Legislative Update
Good morning,
After a long weekend of floor sessions and negotiations, we made it to adjournment on Monday just before midnight. Unfortunately, we were not able to complete all of our business, partially due to the Democrat’s delay at the beginning of session. For this reason, we will be having a short special session in the coming days, likely next week. While I don’t have all the details on that yet, I will fill you in on what we were able to accomplish before adjournment.
Bills Passed
Here are the following bills, with their major provisions, that we passed last weekend:
Legacy: Reforms to Arts & Cultural Heritage (ACH) funding include new transparency measures, requiring grantees to submit an IRS Form 990. This is just one of many fraud prevention measures we are introducing to ensure transparency and make sure taxpayer funds go to the intended recipients. The bill reduces earmarks, shifts funding to a competitive, merit-based process, and prevents spending on expensive capital construction, keeping the focus on community programs as originally intended.
Public Safety and Judiciary: The Legislature backed strong public safety measures, including mandatory minimum sentencing for sex traffickers and tougher penalties for assaulting firefighters, EMS workers, and correctional staff. Adults will now be held accountable when children are exposed to fentanyl. The bill also halts early release for inmates from Stillwater prison as part of the phased closure plan.
State Government: Government accountability was strengthened with new oversight positions in the Office of the Legislative Auditor. The requested budget increases for the Attorney General and Secretary of State were reduced, trimming millions and keeping government spending in check.
Veterans: Support for veterans was expanded through increased funding for mental health services and veterans’ homes, ensuring meaningful care for those who served and ensuring receipt of the federal funds for our three new veterans' homes.
Housing: Lawmakers passed a housing package focused on closing Minnesota’s 100,000-unit housing gap. The bill invests in new housing construction, increases funding for affordable housing programs, and provides targeted grants for infrastructure in underserved areas. It also continues to support programs that guide Minnesotans through every stage of homeownership, helping more families find and keep stable housing.
Human Services Policy: The human services bill improves access to behavioral health and substance abuse care, streamlines licensing for providers, and enhances coordination through new oversight structures. Policy updates around civil commitments and data privacy ensure better service delivery while protecting individual rights.
There are quite a few more left to wrap up, which we have been working hard on this week. One of them is the energy bill. I have been working hard on the conference committee for energy, fighting for the House provisions to be included in the final bill. It is not wrapped up yet, as we are going back and forth on proposals daily, but I look forward to filling you in as soon as I can. I can assure you that we are standing firm on our priorities such as: no tax increases, no 5th tier tax rate, non-public pupil aid and transportation must be funded, and we must protect our vulnerable populations. Thank you for trusting me in this process.
If you are curious, here is a list of all of the bills indicating which are outstanding and which are finished.
Meeting Students
I had the chance to meet with a few school groups from our district this week. I appreciate the work of the schools, teachers, and staff who work hard to give students opportunities like these. In addition, I appreciated the chance to answer questions and show students around! It was great to meet everyone!
|
