MARCH 2025

Minnesota Legislature Convenes for 94th Session

The Minnesota Legislature has begun its 94th Legislative Session, and lawmakers are introducing and considering bills about data practices (House bills; Senate bills) and the Open Meeting Law (House bills; Senate bills). The Data Practices Office is tracking proposed legislation on these issues. We will provide a complete update on the results of the 2025 legislative session in our July newsletter.

Sunshine Week is March 16-22!

The 2025 Sunshine Week is scheduled for March 16-22. Sunshine Week is a national initiative focused on the important roles freedom of information and open government have in a functional democracy. The event is held annually and coincides with James Madison's birthday on March 16.

The Data Practices Office offers several resources to help members of the public and government understand Minnesota's government transparency laws. The Data Practices Office website has tips on how to make a data practices request as well as several pages with guidance on specific types of data and the Open Meeting Law.

You can also search the Commissioner of Administration's advisory opinions online as well as watch videos on YouTube about a variety of different data practices and open meeting topics.

Always feel free to contact the Data Practices Office with any questions you have. Our team is here to help!

Upcoming Data Practices Trainings

Data Practices 201: Data Access Policies and Procedures Remote Workshop

Wednesday, March 26, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. on WebEx

Want a deeper dive into the Data Practices Act's requirements for data access policies and processing data requests? Then this workshop is for you!

The workshop offers:

• Discussion of general legal requirements for a government entity's data access policies as required by Minn. Stat., section 13.025
• Guidance on practices and procedures for responding to data requests
• Tips on training staff about data practices requirements
• An opportunity to compare your data practices policies and procedures with colleagues at other government entities

This workshop will be held remotely on WebEx. It will not require in-person attendance, but it will require virtual participation. Before registering, please ensure that you will have audio and video technology available to participate in group discussions.

The cost to attend this workshop is $125 per person.

Please visit our website for more information and to register.

Advisory Opinion Updates

The Commissioner of Administration has not issued any advisory opinions since the last FYi newsletter.