Metropolitan Council; removal of members of the council for cause authorized, governor appointment of a vice-chair provided, council member salary and benefits specified, and annual reviews of the regional administrator by the council required.
HF1317 makes several governance changes to the Metropolitan Council, the regional planning body for the Twin Cities metropolitan area. It would allow council members to be removed for cause by the governor after notice and hearing, while keeping members serving at the governor’s pleasure and limiting service to 12 years. The bill also changes leadership structure by requiring the governor to appoint a vice-chair from among the 16 appointed council members, while leaving the chair as the governor-appointed, Senate-confirmed 17th voting member.
The bill further sets compensation and oversight rules for council members and the regional administrator. Beginning January 1, 2026, each council member would receive a $40,000 annual salary, with future increases tied to legislative salary adjustments, and would be offered retirement and other benefits comparable to Metropolitan Council employees. It also requires the regional administrator to undergo annual performance reviews by the council. These provisions apply to the Metropolitan Council’s seven-county service area: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties.
HF1317 would amend Minnesota Statutes sections 473.123 and 473.125 to change how Metropolitan Council members are appointed, removed, compensated, and organized internally. It adds explicit for-cause removal authority, creates a governor-appointed vice-chair position, establishes salary and benefits for council members, and requires annual performance reviews of the regional administrator. The bill would directly affect the governance structure and employment terms of the Metropolitan Council and related administrative practices in the metropolitan counties.
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as an accountability and governance reform for the Metropolitan Council. The absence of recorded committee testimony or votes means there is no documented public debate in the provided materials, but the bill’s structure suggests support for stronger oversight, clearer leadership roles, and standardized compensation. No formal sentiment data is available from hearings or roll calls.
The most likely points of contention are the expanded gubernatorial control over council membership, including for-cause removal and appointment of a vice-chair, and the creation of a fixed salary and benefits package for council members. Critics could view these changes as increasing political influence over an independent regional body or as raising costs, while supporters may argue they improve accountability, professionalism, and administrative oversight. The annual review requirement for the regional administrator may also be seen as either a useful management tool or an added layer of political pressure.