Redistricting Day

At noon on Tuesday, the new boundary lines for Minnesota Legislative and Congressional districts were released. These boundaries are updated every ten years, following the census, to ensure districts maintain equal population. The court panel that drew the new lines stated that they attempted to minimize the amount of changes. While the implications of the new lines are still being studied, observers have noted that there are many current members of the Legislature paired up within new district boundaries.

State Office Building Set to Open

Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman announced this week that the State Office Building, which houses all offices for members of the Minnesota House of Representatives, will partially re-open to the public following two years of closure. Beginning March 21, the building will be open to the public from 8:30a.m. – 4:00p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Change to House Floor Protocol

In addition to opening the State Office Building, the House also announced that Representatives will no longer be required to wear a mask while on the House floor. Though the requirement is going away, masks are still recommended. In spite of this change in COVID protocol, Capitol media are still prohibited from accessing the House floor.

Sports Betting

Following years of speculation, the process to legalize sports betting has gained momentum in Minnesota. While many details need to be worked out, it appears that a possible path exists to pass legislation this year. Proposals include sports betting both in existing casinos and online.

Paid Family Leave Returns

A long-time priority for Minnesota Democrats, paid family leave was the subject of a press conference that included not just members of the Legislature, but also Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. The legislation also had a hearing in the House Workforce and Business Development Finance and Policy committee. The Senate is not expected to advance the legislation.