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
With the November 2020 general election on the horizon, the 2020 Minnesota Legislature got to work this week....more
Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released its November Economic Budget Forecast on December 5, 2019. This forecast shows an improved economic outlook compared to the end of the 2019 legislative session and projects an...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
$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
...Today marks the completion of the first full week of the 2019 Regular Legislative Session. As Legislators begin this session, they find themselves on better financial footing than in years past. In 2017, there was a $217...more
On Tuesday, January 8, the Minnesota Legislature reconvenes for its 91st biennial session. There is hope for a fresh start after last year’s contentious session where the House Republican majority clashed frequently with...more
When the Minnesota Legislature convened in February, the state had just announced a modest budget surplus. Lawmakers and Governor Mark Dayton were optimistic that they could reach agreement on a capital investment bill, a tax...more
Legislative Load Increases to 412 Bills for Second Regular Session - The ten-member Legislative Council met on Thursday, November 30 at the State House to consider appealed bill requests for introduction in the Second...more
The Minnesota Legislature returned from its break Tuesday, April 18 with five weeks to complete their work before May 22, the constitutionally mandated adjournment date. Most of the week was spent appointing conferees for...more
With the first committee deadline rapidly approaching, policy committees worked overtime this week processing bills. There was also House floor action on two higher profile issues the Legislature is addressing this session:...more
On January 3, 2017, not only will the 90th session of the Minnesota Legislature convene, but the Minnesota Capitol building will once again be open to the public after undergoing a three-year, $272 million comprehensive...more
The November general election obviously represents a sea change in how business will be conducted at the Minnesota state capitol when legislators return to work on January 3, 2017. House Republicans will enjoy a comfortable...more
Under the Dome: Inside the Maine State House provides a high-level overview of recent activity at the Maine State House. Maine Sees Higher Budget Surplus Than Expected - On June 30, 2016, Maine’s fiscal year ended...more
In the waning days of the 2016 session, Gov. Mark Dayton and top lawmakers still haven’t reached agreements on the biggest outstanding issues. ...more
Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) announced that the FY 16-17 budget has a $1.871 billion surplus. The bulk of this $1.871 billion surplus comes from $682 million carried over from the FY 14-15 biennium and $865 million...more
Minnesota's November budget and economic forecast was released on December 3, 2015, showing a projected $1.9 billion budget surplus for the remainder of the FY 2016-2017 biennium. This is $1 billion above the budget surplus...more
The General Assembly finished the 1st Regular session of the 121st Session last Thursday, but will return the week of June 16 to take up gubernatorial vetoes, conference reports, and any of the appropriations bills related to...more
After 10 years of budget deficits, the Minnesota Legislature convened in January to set the state’s biennial budget with a projected $1.9 billion surplus. This surplus spurred hope of an orderly session and predictions of tax...more
The state House unveiled their budget proposal last week and while the full plan will come out early this week, the nearly $22 billion proposal reflects a clear upswing in the economy, with less cuts to major policy areas....more
This week, in a press conference at the state capitol building with House and Senate leaders, Gov. Pat McCrory (R-NC) announced that North Carolina had paid off the $2.8 billion debt it owed to the federal government for...more
This Week - A relatively uneventful week at the Legislative Building has come to a close. The Senate did not take any votes until Thursday and the House voted on one bill on Wednesday and one on Thursday. House...more
Budget Battle - Conference committees on the budget bills for the next biennium have begun their initial walkthroughs of fiscal tracking sheets and side-by-side comparisons, but the real negotiating is awaiting new...more
North Carolina state officials have announced a projected $400 million revenue surplus for the current fiscal year. The anticipated surplus is mainly due to higher income tax payments and lower refunds compared to last year....more
Surplus - The state Republican Party has approved a “Give It All Back” ad campaign encouraging Gov. Dayton and the Legislature to return all of the projected $1.9 billion budget surplus to Minnesotans in the form of...more