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Policy Bill Updates and More

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POLICY BILL UPDATES

In the last few weeks, the Minnesota House and Senate have debated and passed numerous omnibus policy bills. Some conference committees have also been established with members from their respective chambers assigned. More information on these bills, and on conference committee appointments, can be found here: Conference Committees — Minnesota Legislature (mn.gov)

With the third committee deadline for bills now past, the legislature is working on setting up and passing their respective supplemental budget and policy bills and debating them on the floor — on top of their work in the conference committees.

 

BUDGET BILL UPDATES

Education

The House and Senate Education supplemental budget bills appropriate $43 million in FY25 and $18 million in the FY26-27 biennium. Most of the funding goes to support four key initiatives focused on voluntary prekindergarten, funding for schools to implement new literacy instruction (Read Act), addressing student attendance, and the teacher shortage.

 

Key components include:

  • Providing school districts with additional flexibility and funding to implement the Read Act.

  • Funding to support costs needed for educators and other school staff to be trained in the Read Act ($31 million in the House proposal and $23.8 million in the Senate proposal).

  • Development of student attendance pilot programs ($3 million in the House for targeted school districts and $5 million for a grant program in the Senate)

  • Teacher shortage initiatives for student teachers and teachers of color ($6.8 million in the House and $5 million in the Senate).

 

Housing and Homelessness

The House and Senate Housing supplemental budget bills appropriate $10 million in FY25 and $1 million in the FY26-27 biennium. Most of the funding goes to an increase in the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP), but both proposals also fund a homelessness study. The $1 million in FY 26-27 is appropriated to buy down some of the debt the state will incur because of the passage of $50 million in housing infrastructure bonds in the 2023 Legislative Session.

Both the House and Senate bills also re-appropriate onetime $50 million in unspent appropriations to establish a new Housing Affordability Preservation Investment grant program, which will support recapitalization of distressed buildings to stand up affordable housing. This financing includes physical and financial needs, including paying down debt, principal and interest paydown, capital improvements, and property operations.

 

Higher Education

The current spending target for the House Higher Education Committee is $500,000 — all of which will go toward the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees to participate in the Kids on Campus initiative with the National Head Start Association.

However, the supplemental budget bill also covers areas where proposed funds will be moved around (such as the Fostering Independence grant program, the new scholarship program for students who have been in foster care). The plan as proposed by the House will see funds allocated by transferring $5 million from the North Star Promise Scholarship Grant, another new program enacted last session for students from families making less than $80,000/year.

Another area would make updates to the Senator David J. Tomassoni Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Research Grant, which passed in 2022. Both the House and Senate Higher Education budget bills provide that the Commissioner of the Office of Higher Education can award grants to the ALS Association and similar organizations to award and administer competitive grants. The bill extends the Tomassoni Grant to 2029 and simplifies the allowable uses of the grant to include clinical and translational research, developing outcomes and objectives to better the lives of individuals with ALS, and work finding a cure for the disease. The bill proposes a re-appropriation of the $396,000 in funds left over from 2023 to create $19.6 million in 2024 for competitive grants to applicants for research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The House and Senate bills are similar but have distinct proposals — with the Senate bill including provisions on consideration of criminal records when applying to a higher education institution and other criminal provisions. Because of these differences, conference committees will most likely need to work out the differences before sending a final bill to the governor. As of now, the House bill is awaiting its turn in the Ways and Means Committee. In the Senate, the bill just passed through Finance and is on its way to the floor.

 

Human Services

The House and Senate Human Services Finance supplemental budget bills include $42.6 million in FY 25 and $14.8 million in the FY 26-27 biennium. Most of the funding in these bills goes to support disability services, aging services, substance use disorder services, and funding to establish a human services response contingency account.

 

Key components include:

In Both:

  • Funding to address priority admissions issues in state-operated hospitals and treatment facilities.

  • Establishing the Department of Direct Care and Treatment as a separate state agency.

  • Additional funding for caregiver respite care services grants.

  • Funding to reimburse personal care assistant (PCA) services provided by parents and spouses.

House Only:

  • Establishes the Office of Homelessness at the Department of Human Services.

