This bill (S.F. No. 1662) proposes a definition of what constitutes "major decisions" made by nonelected local officials regarding public expenditures and investments, and establishes that attempting to influence such officials in these decisions qualifies as lobbying under Minnesota campaign finance laws.

Key provisions include:

• Lobbying Definition: Attempting to influence a nonelected local official is considered lobbying if the official can make, recommend, or vote on major decisions about public money.
• Exemptions from Lobbying: Simply submitting a grant application or responding to a request for proposals does not count as lobbying. Communications related to these actions that are purely administrative or technical are also excluded.
• Major Decisions Defined:
  • Developing and approving operating and capital budgets.
  • Deciding whether to apply for or accept state, federal, or private grants.
  • Selecting recipients for government grants.
  • Approving tax abatements, tax increment financing, or public infrastructure expenditures that benefit private housing or businesses.
• Actions Not Considered Major Decisions:
  • Routine purchases of goods or services within an approved budget.
  • Collective bargaining of labor contracts.
  • Discussions regarding litigation involving the political subdivision.

In essence, the bill aims to specify when influencing nonelected officials qualifies as lobbying, while distinguishing routine administrative activities from significant fiscal decisions.