Minnesota Legislature
End of the line for Northstar Commuter Rail service could be in sight
By Rob Hubbard
It’s a rare occurrence when a House committee gathers to debate a bill, then is told during testimony that the bill’s wish has been granted.
Such was the case at Monday’s meeting of the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee. The committee’s chair, Rep. Jon Koznick (R-Lakeville), was presenting a pair of bills taking separate approaches to ending operations of the Northstar Commuter Rail line between downtown Minneapolis and Big Lake.
But, hours before the meeting convened, the Department of Transportation released a study that concluded: “There are opportunities for improved, more cost-effective transit service in this corridor.”
Both Transportation Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger and Metropolitan Council Chair Charlie Zelle said that other means of bus or rail transportation would be more efficient and effective, which rendered the bills largely moot.
Recent Dailies
End of the line for Northstar Commuter Rail service could be in sight
By Rob Hubbard
It’s a rare occurrence when a House committee gathers to debate a bill, then is told during testimony that the bill’s wish has been granted.
Such was the case at Monday’s me...
Bill to halt new light rail projects stalls on House Floor
By Rob Hubbard
As costs have risen for light rail projects in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, so have concerns among some legislators about whether the benefits are worth the outlays.
O...
Proposed grant program aims to prevent rural ambulance services from going further into red
By Margaret Stevens Last year, the Legislature sent $24 million to struggling ambulance services that were hemorrhaging dollars. Those funds won’t permanently stop the bleeding or even act as a...Minnesota legislators consider shift to bipartisan redistricting commission
By Brian Basham
Legislative districts are redrawn every 10 years to ensure they are comparable in population.
That task now falls to legislators, who have routinely failed in their efforts....
House bill proposes earlier driver's test booking, heftier cancellation penalties
By Rob Hubbard
If you’ve secured an appointment for a driver’s test in Minnesota, you may feel a sense of accomplishment akin to that of squeezing your vehicle into a particularly tight parkin...
House oversight panel targets child care fraud after reports of misuse
By Mike Cook Members on both sides of the political aisle agree that any fraud in the state’s child care system is unacceptable. Department of Human Services’ officials agree. What t...Week in Review: Feb. 17-21
By Lisa Kaczke
Things are picking up in the House.
Lawmakers debated, rejected and tabled their first bill on the House Floor this week. HF20 would make data collected by the attorney gene...
House debates, rejects then tables bill to change data disclosures of AG office
By Tim Walker
There was plenty of parliamentary drama as the House took up its first bill of the session Thursday and then tabled it after about a 90-minute debate.
The bill regarding dat...
Energy committee sends proposed solar metering changes to House Floor
By Rob Hubbard
If you have solar panels on your home, barn or business that are hooked up to your local investor-owned, municipal or cooperative utility, you’re both a producer and a consumer ...
U of M officials outline requested $235 million budget increase
By Todd Abeln
Every biennium, University of Minnesota officials come before the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee with a budget request. How they present this year’s request...
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Full House convenes for first time in 2025, elects Demuth speaker
By Tim Walker
DFL, Republicans convene with a quorum for the first time in 2025 session after agreeing to a power-sharing deal.
Walz proposes slimmed-down 2026-27 state budget, sales tax changes
By Tim Walker
This is an odd-numbered year, and so the Legislature is constitutionally required to craft a budget to fund the state government for the next two fiscal years.
Gov. Tim Walz...
