Legislative Advocacy Results in Passage of SF 3358

Congratulations to the Community of Minnesota Resorts! Our legislative lobbying during Day on the Hill and cooperative effort with the Department of Labor and Industry has proven to be successful! Governor Walz recently signed SF 3358. We as resorts can now hire 16 & 17 year old youth to operate “lawn care equipment” meaning lawn trimmers, weed cutters, and machines (riding and walk behind mowers) designed to cut grass and weeds that meet safety specifications. Please ensure the safety of all workers when using this equipment by providing proper training, ensuring safety mechanisms are present and operational, and supplying personal protective equipment as outlined in the bill. The Community of Minnesota Resorts and its members worked hand in hand with the Department of Labor and Industry to include resorts in this bill and get it passed. This is no small accomplishment, and we must all respect being entrusted to safely hire and utilize these youth at our resorts now that the bill is signed.

Thank you to our Lobbyist Joel Carlson and our friend Senator Carrie Ruud for your guidance and support through this process. Also, our thanks to the Department of Labor and Industry for recognizing that these youth can become an even more valuable part of the work force at resorts by accomplishing these landscaping tasks. As we stated some time ago, our efforts and discussions with the representatives of the Department of Labor and Industry was the correct approach and an excellent example of business and government working together to achieve a mutually beneficial solution to issues that face us.

Lobbied successfully for resorts and campgrounds to be open due to restrictions implemented due to the pandemic and Governors Executive Orders.  It was eventually determined that resorts and campgrounds could effectively implement various operational items to protect the health of guests, and provide a venue that allowed for social distancing.  Cabins were allowed to open on time, and campgrounds were allowed to open June 1^st.  Without this lobbying resorts and campgrounds could have lost an entire season of income jeopardizing the economic stability of the entire industry.

Lobbied for economic relief for the resorts in the Northwest Angle, who due to restrictions put in place by Canada, and their unique geographic situation could not see visitors during the summer months.  This topic was of prevalent discussion in most of the two dozen meetings at our Zoom Day on the Hill event in February 2020.  Eventually, economic relief did occur for these resorts in the way of a financial relief package in 2021.

The legislature frequently exempts capital investments from sales tax to promote projects, enhance infrastructure and promote investments that will yield long-term benefits to the state. Encouraging resorts to invest in their properties, which returns enhanced sales and lodging tax revenues to the state, makes good economic sense.  (Lobbying efforts for this have been repeated many times over last two decades.  With so many groups requesting sales tax exemption for various specifics, this has become low on our priority list.  We welcome input and creative ways to come back at this via another angle.  Contact CMR legislative committee members!

Minnesota’s push to enhance high-speed broadband service across Minnesota is a vital business development tool – even to tourism. With more companies accommodating flexible work schedules and remote telecommuting making certain that we are able to provide reliable internet service to guests is a must.  Keeping it affordable is an understatement - we support the legislature’s and Governor Walz push for increased broadband funding.

Lobbied successfully to eliminate a duplicate minnow licensing regulation specifically for resort owners. CMR collaborated directly w/ DNR.

Lobbied successfully to support more funding for Explore Minnesota Tourism – directly resulting in advertising collaborations. CMR members have benefitted from this effort by co-op advertising via TV commercials, web banner ads, and many other digital marketing campaigns.

CMR supports Explore Minnesota Tourism (EMT) advertising and promotional efforts to boost Minnesota as a tourism destination.  EMT’s efforts have a positive and measurable impact on the tourism industry and the State’s economy. EMT is a cooperative and cost-effective partner for small tourism groups like CMR.  Every $1 of tourism marketing and promotion returns $84 in total spending.  The EMT supports tourism state-wide and is critical for greater Minnesota.

CMR was invited by Minnesota Department of Health to collaborate on regulation language going into effect 2016 regarding a nationwide mandate for seasonal well water systems testing to be done monthly.  Due to CMR involvement at numerous meetings, most resorts continue to be allowed annual testing of well water.

Successfully lobbied for further reductions in resort property taxes – a program initiated by the CMR in 2003 to account for inflation.

CMR lobbied successfully for a standardized law on Statewide Shoreland Regulations for resorts. We are now able to replace existing cabins within lake setback zones. Prior to enacting this law, resorts were unable to upgrade cabins – or make any improvements to cabins located within the setback zone without securing a variance. Several CMR members dedicated their personal time/energy over months to advise in DNR meetings on this law.

CMR lobbied and successfully help pass a bill allowing homestead exemption for LLC resorts.

CMR successfully lobbied the legislature and the Governor to pass and sign into law a Post–Labor Day school start. Several CMR members testified in a hearing at the capitol – and we battle every session to retain this law!

Resorters and tourism interests strongly defend the simple requirement that schools begin after Labor Day, without unfair exemptions granted by the Department of Education.   This issue is critical to small resorts and the legislature has been standing up for Minnesota’s tradition of summer and tourism for years. There is no information that indicates starting school before Labor Day has a measurable positive impact on learning outcomes – and the law should be corrected to eliminate unfair exemptions to the legislative mandate.  Parents overwhelmingly support school starting after Labor Day!