Minnesota Legislature
House closes 2024 session in chaotic fashion, trading bonding for budget boosts
By Rob Hubbard
After 2023 produced a record $72 billion in biennial funding, Minnesota’s legislative leaders were dampening expectations for anything resembling an encore. Tweaks and bonding seemed to be the chief items on the agenda.
Before the session started, House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) said, “The state’s borrowing bill will be the biggest order of business.” House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) said early in the session that fixing an issue with potential use of force by school resource officers was a top Republican priority, and a bill was signed into law relatively early in the session to address that issue.
On Sunday, both chambers of the Legislature finished their business for the year by the midnight deadline, and bonding bills fell by the wayside in the closing hours as DFL priorities in the House shifted toward getting a state equal rights amendment on the 2026 statewide ballot, cutting a deal for drivers with the companies that run rideshare services Lyft and Uber, and approving more than $450 million in supplemental funding for the current biennium.
Recent Dailies
House passes $55 million boost for public safety, judiciary and corrections
By Tim Walker
The state’s judicial system, and Public Safety and Corrections departments could be in line to receive an extra $55.35 million in this fiscal year and the next.
That’s the b...
House OKs legislation creating statewide emergency medical services office
By Miranda Bryant
Is it prudent to create a new government body to oversee emergency medical services in Minnesota without sufficient funding for ambulance services throughout the state?
The ...
Bill to modify governance of Hennepin Healthcare draws limited support
By Miranda Bryant
In early April, nurses asked the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners to dissolve the Hennepin Healthcare System board of directors and take over control of its flagship hospi...
Labor panel approves rideshare pay compromise; Uber, Lyft say rate ‘not supportable’
By Brian Basham
A compromise reached Monday between legislative leaders, the Minneapolis City Council and rideshare drivers would give the drivers a raise they say is needed.
But representa...
House passes state and local government and veterans supplemental budget bill just after midnight
By Mike Cook
Since 1905 the current state capitol has served as the seat of Minnesota’s government.
The area around the majestic building is the financial target of much of this year’s s...
House passes human services budget bill; conference committee likely next
By Miranda Bryant
Financial support of nursing homes. The illegal drug crisis in the United States. Open positions at the Department of Human Services. All were debated on the House Floor Monday ...
House panel advances proposed Equal Rights Amendment ballot measure
By Mike Cook
Two weeks before this year’s legislative session must conclude, a committee vote on a potential Equal Rights Amendment could mean the language is before voters two years from no...
House, Senate elections policy conferees begin work close, but ‘substantive differences’ remain
By Mike Cook
Six months from now — on Nov. 6 — the dust may have settled on the General Election, and we should know which candidates emerged victorious, from president to local units of gov...
Week in Review: April 29 – May 3
By HPIS Staff
There are weeks, and then there are weeks like this one, when the phrase “Thank God it’s Friday” rings especially true.
Long hours of floor debate that frequently neared, or...
Local assistance focus of House-passed elections supplemental funding bill
By Mike Cook
A voting operations, technology, and election resources account that assists local governments with certain election-related expenses would be the largest beneficiary of a suppl...
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Ways and Means Committee OKs proposed $512 million supplemental budget on party-line vote
By Mike Cook
Meeting more needs or fiscal irresponsibility is one way to sum up the differences among the two parties on a supplemental spending package a year after a $72 billion state budg...
Minnesota’s projected budget surplus balloons to $3.7 billion, but fiscal pressure still looms
By Rob Hubbard
Just as Minnesota has experienced a warmer winter than usual, so has the state’s budget outlook warmed over the past few months.
On Thursday, Minnesota Management and Budget...
