What's New in State Laws: Minnesota

Minnesota Discrimination 

The Minnesota Human Rights law was amended to enhance anti-discrimination protections. The amendment expands definitions related to disability and familial status, mandates alternative dispute resolution, extends civil action timeframes, and imposes civil penalties and punitive damages on violators (H.F. 4109, 93rd Leg., Reg. Sess. (Minn. 2024), effective Aug. 1, 2024). 

Minnesota Minimum Wage

Effective January 1, 2025, the minimum wage in Minnesota will increase to $11.13 per hour. The $11.13 per hour minimum wage rate for 2025 will apply to all employers, including large employers, small employers, youth, and J-1 visa wages for hotels, motels, and lodging establishments. However, the law does will still allow for a 90-day reduced training wage. The training wage, where youth under the age of 20 may be paid a reduced training wage for the first 90 days of employment, will increase to $9.08 per hour on Jan. 1, 2025. These rates reflect a 2.6% increase (Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, News Release, Aug. 26, 2024). 

Source(s): Gallagher via Wolters Kluwer, received on October 8, 2024;  HF 4109, accessed on October 11, 2024; Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry News Release, August 26, 2024, accessed on October 11, 2024.

 This was an e-mail Compliance received from Gallagher "Compliance Directions", received on Tuesday October 8, 2024.  We decided to break the information out by State.  Compliance Calendar will be updated appropriately.