Government Affairs
Last Friday of each month 7:30 am-9:00 am
Mission
With a goal of serving as the lead organization in public affairs and keeping the Chamber members informed and represented on local, state and national governmental issues of importance.
Purpose
- Be in contact with the congressional delegation on key issues impacting Grand Rapids and the Itasca Region.
- Lead an annual business/community delegation to the legislature to meet with elected officials and key decision makers on issues impacting the region.
- Work with Minnesota State Chamber, Greater Minnesota Coalition to provide input on issues of importance to the local business community.
- Coordinate “Lunch with Legislator’s”
- Be visible and active in local city, school and county decision making that potentially impacts the business community
information ON NEW LAW CHANGES Impacting Businesses
The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to offer valuable information to our Members and community business leaders. The purpose of the information below is to provide an overview of policies and laws and equip business leaders with an understanding of compliance requirements and upcoming changes.
The Minnesota Legislature passed many bills this legislative season. Here is a timeline of when those bills become a reality for your business.
Effective Jan. 1, 2024, Minnesota’s earned sick and safe time law requires employers to provide paid leave to employees who work in the state. Minnesota’s current sick and safe leave law remains in effect until Dec. 31, 2023, and will be replaced by the new earned sick and safe time law on Jan. 1, 2024.
The Women's Economic Security Act (WESA) strengthens workplace protections and flexibility for pregnant and lactating employees, expands employment opportunities for workers in high-wage, high-demand occupations and reduces the gender pay gap through increased enforcement of equal pay laws.
Paid Family and Medical Leave is a new program launching for Minnesotans in 2026. It provides paid time off when a serious health condition prevents you from working, when you need time to care for a family member or a new child, for certain military-related events or for certain personal safety issues.
Minnesota has become the 23rd state in the nation to legalize cannabis use for people 21 and older.
Minnesota thrives when Minnesotans have the opportunity to live with dignity and joy, free from discrimination. As we strive to make Minnesota discrimination free, we want to make sure that employers and employees have information about civil rights to help ensure workplaces are equitable and inclusive.
The Minnesota Chamber tracks hundreds of bills during each legislative session, to ensure that policymakers understand how their proposals impact Minnesota’s economy and the state’s ability to make Minnesota a more affordable place to live, work, grow and expand a business. The Chamber scores votes on bills or amendments that illustrate this impact. The following votes were cast in the 2023 legislative session.