  • Funding for a grant to Hennepin County to collaborate with organizations that work with African youth in recovery.

Senate Only:

  • An additional $5 million for caregiver support programs with an ALS-specific respite service.

  • Funding to establish emergency relief grants for rural early intensive developmental and behavioral intervention (EIDBI) providers.

 

Health and Human Services

The House has a Health Committee and a Children and Families (C&F) Committee and has two separate omnibus bills that will be merged later. The Senate’s Health and Human Services (HHS) has jurisdiction over both the health and the children and families areas. These bills cover issues relating to economic assistance programs, Medical Assistance, adult and children mental health, and health access.

The budget targets for health and human services include:

  • $4.5 million in FY 25 and $5 million in FY 26-27 for health and human services.

  • $34.3 million in FY 25 and $24.7 million in FY 26-27 for children and families.

Highlights from the House and Senate bills include:

  • Additional funding for the Emergency Services Program (C&F and HHS).

  • Making college students eligible for the supplemental nutrition assistance program (C&F and HHS).

  • Kinship Caregiver Grants (C&F and HHS).

  • Funding to develop a County Administered Rural Medical Assistance/County Administered Medical Assistance model (Health and HHS).

  • Additional funding for respite services (Health and HHS).

The House Children and Families budget includes:

  • Funding for the Minnesota Food Shelf Program, the American Indian Food Sovereignty Program, and the Minnesota Food Bank Program.

  • Reviews and reports on child protection, including fatality and near fatality review and child maltreatment.

The House Health budget includes:

  • Authorizes oversight of health maintenance organization transactions by the commissioner of health.

  • Funding for a report on the development of a Medical Assistance benefit for Children’s Residential Mental Health crisis stabilization.

The Senate Health and Human Services budget includes:

  • Funding for the American Indian Food Sovereignty Program.

  • Funding to establish the African American Family Preservation Act.

  • Additional funding for school-linked behavioral health grants.

BUDGET UPDATES

Minnesota’s elevated tax collections are showing no signs of letup. A Minnesota Management and Budget quarterly revenue update shows that $241 million more than predicted came in during February and March. That is 6.5 percent above forecast. All the major tax categories were up — led by corporate taxes that ran 28 percent stronger than projections. The near-term economic growth outlook has improved. But inflation remains stubbornly above what economists were expecting.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Adjournment: May 20, 2024

LEGISLATIVE RETIREMENTS

For an up-to-date list of legislative retirements, please visit the Legislative Reference Library’s list of retirements. 

Notable retirements include:

  • Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn, current House Judiciary and Public Safety Chair

  • Rep. Brian Daniels, current minority lead, Children and Families Finance & Policy

  • Rep. Pat Garofalo, current minority lead, House Ways and Means

  • Rep. Matt Grossell

  • Rep. Hodan Hassan, current House Economic Development Finance & Policy Committee Chair

  • Rep. Frank Hornstein, current House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee Chair

  • Rep. Shane Hudella

  • Rep. Deb Kiel, current minority lead, House Human Services Policy

  • Rep. Michael Nelson, current Labor and Industry Finance & Policy Committee Chair

  • Rep. Anne Neu Brindley, current minority lead, Human Services Finance Committee

  • Rep. Jerry Newton, current House Veterans and Military Affairs Finance & Policy Committee Chair

  • Rep. Liz Olson, current House Ways and Means Committee Chair

  • Rep. Gene Pelowski, current Higher Education Chair and most senior House member

  • Rep. John Petersburg, current minority lead, Transportation Finance & Policy Committee

  • Rep. Laurie Pryor, current House Education Policy Committee Chair

  • Rep. Brian Pfarr

  • Rep. Dean Urdahl, current minority lead, House Capital Investment Committee

Two members have left the legislature since the 2023 Legislative Session adjourned in May 2023:

  • Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL-Mendota Heights) resigned Sept. 1, 2023. This seat was won by Rep. Bianca Virnig (DFL-Eagan), who was seated on Jan. 12, 2024.

  • Former Speaker and House Minority Leader Rep. Kurt Daudt resigned Feb. 11, 2024. This seat was won by Rep. Bryan Lawrence (GOP–Princeton), who was sworn in on April 2, 2024.

