Minnsights Blog

Recently, the Chamber held its latest event in the Women in Business Series, this time at Post Consumer brands. Speakers included 2023-2024 Chamber Board Chair, Jill Bollettieri of Post Consumer Brands, as well as a panel on women in the workforce, including a broad and intersectional approach to the discussion. Panelists shared their personal journeys and success stories, as well as business best practices for engaging, supporting and developing women and other underrepresented demographics in the workplace. 

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and UnitedHealthcare announced a partnership to offer health plans designed to save small businesses on medical premiums while gaining more flexibility, freedom and stability. ChamberHealth by UnitedHealthcare are level-funded health plans that offer small businesses the same range of access as large corporations at competitive prices.

Lawmakers passed a new law that prohibits employers from meeting or communicating with their employees on public policy. The “captive audience” law stipulates that communications must be “wholly voluntary” and not be political or religious in nature. There is a federal preemption of these laws, and they have been litigated in other states. Minnesota’s law is effective on August 1, 2023.

Carbon-free 2040: Minnesota now has a standard to be 100% carbon-free by 2040. This requires utilities in Minnesota to get a percentage of their electricity from carbon-free sources, starting with 80% by 2030, 90% by 2035 and 100% by 2040. Minnesota businesses and utilities are already moving toward goals of sustainability. But this aggressive timeline will force utilities to move quickly. Although nuclear power is carbon-free, no provisions for new nuclear energy production were included this legislative session.

Legalization of recreational marijuana: Marijuana is now legal for adult recreational use. This means that cannabis is now considered a “lawful consumable product” in the state. The new law established a new Office of Cannabis Management, created an expungement process for maijuana-related offenses, established regulations and licensing structures for the new industry and provided guidelines for workplaces and employee cannabis use. The new law provides restrictions and guidelines and parameters for testing employees and job applicants for cannabis use. This bill takes effect August 1, 2023.