The bill amends Minnesota Statutes sections 116U.242 and 116U.25, which pertain to the membership structure of the Explore Minnesota for Business Council and the Explore Minnesota Tourism Council, respectively. For the Explore Minnesota for Business Council, the bill introduces several changes, including the appointment of an executive member and a representative from the Department of Employment and Economic Development, while removing the requirement for a member to have at least 20 employees. Additionally, it replaces two representatives from Minnesota's Ethnic Chambers of Commerce with one Dakota and one Ojibwe representative. The council's focus will be on promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in its marketing efforts.

In the Explore Minnesota Tourism Council, the bill reduces the maximum membership from 35 to 25 members and modifies the composition of the council. It specifies that the council will include five tourism-related representatives and ten representatives from the tourism business sector, particularly from underrepresented communities. The bill also changes the frequency of council meetings from four times a year to two times a year and allows for electronic meetings under certain conditions. Overall, these amendments aim to enhance the effectiveness and inclusivity of both councils in promoting tourism and economic development in Minnesota.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 116U.242, 116U.25