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Capitol Update

Here are some highlights from last week:

TAXES:

MN Chamber testified to reiterate opposition to provisions that would make some corporate tax filings public, repeal conformity with a federal safe harbor on worker classification issues and establishing local land value taxation districts.
MN Chamber joined a coalition of business associations in the Senate Taxes Committee opposing the governor’s proposal that would expand the sales tax to certain consumer professional services. The expansion would raise taxes by around $200 million per year and incentivize Minnesotans to utilize out of state providers.
MN Chamber testified in the Senate Taxes Committee with concerns about the impacts of a proposed 50% gross receipts tax on the manufacturing and retail sale of products containing PFAS.
MN Chamber testified in the Senate Taxes Committee in opposition to a proposed bill that would create a new 5th Tier Income tax at 12.45% while also increasing the corporate tax rate to 12.45%. The income tax
increase would make Minnesota have the second highest top tier rate behind California. The corporate tax increase would keep Minnesota at #2, 0.05% behind New Jersey’s rate.

MN Chamber Paid Leave recommendations:

Program launch delay; program scoping modifications and program integrity (e.g. total number of weeks; weekly benefit formula; definition of "family"; reduced premium cap etc. – all items the business community advocated for in 2023 and 2024); private plan viability and functionality issues (e.g. benefit equivalency standard); seasonal employee definition fix and to cover all industries; fixing intermittent leave issues; and possible exemptions.

MN Chamber Sick & Safe Time recommendations:

Repeal the “more generous PTO” change; adjusting notice and documentation provisions and addressing SST misuse issues (employer workability concerns); frontloading fix; and possible exemptions.

Chamber Day at the Capitol is next Thursday, A group of us from Lakeville will be meeting with our three legislators to discuss these and other topics.

Teen Job Fair in April

If you are hiring teens, sign up for our 3^rd annual Lakeville Highs Schools Job Fairs. These are back-to-back at both schools, during the school day. It is free to have a table. We suggest bringing some fun swag! Click the image above to reserve your table.

Only two months left!

We packed a lot into our 7^th Leadership Lakeville session. We started our day, at the Dakota 911 center, with lunch and conversation (lunch courtesy of Dunn Brothers Lakeville).

Then we worked with coach, Mark Legvold of Roots to Sky Consulting on:

Building an understanding of importance of qualitative actions of leaders at all levels
Creating a framework of personal values and how they impact organizations
Practicing skills in communicating and demonstrating values-based leadership practices
Developing a framework of future practice in communicating and demonstrating values-based leadership practices and qualitative skills

Next we learned about the Dakota 911 center, the facility we spent the afternoon in, including their structure, stats and figures – one of which is that you CAN TEXT 911!

After a short tour of the facility, we heard from Commission Mary Liz Holberg, Met Council Representative, Wendy Wulff, and the Director of the Dakota Scott Workforce Board, Mark Jacobs. They each talked about the roles and responsibilities of their respective jobs and we had some lively Q&A about transportation, waste, intersections and more!

We have two months left in this year’s session, Watch for details and application for the 2025-26 cohort, which will start in September, in the coming months.

Still 30 donors short!

We are still 30 donors short of our 100 donor goal for our mini-citywide blood drive. Click image to print a pdf to hang in your office and click HERE to register to donate.

Less than two weeks away!

Deadline March 31

Monday is the deadline for your Lakeville high school seniors to get their application in. We should have around $30,000 to give away this year! Click image for application link.

Speaking of Scholarships

This is one of the ways we raise money for our scholarships. We still have 150 single tickets available. 100% of single ticket sales go into our scholarship bucket – which means 150 x $35 = $5250 more we would have to give away if we sell out! Click the image to print a pdf to hang in your office and click HERE to purchase tickets on Eventbrite.

What a day!

Wow – our 22^nd annual show did not disappoint! Thank you to everyone who made this day possible. We had over 150 exhibitors + 20 young entrepreneurs + food + prizes + free health screenings…the list goes on. If you did not make it out to the show, no worries, our exhibitors are listed on the Chamber website all year long! If you are looking for local resources, click HERE!

Last week’s front page

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Happy anniversary!

Thank you to our members who renewed their commitment to our community last month!

Member News

Visit Lakeville Tourism Tidbit

Consider nominating a hospitality/tourism employee(s) for a chance to be named one of our 2025 STARS! Award recipients will receive two complimentary tickets to the event, a beautiful crystal award, and $100 VISA gift card. Your business will receive recognition!

Please find our HOSPITALITY STAR AWARD APPLICATION using any of these means:

A) fillable PDF (digital Adobe form, save, and email),

B) regular PDF (you can print/write on/and email back to me),

C) link for our google application that is submitted immediately! Star Award Nomination Form

Or send a video or audio to Jeanne's email