1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to employees; modifying mandatory break laws; amending Minnesota
1.3 Statutes 2024, sections 177.253, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision; 177.254,
1.4 subdivisions 1, 2, by adding a subdivision.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 177.253, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 Subdivision 1.Rest breaks.An employer must allow each employee adequate time at
1.8least 15 minutes away from work within each four consecutive hours of work to utilize the
1.9nearest convenient restroom or to otherwise be relieved from work duties.
1.10 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 177.253, is amended by adding a subdivision to
1.11read:
1.12 Subd. 3.Remedies.(a) If an employer does not provide rest breaks to an employee as
1.13required by this section and related rules, the employer is liable to the employee for the rest
1.14break time that should have been provided at the employee's regular rate of pay, plus an
1.15additional equal amount as liquidated damages.
1.16 (b) In addition to the remedies in paragraph (a), the commissioner may assess a penalty
1.17of up to $1,000 per employee per day during which rest breaks are not provided as required
1.18by this section.
1.19 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 177.254, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.20 Subdivision 1.Meal break.An employer must permit each employee who is working
1.21for eight six or more consecutive hours sufficient time at least 30 minutes to eat a meal.
1Sec. 3.
REVISOR SS/EN 25-0519303/24/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 2990
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Frazier04/01/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy 2.1 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 177.254, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.2 Subd. 2.Payment not required.Except for subdivision 4, nothing in this section requires
2.3the employer to pay the employee during the meal break.
2.4 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 177.254, is amended by adding a subdivision to
2.5read:
2.6 Subd. 4.Remedies.(a) If an employer does not provide meal breaks to an employee as
2.7required by this section and related rules, the employer is liable to the employee for the
2.8meal break time that should have been provided at the employee's regular rate of pay, plus
2.9an additional equal amount as liquidated damages.
2.10 (b) In addition to the remedies in paragraph (a), the commissioner may assess a penalty
2.11of up to $1,000 per employee per day during which meal breaks are not provided as required
2.12by this section.
2Sec. 5.
REVISOR SS/EN 25-0519303/24/25