Minnesota Legislature
Walz unveils record $2.73 billion capital investment proposal
By Mike Cook
Gov. Tim Walz has a simple message for legislators wanting to put together a capital investment package this year: Go big.
To preserve the past, meet current needs and build a stronger future, Walz unveiled his $2.73 billion Local Jobs and Projects Plan Tuesday. It includes $2 billion in general obligation bonds, $276 million in General Fund spending and $250 million in appropriation bonds.
“In 2020, we passed the largest jobs bill in state history, investing in the projects that local communities told us matter most to them. Now, with Minnesota’s strong economic outlook, we have an opportunity to make even more progress,” Walz said in a statement. “With a focus on projects like roads, bridges, fire stations, and veterans homes, our plan will repair and replace critical infrastructure and improve the lives of Minnesotans in every corner of the state.”
Recent Dailies
Changes to Board of Animal Health, cottage food law included in ag bill that passes House, Senate
By Nate Gotlieb A policy-only, compromise omnibus agriculture bill that includes changes to the state's cottage food law has received legislative approval, despite a disagreement over changes to the Board of Animal Health.HHS conference committee report passes House, Senate
By Nate Gotlieb
A pared-down, policy-only omnibus health and human services finance bill — still totaling 520 pages — received House support.
Bill to join Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact going to the governor
By Rachel Kats There’s a shortage of psychologist and mental health providers in Minnesota and one way lawmakers are aiming to address the issue is by joining the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact.Legislative leaders, governor reach budget deal as regular session draws to a close
By Rachel Kats
The “numbers-only agreement” amounts to a roughly $51.2 billion 2022-23 biennial budget, a $1.3 billion increase over base.
Some state government, elections changes get House, Senate approval
By Mike Cook Operating without a budget target, conferees approved a number of mostly technical and conforming policy provisions that address elections and campaign finance, information technology and state government operations.Electricity from waste wood would continue under bill sent to governor
By Rob Hubbard
For a small bug, the emerald ash borer is certainly making big changes to the state’s landscape.
Pared-back state claims bill receives House support
By Mike Cook Each year, a joint House-Senate Subcommittee on Claims decides which claims against the state it should fund. This year's controversial bill calls for $109,865 in payments i...'Very important work' on redistricting efforts underway in House
By Jonathan Mohr
The Legislature is given the power to redraw Minnesota’s legislative districts, a task that must to begin this year in the wake of the 2020 census and the upcoming 2022 elections, when all 201 lawmakers will again be on the ballot.
HHS conference committee adopts noncontroversial policy proposals, but no final agreement
By Nate Gotlieb The omnibus health and human services conference committee has adopted a series of noncontroversial policy proposals, but conferees have yet to reach agreements on funding as th...Waiting on tax law changes to file your taxes? Don’t, says revenue commissioner
By Rob Hubbard File now, but stay tuned. That’s the advice from Revenue Commissioner Robert Doty, if you haven’t yet filed your income taxes.Pick your bonding bill: House Ways and Means Committee approves three options
By Rob Hubbard
Will there be a bonding bill this session?
The debate over whether to help fund a fresh set of construction projects with state bond proceeds has mainly come down to two pos...
Recreational cannabis bill passes House in historic vote
By Tim Walker
History was made in Minnesota Thursday when, for the first time, a bill to legalize recreational marijuana reached the House floor.
Hortman: 'Very difficult to finish on time' as end of 2021 session nears
By Jonathan Mohr
The Legislature will almost certainly need a special session to finish its work in 2021.
House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) said Wednesday that legislative le...
Tax Day, legislative adjournment converge in PPP and unemployment debate
By Rob Hubbard
While the pandemic surged and re-surged across Minnesota over the course of 2020, the federal government instituted several new programs in an attempt to keep the country from having its health emergency compounded by an economic one.
Tax panel talks possible uses for state’s $2.8 billion federal windfall
By Rob Hubbard
Everything changed on Monday.
As legislators gathered in various conference committees, the looming topic was how soon legislative leaders and the governor would agree to bu...
House OKs bill offering conditional release to inmates who give birth
By Tim Walker House sends bill to governor to authorize the Department of Corrections to conditionally release, for up to one year, an inmate who is postpartum and gave birth within eight months of the date of commitment.Lengthy list of to-do's at Legislature with week left before adjournment
By Mike Cook
With a week to go before the constitutionally mandated adjournment date, optimism wanes every hour that conference committee budget targets are not agreed to by legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Walz on a roughly $52 billion budget for the upcoming biennium.
Week in Review: May 3-7
By HPIS Staff
Conference committees worked in fits and starts on their omnibus bills this week, doing what they could to lay the groundwork, and find harmony where possible, that will allow t...
Omnibus pension and retirement bill gains committee approval
By Mike Cook Sponsored by Rep. Michael Nelson (DFL-Brooklyn Center), HF1758, was amended and approved Friday by the House State Government Finance and Elections Committee.Bill to create alternative to custody warrants passes House
By Tim Walker
A bill that would provide an alternative to warrants requiring police officers to take a person into custody if they have missed a court date for certain low-level offenses has ...
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House activity to remain mostly remote during 2022 session
By Mike Cook
House committees will continue to meet remotely, although House Speaker Melissa Hortman said room 120 in the State Capitol, which will have the technological capability for hybrid meetings, could be used if necessary.
