This week, the Minnesota Legislature passed and delivered to the governor for signature HF2310, an energy policy omnibus bill that provides $216 million for energy initiatives in the state. The legislation includes...more
5/30/2023
/ Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Reform ,
Environmental Policies ,
General Fund ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Infrastructure ,
New Legislation ,
Nuclear Waste ,
Pollution Control
In what many are calling one of the most consequential legislative sessions in Minnesota's history, Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders pulled together a last-minute $72 billion budget deal to close out the 2023 legislative...more
Unprecedented. -
That is how political observers, politicians and media pundits are describing what is in front of the Minnesota legislature and DFL Governor Tim Walz as the legislature sets to convene next Monday,...more
After a very long night of counting votes—and finding them—it appears the State of Minnesota will continue to be the only state in the country with the only state capitol with a divided government....more
After what feels like four years of nonstop campaigning, the 2020 election is finally upon us! As we head into Tuesday night, polls indicate it will be a tough night for Republicans. However, four years ago, the polling was...more
The 2020 general election is almost upon us! In a year of unexpected events that have profoundly changed our country, and indeed the world, it seems every week brings new twists and turns that change the dynamics of the...more
Minnesota Senate Republicans voted to deny the Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) Commissioner Nancy Leppink confirmation on the Senate floor Tuesday, August 12 on a party-line vote of 34 "no" votes and 32 "yes" votes. With...more
In the face of a pandemic, while many Minnesotans went to their assigned polling places in order to cast ballots for a number of contested inter-party challenges on both the DFL and Republican side of the aisle, hovering over...more
After learning that the pandemic has left an approximately $2.4 billion hole in Minnesota's general fund budget, legislators are left with only seven days to complete their work before next Monday's May 18 constitutional...more
In less than 60 days, Minnesota's state budget has taken a $4 billion hit to its bottom line. Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Myron Frans announced today that the global pandemic is responsible for a severe...more
As part of its recent COVID-19 response package, the Minnesota Legislature provided the Commissioner of Commerce with wide emergency authority to extend, delay or waive deadlines for all licensing, investigative and filing...more
On Friday, March 13, Governor Tim Walz signed executive order 20-01, declaring a peacetime state of emergency in response to the spread of COVID-19 within Minnesota. The administration and various departments in the state are...more
Yesterday Minnesota’s latest budget and economic forecast was released. The state’s financial outlook remains stable, with a small increase to the general fund revenue forecast along with a similar-sized reduction in spending...more
With the November 2020 general election on the horizon, the 2020 Minnesota Legislature got to work this week....more
Strong State Budget Forecast Released -
Heading into the 2020 general election, the Minnesota Department of Management and Budget announced today the state budget forecast shows a surprisingly strong surplus of...more
Legislators return to St. Paul today after their 10-day Easter/Passover break. Legislators left town on Friday, April 12 after meeting the third and final deadline for finance committees to complete their work before heading...more
4/24/2019
/ Administrative Appointments ,
Business Taxes ,
Capital Investments ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Gas Taxes ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Sales Tax ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Funding ,
Transportation Industry
$492 Million Drop for November Forecast
Yesterday, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released their February budget forecast, showing a lower budget surplus than was previously estimated. ...more
Priorities Drive Tax and Spending Increases -
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz released his two-year budget proposal at noon yesterday, kicking off a ferocious debate over his administration's proposed spending and tax...more
The polar vortex may have brought temperatures colder than Siberia to the Midwest, but legislative activity continued throughout the week. The Senate canceled all committee hearings on Wednesday, January 30; however, the...more
House Flips to DFL Control—Walz Lands Decisive Victory -
Once again, Minnesota voters rocked the boat and delivered some surprises on election night. Most surprising was a clear and decisive victory for the Minnesota House...more
A large and surprising turnout by Minnesota voters in the state's primary races determined who will be on the ballot in the November general election. Voter turnout for yesterday's primary was approximately 22 percent, the...more
The 2018 Minnesota legislative session kicked off with the state’s budget administrators announcing a $329 million budget surplus. Looking back, there wasn't much more good news from this session....more
Last week, the House of Representatives Republican majority announced their budget targets for the 2018 legislative session. In February the Minnesota Management and Budget projected the state to have a $329 million surplus. ...more
4/16/2018
/ Agricultural Workers ,
Disabilities ,
Educational Institutions ,
Infrastructure ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Mental Health ,
Public Safety ,
Roads ,
State Budgets ,
State Funding ,
State Taxes ,
Students ,
Tax Relief ,
Taxation
The 2018 Minnesota legislature kicked off at noon yesterday with no solution to the legal standoff in the Minnesota Senate over whether a Republican state senator can legally hold both her Senate seat and be lieutenant...more
2/21/2018
/ Governors ,
Highways ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Local Ordinance ,
Opioid ,
Preemption ,
Sick Leave ,
State and Local Government ,
State Funding ,
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ,
Tax Deductions ,
Tax Exemptions ,
Tax Reform ,
Transportation Industry ,
Wage and Hour
Polls closed Monday, February 12, at 8 p.m. for two special elections to state legislature seats in Minnesota. Both seats were vacated in December by sitting members amid sexual harassment allegations....more