Construction industry representatives have filed a federal lawsuit to block Minnesota's new Worker Misclassification law requiring building contractors to abide by a new and more stringent set of independent contractor tests.  The complaint was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota by the Minnesota Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the Builders Association of Minnesota (BAM), and commercial construction company J&M Consulting.

The plaintiffs name Minnesota Attorney General Kieth Ellison and Minnesota DLI Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach as defendants.  The new Minnesota law, among other things, imposes a $10,000 penalty for each misclassified worker, along with potential jail time.  That exceeds federal requirements, and the suit states that Minnesota's regulations cannot be stricter than federal regulations on worker misclassification.  For details of the lawsuit, Click here.

The lawsuit seeks to block implementation of the law's new independent contractor test which is set to go into effect March 1st.  CMBA Government Affairs Committee met with Minnesota DLI officials in October, 2024, and is meeting with them again Tuesday, February 18th, 8:00-9:00 a.m. at the CMBA offices.  All CMBA members are welcome.  There is a virtual option for joining the meeting if you cannot join in-person.

For more information:  Steve Gottwalt, CMBA Government Affairs, 952-923-5265, steve@cmbaonline.org

#     #     #