Minnesota Legislature
Working group strikes agreement on environment and natural resources finance, policy package
By Tim Walker
In this tight two-year budget cycle, it’s not surprising that several budget agreements have turned to raising fees or adding surcharges to state services to meet their lean targets for the 2026-27 biennium.
That includes environment and natural resources budget and policy.
An agreement would increase the aquatic invasive species surcharge for watercraft from a flat $10.60. Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, surcharges would range from $14 to $62 depending on the size, type and use of the watercraft.
The DNR would also increase large groundwater-use permit fees and water appropriation permit application fees, including a rise from $150 to $600 for a business to apply for a permit to appropriate groundwater.
Recent Dailies
Quartet of payments comprise claims bill that clears House
By Mike Cook Each year, a Joint House-Senate Subcommittee on Claims decides which claims against the state should be funded. This year’s proposal calls for nearly $72,381 in fiscal year ...DFL leaders say special session 'very, very likely'
By Lisa Kaczke
DFL leaders said a special session is likely as they headed into a state budget negotiation meeting Wednesday.
The Legislature has a few days left to complete its work befor...
Significant gap between House, Senate workforce budgets as conferees seek agreement
By Margaret Stevens
A list of more than 50 organizations and $100 million. Those are differences that jump out from the House and Senate versions of the omnibus workforce, labor, and economic devel...
Can you navigate the budget-making process? Take our quiz
By Tim Walker
The complicated process of crafting a budget to fund state departments and agencies in the 2026-27 biennium had its unofficial kick off in November 2024 when the state’s economi...
Minnesota House backs plan to replace Henry Mower Rice with Hubert H. Humphrey in U.S. Capitol statue swap
By Mike Cook
The National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol was established in 1864 to allow states to donate “statues, in marble or bronze, not exceeding two in number for each State, of de...
Human services conference committee begins discussion on policy bill
By Todd Abeln
The first meeting of a conference committee typically provides a broad overview of the differences between House and Senate budget and policy bills.
That started out as the ...
Bill establishing confidentiality in restorative justice programs headed to governor's desk
By Lisa Kaczke
Rep. Sandra Feist (DFL-New Brighton) wants to give victims more options when seeking accountability.
Feist sponsors HF104/SF2200* to establish confidentially for statements ...
With time running out, omnibus budget for health, children and families clears House
By Margaret Stevens
An interesting bill with an interesting timeline is the description Rep. Danny Nadeau (R-Rogers) used for the omnibus health and children and families bill.
Bypassing one co...
Week in Review: May 5-9
By Lisa Kaczke
House members began meeting with their counterparts from the Senate this week to hash out differences in their budget bills. But they remain without global targets as legislativ...
Minnesota House passes compromise workforce, economic development budget bill
By Margaret Stevens
Some House members believe the budget bill that came out of the House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee spends too much. Some think it prov...
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Legislature — with budget incomplete — gavels out, prepares for special session
By Rob Hubbard
Some years, state legislative sessions surge to a climax on their final day, a flurry of activity providing a sustained adrenaline rush, culminating in smiles of satisfaction as...
Walz, lawmakers strike budget deal in session's final days
By Lisa Kaczke
With five days to go in the 2025 session, three of four legislative leaders announced a budget agreement Thursday that would sunset unemployment insurance for hourly school empl...
