Neighbors,  

The regular 2025 legislative session has come to a close. Since we were unable to pass all of our budget bills prior to our constitutional adjournment deadline of May 19th, a special session will take place so we can wrap up our work.  

Unified Government under the DFL Trifecta last biennium allowed us to finish up on time, but with the House split in two, working across the aisle has proven to be a slower process. Thankfully, we are hopeful that this year’s special session will commence soon and be brief so we can send the budget for the next two years off the Governor. 

By the end of the day Monday, we had passed budget bills on Veterans and Military Affairs, Agriculture, Housing, Judiciary and Public Safety, State Government and Elections, Legacy, and a pensions bill that helps our teachers, firefighters, and police. 

While we are hopeful that wrapping things up in special session will be simple, Republicans have been making things significantly more difficult by going back on their agreements and making demands that are irrelevant to passing a state budget. While I am cautiously optimistic this is coming to an end, my colleagues and I are prepared to fight back if they bring more of these bad-faith tactics to the table. 

Notably, I’m highly concerned about the Human Services budget, where Republicans are laser focused on cutting disability services that our neighbors rely on. Reducing spending in this budget is required, but we cannot do it on the backs of people with disabilities.  

DFLers are fighting for a future where we put more power in the hands of working Minnesotans – not powerful corporate interests. We want to give Minnesotans more economic security, and we’ve fought Republican efforts to weaken, dismantle, and repeal progress for working families.  

I will keep you updated as we navigate putting together the final pieces of the state budget.