In November, voters gave the Democratic Farmer Labor Party (DFL) total control of the legislature and the governor’s office for the first time in nearly a decade, which included flipping the Minnesota Senate by the narrowest...more
Introduction -
Despite a historic surplus, the Minnesota Legislature adjourned sine die on Sunday, May 22 with most of their work unfinished. This result was far different from the expectations of many when the Legislature...more
On Tuesday, December 7th, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released Minnesota’s November Forecast, projecting a $7.75 billion surplus for the FY 2022-23 biennium. This is a record surplus for Minnesota.
The...more
Minnesota legislative leaders and Governor Tim Walz reached a biennial budget agreement on May 17, 2021 (with another month needed for the legislature to work out details and pass budget bills). The budget spends...more
COVID-19 defined the 2021 regular session of the Minnesota Legislature. When it convened on January 5, 2021, the Legislature had been meeting in special session monthly since June 2020 to consider terminating Governor Walz’s...more
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) — the recently enacted COVID-19 relief package passed by Congress and signed by President Biden — has significant impacts for Minnesota governments, businesses and individuals.
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In late February 2021, Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Management and Budget officials released Minnesota’s February Economic and Budget Forecast. The budget forecast revealed a $1.571 billion surplus for the Fiscal Year...more
Understanding the Minnesota Legislative process is crucial to tracking bills and policies as legislators draft, amend and debate them.
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The unveiling of Governor Tim Walz’s (DFL) biennial budget was the major news at the Minnesota Legislature this week. Governor Walz’s $52.4 billion proposed budget for the next biennium is an 8.5% increase over from Fiscal...more
Minnesota’s economic and budget outlook has improved since last May when the Minnesota Office of Management and Budget (MMB) projected significant budget deficits for the remainder of this biennium and the next. In a forecast...more
Election Day on November 3 is right around the corner, and Minnesotans are already casting their ballots. As of September 18, more than one million voters have requested an absentee ballot this year. In 2016, nearly 680,000...more
Tomorrow, Minnesotans will head to the polls for the primary election. However, many Minnesotans have already voted. This year, a record 637,463 absentee ballots have been requested and 423,032 have already been returned and...more
On July 20, the Minnesota Legislature adjourned its second special session of the summer. While there was no prior agreement between Governor Walz (DFL) and legislative leaders before this special session was called, the hope...more
The legislature convened February 11, and at the end of the month received a forecast which projected a $1.5 billion budget surplus and hopes of passing a robust capital investment bill. Senate Republicans were hoping to use...more
As expected, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released an updated budget projection this week predicting a budget deficit of $2.426 billion for the current biennium. This projection is an approximate $4 billion swing...more
With two weeks remaining in the legislative session, legislators are processing bills virtually because of COVID-19, which has drastically narrowed legislative priorities in the House and Senate. Even so, the Senate passed...more
Governor Walz announced an agreement with the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic to expand the state’s ability to test for COVID-19. The agreement is intended to significantly expand testing capacity and the...more
The Minnesota Legislature returned from an extended recess this week, with committee meetings held via teleconference and floor sessions subject to social distancing and other measures designed to protect members and the...more
The COVID-19 response remains the sole focus of state government. The Walz administration issued new executive orders addressing health care and economic consequences of the pandemic, providing further guidance on the state’s...more
Minnesota remained focused on COVID-19 response efforts this week. During the course of the week Governor Tim Walz (DFL) issued several new executive orders, including a stay-at-home order requiring individuals to stay home...more
The Minnesota Legislature has suspended normal business operations to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to recessing, the House and Senate met at the Capitol into the early morning hours on March 17 to pass $200 million...more
After discussions over the weekend, state legislative leaders have decided to recess the Minnesota Legislature from Tuesday, March 17, through Tuesday, April 14. This decision was made after consultation with the Minnesota...more
As it has nationally and internationally, COVID-19 or coronavirus has been the focus for both Governor Walz and the Minnesota Legislature this week. On Monday, the House and Senate unanimously passed emergency legislation...more
Coronavirus and Super Tuesday were the major focuses at the Minnesota Capitol this week. On Monday state leaders outlined their response to coronavirus....more
Legislators kept busy this week both at and away from the Capitol. Committees continued processing policy bills, staying mindful of the first policy committee deadline scheduling three weeks away. The House held an extra...more