 

HELPFUL RESOURCES

To find your legislators, visit Who Represents Me

For updates on activities at the House of Representatives, visit the
House Session Daily website

For updates on Activities at the Senate, visit Senate Media Services

For House Committee and Floor Session Video, visit the
House of Representatives YouTube Channel

For Senate Committee and Floor Session Video, visit the Senate YouTube Channel

Governor’s 2024 Supplemental Budget and More

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GOVERNOR’S 2024 SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET

On Monday, March 18, 2024, Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan released their 2024 Supplemental Budget. This budget proposal, totaling $226 million over the next two biennia (the next four years), would mean additional spending over the $72 billion budget that was passed in the last legislative session.

The governor recognized possible budget challenges ahead and took a scaled-back approach in developing this supplemental budget, focusing on proposals that impact public safety, clean water and water quality, and children and families. In his remarks, the governor said the focus this year is not on a budget — which was passed last year — but on a capital investment or bonding bill. Highlights from the governor’s supplemental budget include:

  • Child Tax Credit Payment Protection Pilot – $45 million
    • Implements of a guaranteed minimum amount of 50% of the prior year’s child tax credit, administering advanced, periodic child tax credit payments beginning tax year 2025.
  • Crime Victim Services – $10 million
    • Funding for the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) to provide grants for direct services and advocacy for victims of crime.
  • Emergency Ambulance Service Aid – $10 million
    • Establishes an aid program for licensed ambulance service providers.
  • Addressing Food Security for Minnesotans – $5 million
    • One-time funding for food security resources to Minnesota food banks, the Minnesota Food Shelf Program, and the American Indian Food Sovereignty Program.
  • $42.1 million allocation from the voluntary prekindergarten reserve to provide an additional 5,200 voluntary prekindergarten seats in 2025.
  • Extends availability of the David J. Tomassoni ALS Research Grant Program appropriation from June 30, 2026, to June 30, 2029.

The governor’s budget proposal leaves $2 billion on the table for the 26/27 biennium that could be used to address the budget imbalance identified during the February forecast.

The House and the Senate will use the next four weeks — until the second committee deadline on April 19 — building their budget proposals. The governor’s supplemental budget will need to be introduced in the legislature. Unlike the biennial budget, which the legislature is required by law to pass, the legislature is not required to pass a supplemental budget.

The full summary for the Governor’s Supplemental Budget can be found here.

A more detailed description of the proposals in the Governor’s Supplemental Budget can be found here.

You can watch the press conference with Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan announcing their 2024 Supplemental Budget here.

 

FIRST COMMITTEE DEADLINE

Friday, March 22 is the first committee deadline. This is a deadline for policy bills, meaning committees in both bodies must act favorably on any bill that is not a major appropriation or finance bill.

Policy Committees have developed major policy omnibus bills. The omnibus policy bills will need to pass the House and Senate in identical form to be sent to the governor for signature. Any bills with differences between the House and Senate will need to go to a conference committee to work out the differences.

 

DATES TO REMEMBER

Coming Soon

  • Friday, March 22 — First Committee Deadline
  • Wednesday, March 27 at 5 p.m. through April 2 at 12 noon — Easter Recess

 

Committee Deadlines

The House and Senate have adopted committee deadlines. The second committee deadline is Friday, April 19: Committees in both bodies must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.

 

Legislative Recess
The legislature will recess for the observance of Easter, Eid, and Passover during the 2024 regular session. Both the Senate and House will remain open — but no committee meetings or floor sessions will take place during these times.

  • Easter recess
    • Begins on Wednesday, March 27 at 5 p.m.
    • Legislative activities resume on Tuesday, April 2 at 12 Noon
  • Eid recess (may change based on religious practice and the lunar calendar)
    • Begins on Tuesday, April 9 at 5 p.m.
    • Legislative activities resume on Thursday, April 11 at 12 Noon
  • Passover recess
    • All day on Monday, April 22 and Tuesday, April 23
    • Legislative activities resume on Wednesday, April 24 at 12 Noon

 

LEGISLATIVE RETIREMENTS

For an up-to-date list of legislative retirements, please visit the Legislative Reference Library’s list of retirements. 

