These include state-licensed or regulated industries such as insurance, real estate, property appraisals, debt collection agencies, financial institutions, commodity weights and measures, and telecommunications.
[3] The department has a history of being closely-involved in significant social and political issues concerning the public interest.
[6] The Department of Commerce has numerous functions primarily related to public or consumer protections against regulated industries.
These include ensuring the accuracy of weights and scales at gas pumps, advocating for the public interest of public energy and utility issues such as the Line 3 Gas replacement[7] as well as addressing complaints on insurance agents and brokers, real estate agents and appraisers, financial institutions such as banks and others.
[8] Consumers can file complaints against providers and an investigation will be performed by the department to determine if any illegal actions occurred.