Commission adopts Secure Choice reviser amendment, moves reviser bill into omnibus package

The Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement on March 24 adopted an author’s 1A amendment to reviser number 2607808, a technical update to the Minnesota Secure Choice retirement program, and voted to recommend the reviser bill for incorporation into the omnibus pension bill.

Chad Roberts, executive director of Minnesota Secure Choice, told members the bill modernizes statutory language to align with how the program now operates, reduces employer responsibility by transferring participant education to the program, clarifies board governance and terms, refines enrollment windows and waiting periods, and strengthens data protections. "The intent of this bill is to modernize the statutory language in order to capture the operational realities that we now see with the system live," Roberts said.

Members asked practical questions about enrollment and the opt‑out timing. Roberts explained that the program uses a phased five‑stage employer rollout through June 30, 2028, and that the 21‑day period in statute applies after initial rollout windows. He clarified a 30‑day waiting period that begins on an employee’s first day of enrollment and allows the employee to opt out before the first payroll contribution; employees may opt out or re‑join later and funds operate like a Roth IRA for participant withdrawals.

Representative Nadeau asked whether the 21‑day description meant enrollment was rolling; Roberts confirmed employees may start contributing immediately once the employer is enrolled and that the 21‑day timing applied to new hires after an employer’s registration. Senator Nelson praised the implementation and rollout, noting initial employer concerns had been addressed in practice and thanking Roberts for a "fabulous job" on operational rollout.

The commission adopted the reviser amendment by voice vote and recommended reviser number 2607808 be incorporated into the omnibus pension bill.

What happens next: The reviser bill is expected to be introduced formally and the chair indicated the commission will include it in the omnibus pension package unless members request further changes.