Minnesota Legislature
Week in Review: April 21-25
By Lisa Kaczke
Coming back from a weeklong Easter/Passover break, work picked up in the House this week as the May 19 constitutional deadline to finish session inches closer.
The House Ways and Means Committee reviewed omnibus finance bills throughout the week. Deals were reached on several outstanding budgets, and the committee amended the vehicle bill for energy with its budget this week. The House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee amended its vehicle bill with a budget deal and that bill is now on its way to the House Ways and Means Committee for review. On Friday, legislators were still negotiating budgets for education, health and workforce.
The omnibus agriculture finance bill was the first to pass the House Thursday. The legacy and judiciary/public safety bills passed Friday, as did the omnibus public safety policy bill.
But to start the week, the House paid tribute to the late Rep. Mary Murphy that included stories about the House’s longest-serving woman at 23 terms and passed a bill to rename the library grant program in her honor.
Recent Dailies
Ag committee unveils $172 million funding bill for upcoming biennium
By Tim Walker
In his opening remarks Monday on the omnibus agriculture finance bill that he sponsors, Rep. Paul Anderson (R-Starbuck) gave thanks.
He thanked House staff who worked throug...
Week in Review March 31-April 4
By Lisa Kaczke
It was the week of the policy bills. Here’s what was approved ahead of Friday’s first and second committee deadlines:
Omnibus cannabis bill
Omnibus commerce policy...
Bill proposes more scrutiny for water usage at large data centers
By Tim Walker In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, could water ever truly become scarce? Yes, says Rep. Peter Fischer (DFL-Maplewood), especially when considering the tremendous water resources t...Bill proposes state higher education savings plan for newborns
By Todd Abeln Higher education can be expensive and new parents may wonder how they will be able to pay for it. To help parents begin saving for a post-secondary education, HF2908 would a...As Minnesota's senior population grows, lawmakers see need for healthy aging push
By Mike Cook Olmsted County Commissioner Gregg Wright added a little levity at a morning committee meeting. “Aging is a bipartisan issue. I think you’re all aware that Republicans and De...House panel considers bill extending unemployment benefits to striking workers
By Margaret Stevens
Strikes are the last resort for workers and are nothing like quitting work to look for something better, said Rep. Kaela Berg (DFL-Burnsville).
“Workers are forced out on st...
Bill aims to amend state constitution with explicit equal rights guarantees
By Mike Cook
In the 2026 general election, state voters will pick the state’s constitutional officers, senators and representatives.
They may also decide if the state constitution ...
DFL bill proposes new tax tier for state's wealthiest to offset potential federal cuts
By Rob Hubbard
If you look at this year’s legislative session from the perspective of a storyteller, you could say that the literary device of foreshadowing has come into play.
While discu...
Commerce policy bill advances in House
By Lisa Kaczke An omnibus commerce policy bill that includes provisions for financial institutions and insurance, as well as dozens of other proposals, is headed to the House Floor. The Ho...House committee approves human services policy bill addressing fraud, mental health care
By Todd Abeln Several fraud-related measures are included in the omnibus human services policy bill. HF2115 would create new penalties for kickbacks and establish criminal violations of h...Session Daily Home
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Ways and Means Committee OKs House budget resolution
By Mike Cook
Total net General Fund expenditures in the 2026-27 biennium will not exceed a hair less than $66.62 billion.
That is the budget resolution approved Tuesday by the House Ways...
Minnesota's budget outlook worsens in both near, long term
By Rob Hubbard
It looks as if those calling for less state spending could get their wish, judging from Thursday’s release of the February 2025 Budget and Economic Forecast.
A state su...