Notable retirements include:

  • Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn, current House Judiciary and Public Safety Chair
  • Rep. Pat Garofalo, current minority lead, House Ways and Means
  • Rep. Deb Kiel, current minority lead, House Human Services Policy
  • Rep. Liz Olson, current House Ways and Means Chair
  • Rep. Gene Pelowski, current Higher Education Chair and most senior House member
  • Rep. Laurie Pryor, current House Education Policy Committee Chair
  • Rep. Frank Hornstein, current House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee Chair
  • Rep. Dean Urdahl, current minority lead, House Capital Investment Committee

Two members have left the legislature since the 2023 Legislative Session adjourned in May 2023:

  • Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL-Mendota Heights) resigned Sept. 1, 2023. This seat was won by Rep. Bianca Virnig (DFL-Eagan) who was seated on Jan. 12, 2024.
  • Former Speaker and House Minority Leader Rep. Kurt Daudt resigned Feb. 11, 2024. Gov. Walz set the date for a special election to fill this seat on Tuesday, March 19 — and GOP candidate Bryan Lawrence defeated DFLer Brad Brown. Rep.-elect Lawrence will be sworn in soon.

HELPFUL RESOURCES

To find your legislators, visit Who Represents Me

For updates on activities at the House of Representatives, visit the
House Session Daily website

For updates on Activities at the Senate, visit Senate Media Services

For House Committee and Floor Session Video, visit the
House of Representatives YouTube Channel

For Senate Committee and Floor Session Video, visit the Senate YouTube Channel

 

Updated Budget Forecast

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BUDGET FORECAST

On Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, the Office of Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released the February Forecast, updating the forecast released in November 2023. The state is required to issue two budget forecasts — one in November and an updated forecast in February. These forecasts provide a projected outlook for the state’s budget, including revenues and expenditures. This forecast gives the governor and the legislature a starting point for building their supplemental budget recommendations.

The November forecast projected a $2.4 billion balance for the current fiscal year, FY 24/25. The forecast projected a balance of $82 million in FY 26/27.

The updated forecast shows a projected $3.7 billion balance (surplus), an increase of $1.3 billion from November, for the current biennium (FY 24/25) and a $2.2 billion balance (surplus) for the next biennium (FY 26/27). This increase came because of higher-than-expected consumer spending and corporate tax receipts. However, there is a projected budget imbalance in FY 26/27 of $1.4 billion due to increased levels of spending. This is not a budget deficit, because the budget is balanced and with a projected surplus — but the legislature will have to address the budget imbalance in the budget for the next biennium. MMB Commissioner Erin Campbell suggested that much of this projected budget surplus is what is known as one-time money (single-use funding) and not for ongoing funding.

The two largest areas of spending in the state budget are E-12 Education and Health and Human Services.

The increase in education spending largely comes from increased costs for special education. The increase in health and human services is largely due to increased Medical Assistance spending.

State inflation is projected to be $842 million, $38 million less than November.

The governor and the legislature will use this forecast to develop possible supplemental budget proposals; however, the state is not required to pass a supplemental budget.

Watch the February Forecast Press Conference with MMB Commissioner Erin Campbell, State Economist Dr. Laura Kalambokidis and State Budget Director Ahna Minge.

Click here for the February Forecast Presentation and the full Budget and Economic Forecast document.
 
 

DATES TO REMEMBER

Committee Deadlines

The House and Senate have adopted committee deadlines. Here are the two deadlines for the 2024 session:

  • Friday, March 22: Committees in both bodies must act favorably on bills that are not major appropriation or finance bills.
  • Friday, April 19: Committees in both bodies must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.

Legislative Recess
The legislature will recess for the observance of Easter, Eid, and Passover during the 2024 regular session. Both the Senate and House will remain open — but no committee meetings or floor sessions will take place during these times.

