) A public official
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or elected local official
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required to disclose representation under

this section shall provide the following information: name, address, and office held; name

and address of each client represented at the hearing; the name of the individual, board,

commission, or agency conducting the hearing and the date and location of the initial

appearance at the hearing; and a general description of the subject or subjects on which the

public official represented the client in the hearing.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 10A.09, subdivision 1, is amended

to read:

Subdivision 1.

Time for filing.

An individual must file a statement of economic interest:

(1) within 60 days of accepting employment as a public official or a local official in a
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political subdivision or a
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metropolitan governmental unit;

(2) within 60 days of assuming office as a district court judge, appeals court judge,
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or
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supreme court justice
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, or county commissioner
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;

(3) within 14 days after the end of the filing period for a candidate who filed an affidavit

of candidacy or petition to appear on the ballot for an elective state constitutional or

legislative office or an elective local office
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in a political subdivision or
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in a metropolitan

governmental unit
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other than county commissioner
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;

(4) in the case of a public official requiring the advice and consent of the senate, within

14 days after undertaking the duties of office; or

(5) in the case of members of the Minnesota Racing Commission, the director of the

Minnesota Racing Commission, chief of security, medical officer, inspector of pari-mutuels,

and stewards employed or approved by the commission or persons who fulfill those duties

under contract, within 60 days of accepting or assuming duties.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.09, subdivision 5a, is amended to read:

Subd. 5a.

Original statement; reporting period.

(a) An original statement of economic

interest required under subdivision 1, clause (1), must cover the calendar month before the

month in which the individual accepted employment as a public official or a local official

in a
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political subdivision or a
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metropolitan governmental unit.

(b) An original statement of economic interest required under subdivision 1, clauses (2),

(4), and (5), must cover the calendar month before the month in which the individual assumed

or undertook the duties of office.

(c) An original statement of economic interest required under subdivision 1, clause (3),

must cover the calendar month before the month in which the candidate filed the affidavit

of candidacy.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.09, subdivision 6a, is amended to read:

Subd. 6a.

Place of filing.

A public official required to file a statement under this section

must file it with the board. A
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local candidate or
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local official required to file a statement

under this section must file it with the governing body of the official's political subdivision.

The governing body must maintain statements filed with it under this subdivision as public

data. If an official position is defined as both a public official and as a local official
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of a

metropolitan governmental unit
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under this chapter, the official must file the statement with

the board.

Sec. 7.
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EFFECTIVE DATE.
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This act is effective January 1, 2027.

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