Budget bills passed in special session, likely avoiding shutdown

Minnesota lawmakers have avoided a partial government shutdown in 2015, pending Gov. Mark Dayton's signature.

Although lawmakers needed parts of two calendar days to complete the one-day special session called by Dayton for June 12, the House and Senate passed six bills on to the governor before adjourning the session sine die in the early morning hours of June 13.

The most controversial piece of legislation — the omnibus environment, natural resources and agriculture policy and finance bill — caused the most difficulty, but was ultimately passed with the language agreed to by Dayton and the legislative leaders before the session was called.

Lawmakers also passed the $17 billion omnibus K-12 education finance bill; the omnibus jobs and energy bill; the $540 million omnibus legacy bill; a $370 million capital investment bill; and a revisor’s bill that makes technical fixes to legislation where needed.