  • Easter recess
    • Begins on Wednesday, March 27 at 5 p.m.
    • Legislative activities resume on Tuesday, April 2 at 12 Noon
  • Eid recess (may change based on religious practice and the lunar calendar)
    • Begins on Tuesday, April 9 at 5 p.m.
    • Legislative activities resume on Thursday, April 11 at 12 Noon
  • Passover recess
    • All day on Monday, April 22 and Tuesday, April 23
    • Legislative activities resume on Wednesday, April 24 at 12 Noon

 

LEGISLATIVE RETIREMENTS

For an up-to-date list of legislative retirements, please visit the Legislative Reference Library’s list of retirements. Two members have left the legislature since the 2023 Legislative Session adjourned in May 2023:

  • Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL-Mendota Heights) resigned Sept. 1, 2023. This seat was won by Rep. Bianca Virnig (DFL-Eagan) who was seated on Jan. 12, 2024.
  • Former Speaker and House Minority Leader Rep. Kurt Daudt resigned Feb. 11, 2024. Gov. Walz set the date for a special election to fill this seat as Tuesday, March 19 — with Thursday, Feb. 29 as the date (if needed) for a special primary election. Filed candidates include Bryan Lawrence and Rachel Davis (GOP), and Brad Brown (DFL).

Other notable retirements include:

  • Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn, current House Judiciary and Public Safety Chair
  • Rep. Pat Garofalo, current minority lead, House Ways and Means
  • Rep. Deb Kiel, current minority lead, House Human Services Policy
  • Rep. Liz Olson, current House Ways and Means Chair
  • Rep. Gene Pelowski, current Higher Education Chair and most senior House member
  • Rep. Laurie Pryor, current House Education Policy Committee Chair
  • Rep. Frank Hornstein, current House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee Chair

HELPFUL RESOURCES

To find your legislators, visit Who Represents Me

For updates on activities at the House of Representatives, visit the
House Session Daily website

For updates on Activities at the Senate, visit Senate Media Services

For House Committee and Floor Session Video, visit the
House of Representatives YouTube Channel

For Senate Committee and Floor Session Video, visit the Senate YouTube Channel

 

Legislative Session Convenes, Senate Leadership Update, and more

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LEGISLATIVE SESSION CONVENES

The 2024 Legislative Session convened on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024 — and legislators have until Monday, May 20, 2024, to finish their work. Because the legislature passed and the governor signed a two-year budget during the 2023 legislative session, the focus will be on capital investment (a bonding bill), more substantive policy issues, technical changes (fixes) to last year’s budget bills, and potentially a small supplemental budget.

Monday’s session started with brief floor sessions in both bodies. The Senate Human Services Committee heard a human services budget overview and the House Taxes Committee met to discuss the 2023 Tax Bill Technical Corrections Bill.

House and Senate Committees are beginning to meet regularly. For a full list of committee hearings, please visit the Combined Legislative Meeting Calendar.

 

SENATE LEADERSHIP UPDATE

In early February, Senator Kari Dziedzic (DFL-Minneapolis) announced that she was stepping down as Senate Majority Leader, citing a return of a cancer diagnosis. She clarified that she would remain in the state senate. On Feb. 6, the Senate DFL Caucus elected Senator Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul) as the new Senate Majority Leader. This shift in leadership does not change the 34-33 make-up of the senate, with new Senate Majority Leader Murphy managing a one-seat majority.

 

BUDGET FORECAST

In December 2023, the office that oversees the state budget, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB), released the November Forecast. State law requires the MMB Commissioner to prepare a forecast of state revenue and expenditures in February and November of each year. These forecasts help the governor and the legislature prepare the biennial and supplemental budgets. The 2023 November forecast projected a $2.4 billion surplus for Fiscal Years 2024-25 but also showed a structural imbalance in future fiscal years due to a projected spending increase in health and human services and education.

The February forecast, released in early March, will give the governor and legislature updated projections with which to build their supplemental budget proposals. Note: Minnesota is not required to pass a supplemental budget.

 

CAPITAL INVESTMENT/BONDING

Legislative leaders have communicated that passing a capital investment bill this session will be a top priority. Because capital investment bonding bills require a three-fifths super majority vote to pass, passage will require bi-partisan support.

