Today Minnesota Retailers Impact announced the endorsement of these candidates running for the Minnesota House of Representatives:

Minnesota House

Jim Joy - 4B
Lisa Demuth - 13A
Tim O'Driscoll - 13B
Bernie Perryman - 14A
Chris Swedzinski - 15A
Dave Baker - 16B
Greg Davids - 26B
Marion Rarick - 29B
Peggy Scott - 31B
Matt Norris - 32B
Zack Stephenson - 35A
Kristin Robbins - 37A
Kristin Bahner - 37B
Kelly Moller - 40A
Cheryl Youakim - 46B
Jim Nash - 48A
Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn - 49B
Steve Elkins - 50B
John Huot - 56B
Jon Koznick - 57A           
Jeff Witte - 57B

“These candidates have demonstrated an appreciation for what the retail industry offers Minnesota’s economy as the industry supports over 950,000 jobs across the State. Each endorsed candidate is a demonstateed supporter of Minnesota's consumers, retailers, and our communities,” said Minnesota Retailers Impact Treasurer Bruce Nustad.

Minnesota Retailers Impact is a politial action committee funded through personal contributions to support candidates who appreciate retailer contributions to Minnesota communities.

At Minnesota Retailers, our mission is to ensure collective success across the state by continually advancing retail—encompassing retailers, partners, employees, consumers, and policymakers.

Retail businesses are the backbone of our communities. They drive economic activity, create jobs, contribute to the vibrancy of our neighborhoods, and serve as vital links in the supply chain that connects Minnesota to the world. Your presence here today underscores the crucial role you play in shaping the policies that impact this dynamic industry.

We invite you to review our six proposed policy priorities, which are key to ensuring that communities in Minnesota thrive. Your feedback is invaluable to us as we strive to craft policies that support workforce development, encourage innovation, and remove barriers to growth. By working together, we can sustain and enhance the economic vitality of the state.

Proposed Priorities

• Cultivate a Competitive Retail Landscape for Minnesotans
  
  Minnesota retailers operate in an increasingly hyper-competitive environment, where success hinges on the state's ability to balance critical factors such as taxes, regulations, environmental stewardship, and overall competitiveness. By balancing these prioritizes, the state can better support consumers, workers, and the retail economy, which plays a vital role in contributing to Minnesota's prosperity.
  
  
• Support Retailers & Communities with a Vendor Collection Allowance
  
  Retailers bear the full cost of collecting and remitting sales taxes to the state. A state task force on local sales taxes recommends investing in our retail partners by offering an allowance to offset these collection costs.
  
  
• Modernize Alcohol Regulations to Reflect Consumer Preferences
  
  Minnesota is unique in its restriction of beer and wine sales primarily to liquor stores and we are the last state to license 3.2 beer. Minnesotans should have the option, clarity, and convenience of buying full-strength beer, including local brews, in grocery and convenience stores.
  
  
• Combat Organized Retail Crime with Dedicated Resources & Coordination
  
  Following the passage of a bill defining organized retail crime (ORC) in 2023, our next step is to establish and fund a state ORC workgroup. This group, modeled after successful collaborations in other states, would use a coordinated, cross-agency approach to quickly identify and shut down organized crime rings.
  
  
• Enhance Healthcare Accessibility at Retail Pharmacies
  
  Community pharmacies play a vital role in providing healthcare services to Minnesotans. Updating laws and regulations is essential to ensure these services continue to be accessible across the state.
  
  
• Promote Workforce Participation & Development with Affordable Childcare
  
  A strong and resilient workforce is essential for Minnesota's economy. The Department of Employment and Economic Development projects that there will be 125,000 retail sales and supervisor openings over the next decade. Addressing the childcare shortage will help more Minnesotans enter and stay in the workforce.

>> Click here to weigh-in on these priorities and tell us about yours!

We are thrilled to share some exciting news with you. After years of efforts and collaboration, we are proud to announce that our organized retail crime (ORC) definition bill has passed through the legislative process and was signed by the Governor this past Friday. This significant development marks a major milestone in our ongoing efforts to address the growing issue of organized retail crime in Minnesota.

The passage of this bill has been a collective achievement, made possible through the strong partnership between the Minnesota Retailers Association (MnRA) and the bill's authors, Representative Zack Stephenson and Senator Ron Latz. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to them for their unwavering commitment to tackling this pressing issue and their dedication to ensuring the safety of consumers, workers, and retailers across our great state.

Our success in advancing this legislation was bolstered by the invaluable support we received from the Minnesota Organized Retail Crime Association, including its leaders Cody Johnson and Taylor Wiechert, and other key stakeholder organizations. Through their expertise and guidance, we were able to deliver a strong message during the legislative process. We extend our sincere appreciation to all those who lent their support and contributed to this issue, including our contract lobbyist Tom Freeman with Faegre Drinker, who worked tirelessly on this bill. In addition, we are most grateful to Charlie Anderson who shared his passion for people and expertise in law enforcement in countless conversations with us, elected officials and other stakeholders.

Addressing organized retail crime has been a long-time priority for Minnesota’s retailers, and for good reason. These criminal activities pose a significant threat to the integrity of our businesses, the safety of our employees and customers, and the overall economic health of our communities. By passing this bill into law, we take a crucial step forward in equipping law enforcement agencies, financial investigators, and prosecutors with the necessary tools to combat and deter these criminal enterprises.

The ORC definition bill will provide a clear and comprehensive framework to identify and prosecute organized retail crime. It will define ORC, establish consequences for offenders, and enable law enforcement agencies to collaborate more effectively with retailers in investigating and preventing these crimes. Furthermore, it will serve as a strong deterrent by sending a powerful message to potential criminals that their actions will not be welcome in our state.

While we celebrate the new law, we recognize that our work is far from over. The implementation and enforcement of this legislation will require ongoing cooperation and coordination among retailers, law enforcement agencies, and the judicial system. MnRA remains committed to actively engaging with our members and partners to ensure the effective implementation of this law and to continue our efforts in combating organized retail crime in Minnesota.

Last and most important, thank you to members for your unwavering support throughout this process. Together, we are making a significant impact on fostering a better retail environment for all of Minnesota.

To celebrate this achievement and express our gratitude for your continued support, we invite retailers and key business partners to join us for a legislative wrap-up event. The event will take place on June 8 at the Minneapolis Cider Company and feature your chance to try or show off your pickleball skills. It will be an excellent opportunity to network, reflect on the session's outcomes, and discuss the implications for our industry moving forward.

Please plan to join us. We appreciate your unwavering support throughout this session, and we invite you to join us in commemorating our achievements and acknowledging the challenges together.

>> CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW ORC LAW