Minnesota Legislature
House closes 2024 session in chaotic fashion, trading bonding for budget boosts
By Rob Hubbard
After 2023 produced a record $72 billion in biennial funding, Minnesota’s legislative leaders were dampening expectations for anything resembling an encore. Tweaks and bonding seemed to be the chief items on the agenda.
Before the session started, House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) said, “The state’s borrowing bill will be the biggest order of business.” House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) said early in the session that fixing an issue with potential use of force by school resource officers was a top Republican priority, and a bill was signed into law relatively early in the session to address that issue.
On Sunday, both chambers of the Legislature finished their business for the year by the midnight deadline, and bonding bills fell by the wayside in the closing hours as DFL priorities in the House shifted toward getting a state equal rights amendment on the 2026 statewide ballot, cutting a deal for drivers with the companies that run rideshare services Lyft and Uber, and approving more than $450 million in supplemental funding for the current biennium.
Recent Dailies
Retiring members say their goodbyes at close of 2024 session
By Mike Cook
As is tradition, once members have finished months of debating one another over myriad bills, some House members who have opted not to seek re-election said goodbye to the body ...
House closes 2024 session in chaotic fashion, trading bonding for budget boosts
By Rob Hubbard
It was a session of modest ambitions.
After 2023 produced a record $72 billion in biennial funding, Minnesota’s legislative leaders were dampening expectations for anything ...
After nine bills are combined and passed amidst chaos, 2024 session is all over but the shouting
By Rob Hubbard
Minnesota’s legislative sessions have had some chaotic conclusions, but nothing quite like Sunday night’s final hour.
While the tax bill is quite often the final bill off th...
Cash-only capital investment bill passes House, but time runs out on Senate
By Margaret Stevens
Late-session chaos means no bonding bills were passed in 2024.
With less than 10 minutes left before its work had to be done, the House voted 70-0 to pass a $71 million c...
Conferees agree on health and human services policy package
By Miranda Bryant The contents of a comprehensive bill addressing medical assistance, health insurance, mental health, pharmacies, ambulance service personnel, and emergency medical responde...House lawmakers pass agreement that would keep Uber, Lyft operating in Minnesota
By Brian Basham
A provision two years in the making is now a signature away from providing benefits to ride share drivers.
Passed 71-59 by the House and included in the transportation, labo...
Not enough support in House for measure allowing all MN local governments to use ranked choice voting
By Mike Cook In all cities, counties and school districts, a candidate receiving the most votes on a first ballot might no longer win the seat for which they seek. Just not yet. HF32...House passes plan to put ‘Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment’ to voters in 2026
By Mike Cook
A state constitution contains basic principles that preside over a state, including its governmental powers and the guaranteed rights of its citizens.
Minnesota’s gover...
House, Senate conferees OK $42 million human services supplemental budget bill
By Miranda Bryant
The human services finance conference committee would allocate $42.14 million in fiscal year 2025 and $14.9 million in the 2026-27 biennium for myriad programs and ongoing servi...
Licensing bill would usher in seven health professional interstate compacts to ease worker shortages
By Miranda Bryant
The conference committee report to the health occupational licensure and scoping bill was adopted Saturday evening in short order.
Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL-Rochester) and Sen...
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Ways and Means Committee OKs proposed $512 million supplemental budget on party-line vote
By Mike Cook
Meeting more needs or fiscal irresponsibility is one way to sum up the differences among the two parties on a supplemental spending package a year after a $72 billion state budg...
Minnesota’s projected budget surplus balloons to $3.7 billion, but fiscal pressure still looms
By Rob Hubbard
Just as Minnesota has experienced a warmer winter than usual, so has the state’s budget outlook warmed over the past few months.
On Thursday, Minnesota Management and Budget...
