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Bill

HF 4131

Surveillance-based price and wage discrimination prohibited.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Emma Greenman and 2 co-sponsors

Prohibits price and wage discrimination based on protected characteristics when decisions rely on surveillance, data collection, or real-time analytics.

Author added Pursell
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Bill Summary · HF 4131

Summary: HF 4131 (2025-2026) — Surveillance-based Price and Wage Discrimination Prohibited

Purpose and intent

HF 4131 seeks to prohibit price and wage discrimination that is based on individuals’ perceived or actual membership in protected classes, using surveillance or data collection to determine pricing or pay. The bill aims to protect workers and consumers from discriminatory practices informed by real-time or collected personal data, including data analytics, surveillance techniques, or monitoring of behavior that could inform differential treatment in wages or prices.

Key provisions and changes

  • Prohibition on discrimination

    • Prohibits price discrimination and wage discrimination that is based on non-merit factors related to protected characteristics or other sensitive attributes.
    • Applies when pricing decisions or wage decisions are informed by targeted surveillance, data collection, or monitoring of individuals or groups.

  • Scope of protected characteristics (conceptual)

    • While the bill as introduced focuses on discrimination tied to protected classes, the exact protected attributes covered would typically mirror Minnesota civil rights protections (e.g., race, color, creed, national origin, sex, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, receipt of public assistance, etc.). The bill may also address discriminatory impact based on geography or other group attributes if tied to surveillance data.

  • Methods and tech: surveillance-based criteria

    • Targets pricing and wage decisions that use surveillance-derived or real-time data to identify or categorize individuals or groups for differential treatment.
    • Includes the use of data analytics, monitoring technologies, data brokers, or automated decision systems that influence pricing or compensation.

  • Enforcement and remedies

    • Enables enforcement mechanisms typical for civil rights or antidiscrimination statutes (e.g., private rights of action, civil penalties, injunctive relief).
    • Likely authorizes the Minnesota Attorney General or designated agencies to investigate complaints and enforce prohibitions.
    • Potentially provides remedies such as compensatory damages, statutory penalties, injunctive relief, and attorney’s fees, though exact remedies would be specified in the bill text.

  • Compliance and exemptions

    • May include carve-outs for compliance with other statutory requirements or for legitimate, non-discriminatory pricing and compensation practices that do not rely on protected characteristics or surveillance data.
    • Possible exemptions for ongoing contractual arrangements or legitimate business considerations, subject to non-discrimination standards.

Who would be affected

  • Workers and job applicants
    • Employees and prospective hires could be protected from discriminatory wage practices informed by surveillance data.
  • Consumers and customers
    • Consumers could be shielded from price discrimination based on non-merit attributes derived from data collection.
  • Employers, businesses, and service providers
    • Entities that set wages or prices using surveillance, analytics, or targeted data-driven methods could be subject to prohibition and enforcement actions.
  • Data collection and tech providers
    • Companies that supply surveillance, analytics, or automated decision systems used to determine pricing or wages may face compliance requirements.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and referral
    • Introduced and first read on March 9, 2026.
    • Referred to the Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy committee.
  • Sponsor and co-sponsors
    • Primary author: (not explicitly named in the action history)
    • Co-sponsors: Kristi Pursell, Larry Kraft, Emma Greenman
    • Additional author additions: Pursell and Kraft added on March 16 and March 25, 2026, respectively.
  • Next steps (typical legislative path)
    • Committee hearings and amendments.
    • Potential passage by the Minnesota House of Representatives, then Senate consideration, and a final enactment step (signature by the governor) if both chambers adopt identical language.

Notes

  • The bill’s text would provide precise definitions (e.g., what constitutes “surveillance-based” decision-making, the exact protected classes covered, and the scope of enforcement).
  • As an early-stage bill, specifics such as penalties, safe harbors, and procedural timelines will be refined in committee amendments.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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