The House Capital Investment Committee received an overview of Gov. Tim Walz’s $982 million bonding proposal for 2024. The plan covers a diverse range of projects and proposes to allocate nearly half of its funding to preserving existing state infrastructure, including substantial investments in water and transportation systems, public safety, housing, and environmental initiatives.

As is customary, the committee took no action on the initiative and is expected to advance its own recommendations in a bill later this session.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the highlights of Gov. Walz’s plan:

  • $440 million for preserving state infrastructure (45%)
    • $206 million for University of Minnesota and Minnesota State systems buildings
  • $215 million for water and transportation infrastructure (22%)
    • $119 million for grants and low-interest loans to replace lead pipes
    • $28 million for PFAs removal (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as “forever chemicals”)
  • $142 million public safety infrastructure (14%)
    • $22.4 million for new Minnesota State Patrol Headquarters building
  • $97 million for housing infrastructure (10%)
    • $16 million for Minneapolis Veterans Home updates
  • $85 million for other infrastructure (9%)
    • Approximately $40 million is set aside for local government projects

Gov. Walz’s proposal follows last year’s historic $2.6 billion investment package. Amid economic uncertainties, the governor’s bonding proposal for 2024 prioritizes a smaller list of projects. Requests from state agencies and local units of governments total more than $7.6 billion.

 

CLARIFICATION ON SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER LAW

Legislation to clarify the 2023 law that led to uncertainty about the use of school resource officers began to advance this week in both the House and Senate.

HF3489 (Frazier)/SF3534 (Westlin) clarifies the use of prone restraint for school resource officers (SROs) and establishes training requirements for SROs, policy requirements for law enforcement agencies, and contract requirements for agreements between schools or districts and law enforcement agencies for providing SROs.

The House Education Policy Committee heard the bill the first day of session and advanced it to the House Public Safety Committee. That committee heard the bill but laid it over for further consideration. The Senate Education Policy Committee also heard the bill, and it heads next to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where it is scheduled for a hearing next week.

 

END-OF-LIFE OPTION ACT

Even before the start of the legislative session, the House Health Committee met in late January to hear several hours of testimony on the “End-of-Life Option Act,” HF1930(Freiberg), which would allow an individual to request medical aid in dying medication, provided certain requirements are met. Among those are the person:

  • is at least 18 years of age;
  • has a terminal disease with a prognosis of no more than six months to live;
  • is determined to be mentally capable as defined in statute; and
  • is not subject to guardianship or conservatorship.

HF 1930 was passed by the House Health Committee 10-5 and referred to the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee, which has not yet scheduled a hearing on the bill.

 

DATES TO REMEMBER

Committee Deadlines

The House and Senate have adopted committee deadlines. Here are the two deadlines for the 2024 session:

  • Friday, March 22: Committees in both bodies must act favorably on bills that are not major appropriation or finance bills.
  • Friday, April 19: Committees in both bodies must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.

Legislative Recess
The legislature will recess for the observance of Easter, Eid, and Passover during the 2024 regular session. Both the Senate and House will remain open — but no committee meetings or floor sessions will take place during these times.

  • Easter recess
    • Begins on Wednesday, March 27 at 5 p.m.
    • Legislative activities resume on Tuesday, April 2 at 12 Noon
  • Eid recess (may change based on religious practice and the lunar calendar)
    • Begins on Tuesday, April 9 at 5 p.m.
    • Legislative activities resume on Thursday, April 11 at 12 Noon
  • Passover recess
    • All day on Monday, April 22 and Tuesday, April 23
    • Legislative activities resume on Wednesday, April 24 at 12 Noon

 

LEGISLATIVE RETIREMENTS

For an up-to-date list of legislative retirements, please visit the Legislative Reference Library’s list of retirements. Two members have left the legislature since the 2023 Legislative Session adjourned in May 2023:

  • Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL-Mendota Heights) resigned Sept. 1, 2023. This seat was won by Rep. Bianca Virnig (DFL-Eagan) who was seated on Jan. 12, 2024.
  • Former Speaker and House Minority Leader Rep. Kurt Daudt resigned Feb. 11, 2024. Gov. Walz set the date for a special election to fill this seat as Tuesday, March 19 — with Thursday, Feb. 29 as the date (if needed) for a special primary election. Affidavits of candidacy and nominating petitions for the seat must be filed from Wed, Feb. 14, 2024, until 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024.

