Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Legislative News and Views - Rep. Jeanne Poppe (DFL)

Back to profile

Legislative Update - July 20, 2016

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Dear Neighbors,

I hope the summer has been treating you well. While it’s been about two months since the regular legislative session adjourned, a lot has been happening around the Capitol. Here is some information I would like to share with you.

Special Session Possible

Last Friday, negotiations between Gov. Dayton and legislative leaders regarding a possible special session restarted. It’s unfortunate we’re in this position, but as you know, the regular session adjourned in late May. We left a great deal of work unfinished, including a tax bill, a bonding bill, and a comprehensive transportation package. All parties involved understand the urgency of wrapping up business like this, but a final conclusion is going to require give-and-take from all sides.

The tax bill passed both bodies of the Legislature during session, but was vetoed due to a $100 million error. We should easily be able to reconsider this in a special session. The bonding bill may require some more work, but I think we should be able to get to an agreement there, too. It appears any special session likely won’t happen until mid-August at the earliest. I’m more encouraged now than a few weeks ago that we can reach a compromise and get this done.

State Budget

Good news came earlier last week from Minnesota Management and Budget. Fiscal Year 2016 concluded on June 30, and revenues exceeded the amount from the February budget forecast by $230 million. While economic growth has slowed a bit, our economy is still in a solid position, and it appears we will be entering the 2017 session with another sizable budget surplus. We need to be fiscally judicious, but we can consider how to make key investments in the things that help out all Minnesotans, such as education, job creation, and transportation. I look forward to more discussions about this as we approach January.

New Laws

July 1 is the start of Minnesota’s Fiscal Year. As a result, many state programs will receive continued funding or increases for vital state services. August 1st is the day many new policy provisions become law.

A summary of selected new laws that took effect July 1, 2016, can be accessed at http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/leginfo/0716nlrelease.pdf

A complete summary of all laws passed by the 2016 Legislature is available online from the House Public Information Services Office at http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/newlaws/#/search/2016

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any issues, questions, suggestions, or concerns.

Sincerely,

Jeanne Poppe

State Representative