SF5301

Purpose

This bill would create the Minnesota Entrepreneurship Task Force. Its job is to assess how well current programs work, suggest new programs, and consider reforms to licensing and permits. The aim is to remove barriers to starting a business and to make Minnesota the easiest and most rewarding state in the nation to start, own, and grow a business.

Key Provisions

• Establishment: The commissioner of employment and economic development creates the Minnesota Entrepreneurship Task Force to study programs and barriers and to make recommendations to the legislature.
• Membership: The task force includes the commissioner (or a designee) and ten additional members chosen by the commissioner. Members include:
  • two people with direct entrepreneurship experience (as an entrepreneur or helping entrepreneurs)
  • two representatives of small and large business owners (one each)
  • one representative of organized labor
  • one representative of registered apprenticeship programs
  • one representative of K-12 education
  • one representative of higher education
  • one representative of career and technical education
  • one expert in business financing
  • plus the commissioner of labor and industry (or a designee) must also be a member
• Administration: The commissioner must hold the first meeting by September 15, 2027, and provide staff support. Members serve without pay or per diem.
• Duties: The task force must focus on:
  • building strong support for small businesses from launch through succession
  • reducing friction in starting and running a business via streamlined licensing and permitting and technical assistance
  • improving access to financial capital, mentors, and other support
  • providing entrepreneurship education for students and adults
  • supporting apprenticeships
  • addressing real-life barriers such as health care and child care
  • evaluating current programs, creating new ones, and proposing licensing reforms to address identified barriers
• Reporting: By February 15, 2028, the task force must submit findings and recommendations to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over economic development.
• Expiration: The task force ends the day after it submits its report.

Significant Changes to Law

• Creates a formal, state-level advisory body—the Minnesota Entrepreneurship Task Force—to systematically analyze entrepreneurship support in Minnesota and propose changes.
• Establishes a defined, multi-sector membership and a fixed timeline for first meeting and final reporting.
• Requires a comprehensive report with findings and recommendations to lawmakers, potentially guiding future legislation on entrepreneurship, licensing, and related supports.
• Institutes no compensation for members, reinforcing an obligation-based advisory role rather than a funded program.

Implementation Outlook

• The bill assigns ongoing staff support to the task force and places it under the oversight of the commissioner of employment and economic development, with participation from the Department of Labor and Industry.
• It relies on coordination across education, workforce development, business, labor, and financing sectors to address startup barriers, education, and apprenticeship pathways.
• The impact would depend on the quality of the task force’s analysis and the legislature’s adoption of its recommendations, particularly around licensing reforms and expanded support for startups.

Relevant Terms - Minnesota Entrepreneurship Task Force - commissioner of employment and economic development - licensing and permitting reforms - barriers to starting a business - streamlined licensing - entrepreneurial education - apprenticeships - health care access - child care access - access to financial capital - mentors - small business - large business - organized labor - registered apprenticeship programs - K-12 education - higher education - career and technical education - business financing - staff support - no compensation or per diem - first meeting by September 15, 2027 - report due February 15, 2028 - expiration after report