Bill > HF1152

This bill modifies the duties, mission, and operational framework of Explore Minnesota, a state tourism and economic development office. The bill expands the organization's scope to include not just tourism, but also business development, film promotion, outdoor recreation, and broader economic opportunity efforts. Specifically, the bill restructures the office's mission to support Minnesota's economic growth through comprehensive promotion strategies, removes some previous language about workforce and livability, and provides the director with more flexible authority to pursue partnerships, conduct market research, and enter into promotional contracts. The bill also adjusts the director's responsibilities to include publishing promotional materials, coordinating marketing efforts across state agencies, supporting local community marketing programs, and gathering statistical information related to the office's expanded mission. Additionally, the bill provides more flexibility in how the office can contract for services and spend promotional funds, removing some competitive bidding requirements for certain types of promotional contracts, particularly those focused on tourism and talent attraction. These changes are intended to make Explore Minnesota a more adaptable and comprehensive economic promotion organization.

Labor and Employment

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF1152&ssn=0&y=2025