Other notable retirements include:

  • Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn, current House Judiciary and Public Safety Chair
  • Rep. Pat Garofalo, current minority lead, House Ways and Means
  • Rep. Deb Kiel, current minority lead, House Human Services Policy
  • Rep. Liz Olson, current House Ways and Means Chair
  • Rep. Gene Pelowski, current Higher Education Chair and most senior House member

 

HELPFUL RESOURCES

To find your legislators, visit Who Represents Me

For updates on activities at the House of Representatives, visit the
House Session Daily website

For updates on Activities at the Senate, visit Senate Media Services

For House Committee and Floor Session Video, visit the
House of Representatives YouTube Channel

For Senate Committee and Floor Session Video, visit the Senate YouTube Channel
 

 

 

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Governor’s Bonding Proposal, Budget Update, and More

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GOVERNOR’S BONDING PROPOSAL

Gov. Tim Walz has unveiled a $982 million bonding proposal for 2024. The plan, covering a diverse range of projects, allocates nearly half of its funding to preserving existing state infrastructure, including substantial investments in water and transportation systems, public safety, housing, and environmental initiatives. Here’s a quick breakdown of the highlights:

  • $440 million for preserving state infrastructure (45%)
    • $206 million for University of Minnesota and Minnesota State systems buildings
  • $215 million for water and transportation infrastructure (22%)
    • $119 million for grants and low-interest loans to replace lead pipes
    • $28 million for PFAs removal (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as “forever chemicals”)
  • $142 million public safety infrastructure (14%)
    • $22.4 million for new Minnesota State Patrol Headquarters building
  • $97 million for housing infrastructure (10%)
    • $16 million for Minneapolis Veterans Home updates
  • $85 million for other infrastructure (9%)
    • Approximately $40 million is set aside for local government projects

Gov. Walz’s proposal follows last year’s historic $2.6 billion investment package. Amid economic uncertainties, the governor’s bonding proposal for 2024 is prioritizing a smaller list of projects. Requests from state agencies and local units of governments are already totaling $7.6 billion. As Minnesota lawmakers prepare to convene on February 12, debates over the capital investment bill will take center stage. Republican lawmakers have advocated for a smaller capital investment bill compared to this proposal. The DFL-controlled legislature will have to negotiate with Republicans to create a bonding bill that requires a three-fifths majority to pass. Both the House and Senate Capital Investment Committees will also release their bonding proposals.

BUDGET AND REVENUE UPDATE

Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) found that net general fund receipts for November and December of 2023 were $70 million (1.4%) more than forecast in November. This is attributed to higher-than-anticipated net individual and corporate income tax receipts; net receipts from other tax sources, including sales tax, were below forecast. Specifically, individual income tax receipts were $37 million above the forecast, and corporate receipts were $65 million above the forecast. However, partnership and S corporation payments were $37 million below the forecast. We can expect another forecast update in February, which the Legislature and the governor will use to develop supplemental budget proposals.

LEGISLATIVE RETIREMENTS

As of this week, 13 legislators have announced that they will retire from their legislative careers at the end of the 2024 legislative session. In addition to these announcements, Rep. Kurt Daudt has announced that he will retire before the legislative session begins, effective February 11. State statute requires a special election to be held 35 days after his resignation. Rep. Ruth Richardson also retired in September 2023 and was replaced in a special election in November

Other legislators are seeking a different office this election season, including Rep. Heather Edelson, who is running for Hennepin County Commissioner, District 6, and Sen. Kelly Morrison, who is running for the Third Congressional District (Sen. Morrison is not up for re-election to her senate seat until 2026).

DATES TO REMEMBER

February 12: First day of 2024 legislative session

May 20: Adjournment of the 2024 legislative session

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Achieving Legislative Success by Expanding Grassroots Engagement 

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Without active involvement in the legislative process through advocacy, an association’s profession or industry can experience changes (perhaps unintended) that could put members at a disadvantage. 

