‘No easy fix:’ legislative reform subcommittee holds first meeting
By Jonathan Mohr
When the 2019 regular legislative session failed to produce an agreement on nearly all major budget bills needed to fund the state government for the next two years, lawmakers were forced into a one-day special session to wrap up their work.
Such special sessions have become the rule rather than the exception in recent years, and they’re one of the reasons the House Subcommittee on Legislative Process Reform was created.
“Minnesotans expect and deserve a modern, efficient, and transparent legislative process,” House Speaker Melissa Hortman said in a statement.
At its first meeting Wednesday, members received overviews from nonpartisan staff on the state’s budget process and how several House committees and divisions navigated that process during the 2019 session, as well as past process reform efforts.
Recent Dailies
Marooned Argosy students may be thrown a financial lifeline
By Rob Hubbard
When Argosy University abruptly announced its immediate closing in March, almost 1,000 Minnesota students enrolled at its Eagan campus were suddenly without a school.
House puts money where its programs are by approving omnibus tax bill
By Rob Hubbard
Amid a week full of discussions about expenditures for education, health and human services, and transportation, the House took up the issue of how to pay for them Thursday evening. After over two hours of discussion and the consideration of several amendments, the omnibus tax bill was passed 74-55.
After lengthy debate, House passes weighty HHS bill chock full of changes
By Victoria Cooney
After more than nine hours of debate, the House on Thursday passed the omnibus health and human services finance bill on a 74-55 vote.
Week in preview: multi-hour — maybe multi-day — omnibus debates expected to continue
By Mike Cook
About the only thing certain at the Minnesota House of Representatives in the next week or so is that members won't meet Friday evening or Saturday.
From jobs to broadband to climate change, House passes omnibus that covers a lot of ground
By Victoria Cooney
After a late night Tuesday and a long day of arguing on Wednesday, the House finally passed its omnibus jobs and economic development, energy and climate, and telecommunications policy and finance bill.
Major disagreements remain on key issues in jobs omnibus; floor debate to continue Wednesday
By Victoria Cooney
Dissent remains regarding key provisions in the omnibus jobs and economic development, energy and climate, and telecommunications policy and finance bill.
House gives passing grade to omnibus education bill with $900 million in new investments
By Rachel Kats
House members sprang back into legislative action Tuesday, following the Easter/Passover break, with an 11-hour debate on the omnibus education finance bill.
Starting Line: Proposal aims to modernize state constitution
By HPIS Staff Learn more about a proposal from Rep. Kristin Bahner (DFL-Maple Grove) that aims to modernize the state constitution by including gender-neutral terms.Starting Line: Are some Minnesotans leaving the state due to high taxes?
By HPIS Staff Earlier this session, Republican leaders held a press conference and claimed that some Minnesotans were leaving the state, in part, due to high income tax rates. Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington) says there is no debate that people are leaving, but the argument is “Why?”Week in Review: April 8-12
By HPIS Staff
An eventful week wrapped up Friday with the House Ways and Means Committee approving several omnibus bills ahead of midnight’s third committee deadline.
As it did a number o...
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House DFL outlines $47.8 billion 2020-21 spending proposal
By Rachel Kats
The plan, dubbed the “Minnesota Values Budget,” would increase spending by $416.9 million over the 2020-21 biennium’s projected base budget.
Budget forecast: Projected surplus drops by almost $500 million, still tops $1 billion
By Mike Cook
The state has a $1.05 billion projected budget surplus for the upcoming biennium, Minnesota Management and Budget officials announced Thursday.
Walz budget would raise gas tax, emphasize education, health care
By Rob Hubbard
Education, health care and community prosperity are key targets for funding in the 2020-21 biennial budget proposed by Gov. Tim Walz.
Committee deadlines for 2019 unveiled
By Mike Cook
Legislators and the public officially know the timeline for getting bills through the committee process.
