Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota Senate Bill SF3177 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1.1 A bill for an act
2	2	1.2 relating to Explore Minnesota; modifying duties and missions; modifying
3	3	1.3 promotional authority contracts; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections
4	4	1.4 116U.05; 116U.06; 116U.15; 116U.30; 116U.35.
5	5	1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
6	6	1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116U.05, is amended to read:
7	7	1.7 116U.05 EXPLORE MINNESOTA; ESTABLISHMENT.
8	8	1.8 Explore Minnesota is an office in the executive branch with a director appointed by the
9	9	1.9governor. The director is under the supervision of the commissioner of employment and
10	10	1.10economic development and oversees Explore Minnesota Tourism and, Explore Minnesota
11	11	1.11for Business, and Explore Minnesota Film divisions. The director serves in the unclassified
12	12	1.12service and must be qualified by experience and training in related fields.
13	13	1.13 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116U.06, is amended to read:
14	14	1.14 116U.06 EXPLORE MINNESOTA TOURISM.
15	15	1.15 Explore Minnesota Tourism is a division of Explore Minnesota and exists to support
16	16	1.16supports the growth of Minnesota's economy through promotion and facilitation of travel
17	17	1.17to and within the state of Minnesota the management of the state's tourism, livability and
18	18	1.18economic opportunity, outdoor recreation, film, and other statewide promotion efforts as
19	19	1.19directed.
20	20	1Sec. 2.
21	21	25-05223 as introduced03/24/25 REVISOR SS/VJ
22	22	SENATE
23	23	STATE OF MINNESOTA
24	24	S.F. No. 3177NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
25	25	(SENATE AUTHORS: MOHAMED)
26	26	OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
27	27	Introduction and first reading04/01/2025
28	28	Referred to Jobs and Economic Development 2.1 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116U.15, is amended to read:
29	29	2.2 116U.15 MISSION.
30	30	2.3 (a) The mission of Explore Minnesota is to promote and facilitate increased travel to
31	31	2.4and within the state of Minnesota, promote overall livability, and promote workforce and
32	32	2.5economic opportunity in Minnesota support the growth of Minnesota's economy through
33	33	2.6the management of the state's tourism, livability and economic opportunity, outdoor
34	34	2.7recreation, film, and other statewide promotion efforts as directed. To further the mission
35	35	2.8of Explore Minnesota, the office is advised by various advisory councils focused on tourism
36	36	2.9and talent attraction and business marketing. Its goals are to:
37	37	2.10 (1) expand public and private partnerships through increased interagency efforts and
38	38	2.11increased tourism and business industry participation;
39	39	2.12 (2) increase productivity through enhanced flexibility and options; and
40	40	2.13 (3) use innovative fiscal and human resource practices to manage the state's resources
41	41	2.14and operate the office as efficiently as possible.
42	42	2.15 (b) The director shall report to the legislature on the performance of the office's operations
43	43	2.16and the accomplishment of its goals in the office's biennial budget according to section
44	44	2.1716A.10, subdivision 1.
45	45	2.18 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116U.30, is amended to read:
46	46	2.19 116U.30 DUTIES OF DIRECTOR.
47	47	2.20 (a) The director shall:
48	48	2.21 (1) publish, disseminate, and distribute informational and promotional materials;
49	49	2.22 (2) promote and encourage the coordination of Explore Minnesota travel, tourism, overall
50	50	2.23livability, and workforce and economic opportunity promotion efforts with other state
51	51	2.24agencies and develop multiagency marketing strategies when appropriate;
52	52	2.25 (3) promote and encourage the expansion and development of international tourism,
53	53	2.26trade, and Minnesota livability marketing programs that support the mission of the office;
54	54	2.27 (4) advertise and disseminate information about Minnesota travel, tourism, and workforce
55	55	2.28and economic development opportunities Explore Minnesota and its activities that support
56	56	2.29the mission of the office;
57	57	2Sec. 4.
