Department of Agriculture principal offices required to be located outside the metropolitan counties.

HF 1706 requires the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to move its principal offices outside metropolitan counties by June 1, 2028. This affects the Department of Agriculture directly, mandating a physical relocation of its main offices away from the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area as defined in Minnesota Statute 473.121, subdivision 4. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 17.01 to establish this specific deadline for the office location change. It does not alter agricultural policies or regulations, only the geographic location of the department's primary operations. The requirement applies to all principal offices, not just the commissioner's office.