Week in Review: April 7-11

A busy week of negotiations and compromises was the theme as most — most — finance committees met Friday’s noon deadline to approve finance bills and send them to the House Ways and Means Committee. Although the transportation bill is going to taxes next.

Five other committees — education, energy, environment and natural resources, health and higher education — couldn’t reach a bipartisan deal before the deadline and instead approved vehicle bills that’ll likely be amended later.

Will those folks work while the Legislature takes breather?

The Legislature will be off for the Easter/Passover break until noon April 21. Then lawmakers will have four weeks of the regular session to put together a biennial state budget by the constitutional deadline of May 19 to finish their work.

For the pessimists out there, five of the past seven budget-setting years needed a special session.

Enjoy your break. Here’s what happened this week in the House:

AGRICULTURE

Ag committee unveils $172 million funding bill for upcoming biennium

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18707

Ag panel’s $172 million funding bill advances to Ways and Means committee

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18719

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE

Panel approves budget for Commerce Department, cannabis office

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18726

CIVIL LAW

Judiciary committee considers $1.43 billion budget bill for 2026-27 biennium

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18711

House judiciary panel sends $1.4 billion budget bill to ways and means committee

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18725

EDUCATION

Omnibus education finance bill is 2025 forecast adjustments – for now

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18734

ELECTIONS

Committee approves $3.9 million election finance bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18717

ENERGY

Omnibus energy bill includes one lonely appropriation – but maybe more on the way

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18727

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

$776 million Legacy finance bill heads to Ways and Means Committee

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18721

$2.3 billion environment finance bill approved as co-chairs signal work will continue

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18730

ETHICS

Ethics committee takes no action, Tabke keeps District 54A seat

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18731

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Lawmaker proposes $1 million for ‘Fresh Bucks’ program to expand access to fruits, vegetables

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18708

$2.14 billion funding bill aims to boost child welfare, early childhood programs

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18713

Human services panel reviews potential $300 million in budget cuts

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18718

House panel OKs human services budget bill that includes $300 million in cuts

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18723

Compromise sends omnibus children’s bill to next committee stop

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18732

HIGHER EDUCATION

ALS research funding lone item in higher ed budget bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18729

HOUSING

Housing panel advances budget bill with $75 million funding increase, focus on affordability

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18712

State funds tied to zoning reform in housing bill that advances in House

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18722

MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

Omnibus veterans, military affairs bill contains small spending increase

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18715

PUBLIC SAFETY

Minnesota public safety officials warn of potential cuts under proposed budget

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18714

House public safety committee OKs $2.2 billion finance bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18720

STATE GOVERNMENT

$45 million increase proposed in state government spending bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18709

State government finance bill breezes through committee vote

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18724

TAXES

Fire, emergency medical services could see state aid bump

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18710

House lawmakers eye tax on social media companies for collecting Minnesotans’ data

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18716

Lawmakers look to target distressed areas for new development with tax credit

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18728

TRANSPORTATION

House lawmakers review transportation package with billions in funding, tougher penalties for speeding drivers

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18733

House committee gives green light after omnibus transportation bill travels bumpy road

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18735