In the homestretch of Minnesota’s 2024 legislative session, tension has mounted in St. Paul as state House and Senate committees scramble to secure enough votes to place their bills on Governor Tim Walz’s desk for signature....more
Omnibus Policy Bills on the Move - Prior to the March 22nd legislative deadline for policy bills, most committees created omnibus policy bills. Starting this week, both the House of Representatives and the Senate engaged...more
Republicans Retain Daudt Seat - Republican Bryan Lawrence of Baldwin Township in Sherburne County won the Minnesota State House Special Election in District 27B to replace former Representative Kurt Daudt, who resigned...more
Where is the Governor’s Supplemental Budget? With legislators racing toward the first and second bill deadline on March 22, the Walz Administration spent the week behind closed doors putting the finishing touches on its...more
Looking Ahead to Next Week - With first and second deadlines fast approaching on March 22, expect the pace at the Legislature to increase next week as legislators race to meet these important policy bill deadlines....more
Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released the State Economic Forecast today. In the Forecast, MMB declared that “Minnesota’s budget and economic outlook remains stable” for the remainder of the FY 2024-2025 biennium,...more
“The State of our State is Strong” - Governor Tim Walz delivered his annual State of the State address to legislators from the House chamber this week. He highlighted common themes from DFL leadership this session,...more
On Tuesday, Governor Tim Walz rolled out his full, $65 billion budget. Under the proposal, all but about $1.3 billion of the surplus would be spent, and two tax increases would be enacted: a 1/8 cent sales tax hike in the...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
Five weeks beyond the 100th calendar day of the session, the 2022 session of the 89th General Assembly of Iowa has adjourned sine die. Originally slated to end on April 20, stalled negotiations on Education Savings Plans...more
Sine Die - The Minnesota Legislature has adjourned sine die, and for many, it feels that is all that was accomplished this year. In spite of a global framework being agreed to—$4 billion each for taxes, spending and...more
Pursuant to the State Constitution, the legislature may not pass legislation after midnight on Sunday, May 22. Impacting the time pressure as well are the state party conventions. Republicans are meeting in Rochester now...more
IT’S A BIG DEAL - Yesterday, legislative leaders announced they had a deal on the replenishment of the unemployment insurance trust fund and frontline worker bonus pay. The deal was approved by a conference committee late...more
Time Marches On - We are two months into session, with merely seven weeks remaining (including a week-long break). After next week, the Legislature will go on break until April 19. When they return, nearly all committee work...more
Welcome to the 2022 Minnesota Legislative Session! Minnesota legislators returned to St. Paul, either in-person or virtually, on Monday, January 31. House committees immediately dove into work, with most committees meeting...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
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
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