Small business assistance partnership program funding provided.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dave Baker and 7 co-sponsors

Funds a Small Business Assistance Partnership Program within DEED to provide technical help and advisory services to Minnesota small businesses, boosting growth and jobs.

Author added Hussein

#employmentandeconomicdevelopmentdepartment

Overview

HF 1965 is a Minnesota House bill introduced on March 6, 2025, with the subject of the Employment and Economic Development Department. The bill’s title indicates that it would provide funding for a Small Business Assistance Partnership Program. The text of the bill is not provided here, so the summary below reflects information available from the bill’s title and legislative actions.

Purpose and intent

The central aim, as implied by the title, is to establish or support a Small Business Assistance Partnership Program through funding appropriations or allocations.

The program would presumably be designed to help small businesses by leveraging partnerships to deliver technical assistance, advisory services, and related support intended to promote growth, resilience, and job creation within Minnesota.

Key provisions (as available)

Specific provisions (definitions, eligibility, funding amounts, matching requirements, reporting, evaluation, oversight, etc.) are not included in the information provided.

Based on the title, the bill would authorize or provide funding for the partnership program within the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), likely detailing program administration, eligible recipients, and purposes of the funding.

Who would be affected

Primary beneficiaries: small businesses in Minnesota that participate in or receive services from the Small Business Assistance Partnership Program.

Implementing agency: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

Potential partners: local economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, business assistance providers, or other entities that would collaborate to deliver the program’s services.

Legislature: potential oversight through reporting and evaluation requirements.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction: HF 1965 introduced March 6, 2025.

Legislative actions to date:

March 11, 2025: Author Keeler added.
March 27, 2025: Author Hussein added.
Referred to: Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy.

Related bill: SF 1521 (Senate companion), indicating parallel consideration in the Senate.

Next steps (typical): committee hearings and amendments, potential floor vote in the House, and eventual negotiation with Senate counterparts depending on progression.

Notes and next steps

The actual text is needed to confirm specific funding amounts, eligibility criteria, program structure, reporting requirements, sunset provisions, and any fiscal impact.

To obtain a complete understanding, review the HF 1965 bill text, its fiscal note, and any amendments, as well as the companion SF 1521 for alignment or differences.

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