Lawmakers return for special session as budget talks continue 

The first special session of 2021 convened Monday as lawmakers gathered, largely in person, to resume efforts to pass the two-year budget needed to fund the state’s government that would shut down if an agreement is not reached before July 1.

Four weeks have passed since the Legislature adjourned its 2021 regular session May 17, when legislative leaders agreed with Gov. Tim Walz on the size of the roughly $52 billion budget and the monetary targets needed to negotiate the many unfinished budget bills.

But little has happened in the public eye since then, although agreements have reportedly been reached on the higher education, commerce and energy, and agriculture budgets, along with language to distribute Legacy funds. And deals in several others areas appear close.

However, talks are still underway on more contentious areas, such as public safety, and it remains to be seen whether the ongoing negotiations will remain behind the scenes.

During a morning press conference, House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) said she expects the special session to last seven to 10 days, with members likely to convene every day except Father’s Day this Sunday. Read more at Session Daily

Session Daily

Ethics panel holds initial hearing on complaint against Rep. John Thompson (7/23/2021 11:15:00 AM)
House caps off special session by passing omnibus tax bill (7/1/2021 1:59:00 AM)
House, Senate pass state government bill that includes end to peacetime emergency (6/30/2021 1:31:00 AM)
Omnibus judiciary and public safety bill gets House, Senate OK (6/29/2021 9:55:00 PM)
House, Senate pass omnibus jobs conference committee report, send it to governor (6/29/2021 2:04:00 PM)
Legislative leaders reach deal on public safety bill; expected on House Floor Tuesday (6/27/2021 11:37:00 AM)
House, Senate pass omnibus health and human services bill (6/26/2021 11:18:00 PM)
Stalled bonding projects would get green light again under House-approved bill (6/26/2021 7:12:00 PM)
House passes education bill with more per-pupil funding, teacher training (6/26/2021 6:44:00 PM)
House passes omnibus jobs, labor bill (6/25/2021 5:46:00 PM)
Omnibus environment bill clears House, heads to the governor (6/25/2021 3:08:00 PM)

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