HF 1671 Minnesota House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Labor and industry; policy and technical changes made.

HF 1671 updates Minnesota labor laws by prohibiting employers from paying workers with disabilities less than the state's minimum wage after specific dates (August 1, 2026 for new hires, August 1, 2028 for existing employees), regardless of federal "special certificate" status. It also establishes detailed requirements for internet-based continuing education courses, mandating security protocols, interactivity standards, and specific technical features like encryption and identity verification. These changes directly affect employers hiring people with disabilities and training providers offering online courses for professions like manufactured home installers and elevator constructors. The bill modifies existing statutes (177.24, 177.27, 326B.0981, etc.) and repeals outdated sections.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 27, 2025 Last action Apr 7, 2025

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What changed between versions

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 3 edits · Mar 27, 2025

MINOR

The bill was updated from its introduction to its first engrossment version, incorporating significant policy changes regarding minimum wage protections for employees with disabilities. The most critical change is the removal of the provision to repeal existing subminimum wage rules, which previously allowed employers to pay disabled workers less than the standard minimum wage under specific permits. Additionally, the bill now omits the section that would have banned the use of federal '14(c) certificates' to justify lower wages, effectively maintaining the current legal framework for these exemptions.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing the repeal of existing subminimum wage statutes and rules, meaning the current system allowing reduced wages for disabled workers under permit remains in effect.

REQUIREMENT

The provision to repeal Minnesota Statutes 177.28, subdivision 5, and Minnesota Rules 5200.0030 and 5200.0040 was removed, preserving the legal authority for subminimum wage permits for workers with disabilities.

The text prohibiting employers from using federal 14(c) certificates to hire disabled workers at wages below the standard minimum wage was removed from the bill text.

TECHNICAL

The bill title and header were updated to reflect the '1st Engrossment' status, and the list of amended statutes in the summary was adjusted to match the final text.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report, to adopt and re-refer to Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Introduced

Introduction and first reading, referred to Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors