Minnesota House advances State Government and Elections Policy Legislation

St. Paul, MN - Today, the Conference Committee on State Government Finance, Veterans and Military Affairs Finance, and Elections signed off on a policy-only conference committee report. Besides excluding finance-related proposals, the report did not include any Veterans and Military Affairs provisions. The legislation, House File 1952, authored by Rep. Michael V. Nelson (DFL - Brooklyn Park), passed the House on a broadly bipartisan vote of 133-1.

“The bill we passed today includes policy updates that better ensure good governance in our state, and makes the necessary administrative changes for Minnesota’s elections,” said Rep. Nelson, chair of the House State Government Finance and Elections Committee. “By passing the agreed-upon policy provisions now, and with today’s announcement of budget targets being reached, we can more effectively move on to finalizing the work of negotiating a budget bill that invests in the responsive state government and accessible elections Minnesotans deserve.”

The legislation contains the similar policy provisions present in the House and Senate proposals, as well as the administrative bills from the Minnesota Secretary of State and the Campaign Finance Board. Other notable policy provisions include changing the name of Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) to the Department of Information Technology Services, and technical provisions for the Campaign Finance Public Disclosure Board, such as adding chancellors or members of the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to the list of public positions classified as public officials, and expanding the definition of exempt expenditures to electronic messages. 

More information can be found on the Conference Committee’s webpage. Video recording of today’s floor session is available on the House Public Information Youtube channel.