Bill > SF2471

This bill enhances transparency and member participation in electric cooperatives by introducing several key provisions. The bill requires electric cooperative board meetings to be open to all members, with the ability to close meetings only for specific reasons like personnel matters or legal discussions. It mandates that cooperatives provide remote meeting access via the Internet and publish a wide range of documents on their websites, including meeting minutes, financial statements, and board election information. Members will now have the right to access the cooperative's membership list for relevant purposes, subject to strict guidelines preventing commercial use. The bill also establishes new procedures for board director nominations, allowing candidates to be nominated by a petition signed by at least 40 members. Additionally, cooperatives must develop a secure voting system that enables members to vote in board elections by mail and online, ensuring ballot secrecy. The bill further requires annual notifications about members' capital credit allocations and mandates that cooperatives respond to member requests about their cumulative capital credits within 45 days. These changes aim to increase member engagement, transparency, and democratic participation in electric cooperatives, with most provisions becoming effective immediately and the online voting requirements applying to board elections from September 1, 2025.

Justice

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF2471&ssn=0&y=2025