Plain English Breakdown
The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.
SF4393 • 2026
Certain retailers prohibition from obtaining an ownership interest in livestock dealers or meat packing companies
Certain retailers prohibition from obtaining an ownership interest in livestock dealers or meat packing companies
Agriculture
Passed Legislature
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Bill History
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2026-03-12
House
Introduction and first reading
Official Summary Text
Certain retailers prohibition from obtaining an ownership interest in livestock dealers or meat packing companies
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
A bill for an act relating to agriculture; prohibiting certain retailers from obtaining an ownership interest in livestock dealers or meat packing companies; prohibiting certain exclusive contracts; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17A.03, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 17A. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17A.03, is amended by adding a subdivision to read: new text begin Subd. 17. new text end new text begin Dominant retailer. new text end new text begin "Dominant retailer" means an entity that: new text end new text begin (1) is primarily engaged in the sale of meat at retail; new text end new text begin (2) has annual retail sales of meat exceeding $18,000,000,000, as adjusted each year for inflation by multiplying that amount by the cumulative inflation rate as determined by the United States Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers; and new text end new text begin (3) has at least one retail location or distribution center located in at least 20 states, including Minnesota. new text end Sec. 2. new text begin [17A.075] PROHIBITED OWNERSHIP INTERESTS AND EXCLUSIVE CONTRACTS. new text end new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Ownership interests and exclusive contracts. new text end new text begin (a) A dominant retailer must not directly or indirectly own, acquire, or otherwise obtain any ownership interest in a livestock dealer or meat packing company. new text end new text begin (b) A dominant retailer must not enter into an exclusive contract with any livestock dealer or meat packing company that requires the livestock dealer or meat packing company to sell their product exclusively to the dominant retailer. new text end new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Certification. new text end new text begin By October 1, 2026, all dominant retailers doing business in Minnesota must certify whether the dominant retailer is in compliance with subdivision 1. A dominant retailer not in compliance with subdivision 1 by October 1, 2026, may request an extension from the commissioner. The commissioner may provide an extension for 180 days for a dominant retailer to be in compliance, provided that the dominant retailer shows a good faith effort in its attempts to be in compliance. To qualify for an extension, a dominant retailer must submit a divestiture plan to the commissioner, in the form approved by the commissioner, for each livestock dealer or meat packing company in which the dominant retailer has an ownership interest. new text end new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Public comment, enforcement, and penalties. new text end new text begin (a) The attorney general must accept public comment with information on any dominant retailer acting in violation of this section. new text end new text begin (b) An action to enforce this section may be brought by the attorney general in the name of the state on behalf of the commissioner for injunctive relief or civil penalties. A dominant retailer found to be in violation of this section may be subject to a civil penalty of $25,000 for each day a dominant retailer violates this section. new text end new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end new text begin Subdivision 3 is effective August 1, 2027. new text end