58	58	25-05223 as introduced03/24/25 REVISOR SS/VJ 3.1 (5) aid various provide local communities a reasonable level of support to improve their
59	59	3.2travel, tourism, and overall livability marketing programs as they relate to the mission of
60	60	3.3the office;
61	61	3.4 (6) coordinate and implement comprehensive state travel, tourism, workforce and
62	62	3.5economic development, and overall livability mission-driven marketing programs that take
63	63	3.6into consideration public and private businesses and attractions;
64	64	3.7 (7) contract, in accordance with section 16C.08, for professional services if the work or
65	65	3.8services cannot be satisfactorily performed by employees of the agency or by any other
66	66	3.9state agency;
67	67	3.10 (8) provide local, regional, and statewide organizations with information, technical
68	68	3.11assistance educational opportunities, training, and advice on using state tourism and livability
69	69	3.12information and promotional programs related to the office's mission; and
70	70	3.13 (9) generally gather, compile, and make available statistical information relating to
71	71	3.14Minnesota travel, tourism, workforce and economic development, overall livability, and
72	72	3.15related areas in this state the office's mission. The director has the authority to call upon
73	73	3.16other state agencies for statistical data and results obtained by them and to arrange and
74	74	3.17compile that statistical information.
75	75	3.18 (b) The director may:
76	76	3.19 (1) apply for, receive, and spend money for travel, tourism, workforce and economic
77	77	3.20development, and overall livability development and marketing, as it relates to the mission
78	78	3.21of the office, from other agencies, organizations, and businesses;
79	79	3.22 (2) apply for, accept, and disburse grants and other aids for tourism development and
80	80	3.23marketing from the federal government and other sources;
81	81	3.24 (3) enter into joint powers or cooperative agreements with agencies of the federal
82	82	3.25government, local governmental units, regional development commissions, other state
83	83	3.26agencies, the University of Minnesota and other educational institutions, other states,
84	84	3.27Canadian provinces, and local, statewide, and regional organizations as necessary to perform
85	85	3.28the director's duties;
86	86	3.29 (4) enter into interagency agreements and agree to share net revenues with the contributing
87	87	3.30agencies;
88	88	3.31 (5) make grants;
89	89	3Sec. 4.
90	90	25-05223 as introduced03/24/25 REVISOR SS/VJ 4.1 (6) conduct market research and analysis to improve marketing techniques in the area
91	91	4.2of travel, tourism, workforce and economic development, and overall livability;
92	92	4.3 (7) monitor and study trends in the related industries and provide resources and training
93	93	4.4to address change;
94	94	4.5 (8) annually convene conferences of Minnesota providers for the purposes of exchanging
95	95	4.6information on tourism development, coordinating marketing activities, and formulating
96	96	4.7tourism, overall livability, and workforce and economic opportunity mission-related
97	97	4.8promotion development strategies; and
98	98	4.9 (9) enter into promotion contracts or other agreements with private persons and public
99	99	4.10entities, including agreements to establish and maintain offices and other types of
100	100	4.11representation in foreign countries to promote international travel and to implement this
101	101	4.12chapter.
102	102	4.13 (c) Contracts for goods and nonprofessional services and professional technical services
103	103	4.14made under paragraph (b), clauses (3) and (9), are not subject to the provisions of sections
104	104	4.1516C.03, subdivision 3, and 16C.06 concerning competitive bidding and section 16C.055
105	105	4.16concerning barter arrangements. Professional technical service contracts that promote
106	106	4.17Minnesota as a tourism travel destination or a talent attraction may be negotiated and are
107	107	4.18not subject to the provisions of chapter 16C relating to competitive bidding.
108	108	4.19 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116U.35, is amended to read:
109	109	4.20 116U.35 PROMOTIONAL EXPENSES.
110	110	4.21 To promote travel, tourism, workforce and economic development, and overall livability
111	111	4.22of the state programs that align with Explore Minnesota's mission, the director may expend
112	112	4.23money appropriated by the legislature for these purposes in the same manner as private
113	113	4.24persons, firms, corporations, and associations make expenditures for these purposes. Policies
114	114	4.25on promotional expenses must be approved by the commissioner of administration. A policy
115	115	4.26for expenditures on food, lodging, and travel must be approved by the commissioner of
116	116	4.27management and budget. No money may be expended for the appearance in radio or
117	117	4.28television broadcasts by an elected public official.
118	118	4Sec. 5.
119	119	25-05223 as introduced03/24/25 REVISOR SS/VJ