The Ewald Consulting Government Relations team provides an array of services to help associations achieve their legislative aims. Government Relations Director Valerie Dosland says the team is well-equipped for success. “Each member of our team has previous experience working as legislative staff inside the capitol and provides a broad range of skills to support our clients. Each of us specializes in specific issue areas ranging from early childhood and K-12 education, health and human services, local government, elections, taxes, and transportation.” 

Although the pandemic significantly changed the way our team worked, Valerie says everyone adjusted quickly. “Throughout 2021 and 2022 we learned how to lobby in a completely remote and hybrid manner. While this posed challenges, it also provided opportunities for our clients to engage more with legislators. Remote meeting capabilities allowed for more of our clients to participate in one-on-one meetings with legislators and attend and participate in legislative committee hearings—regardless of location. This has continued beyond the pandemic.” 

And as government relations strategies continue to evolve, Ewald Consulting’s team remains vigilant to adapt and support its clients from a position of strength. “We have greatly expanded our capabilities to provide effective grassroots engagement strategies for our clients,” Valerie continues. “This includes bringing on grassroots advocacy software to make it easier for our clients to engage in the legislative process.” In the most recent legislative session, associations that leveraged grassroots advocacy tools to augment their impact saw engagement from members at higher levels than ever before.  

Learn how your organization can use grassroots advocacy tools – give us a call! 

Testimonial 

“The Minnesota Association of School Administrators began using the advocacy system during the 2022 legislative session and we could not be more pleased. This tool made it very easy for our members to engage in advocacy and because of that, we were successful on several of our issues.” – Deb Henton, Executive Director, MASA 

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Yearly Wrap-Up With David Ewald 2023

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In this episode we welcome back David Ewald, CEO of Ewald Consulting, to review association trends of 2023 and discuss what we may see in 2024.

Takeaways:

  1. Hybrid Events are (Still) Here to Stay

Hybrid events, combining in-person and virtual components, have evolved into a significant and lasting trend. The adoption of virtual meetings, particularly during the pandemic, has demonstrated the benefits of extending reach, accessibility, and flexibility. Organizations now see the value of offering hybrid options, providing attendees with the choice to participate in-person or virtually, making events more inclusive and reaching a broader audience.

  1. The Future of Technology in Associations

The discussion emphasizes the need for associations to stay on top of technological advancements beyond just AI. David anticipates continued evolution of mobile technology in the association space, encouraging organizations to embrace and optimize the mobile experience for members. Additionally, the potential integration of virtual reality in conferences and events is highlighted, posing a question about the future possibility of attending virtual meetings using VR technology. The constant evolution of technology is seen as a significant factor that associations must navigate to stay relevant and effectively serve their members.

  1. Ongoing Challenges and Strategies for Associations

David underscores the enduring challenges faced by associations, such as budget constraints, changing demographics, and the need to diversify revenue streams. As associations navigate these challenges, the focus is on maintaining financial stability and operational effectiveness. Strategies discussed include meeting members where they are, understanding and adapting to demographic shifts, and finding innovative ways to generate revenue. Associations are encouraged to proactively address these ongoing challenges to ensure their sustainability and continued impact in the years ahead. Organizations also continue to face changes in workplace dynamics as we continue to determine what work will look like post-lockdown. All these things are important for associations to consider as they set goals for and navigate 2024.

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Where You Belong: The Importance of Associations

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In this episode, we are joined by Toma Kinville Ossian, Executive Director at Global Management Partners and Liz Anderson, Account Executive at Ewald Consulting to discuss the importance of associations as we near the end of 2023.

Takeaways:

1. Associations are important because the offer community. There is a group out there for just about every interest you could think of. Bringing these groups together increases that sense of community and improves industries.
Working within associations provides a feeling of service.

2. Service has shown to increase feelings of purpose, so it makes sense that Toma and liz both expressed feelings of fulfilment and joy working in this industry.

3. We should work towards increasing member value, ALWAYS. Toma explained that new technologies are always arising. Nowadays, it is very focused on AI. She said this will help the association management industry as it will free up space for us to be closer to our members.

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Making It Easier for Volunteers to Engage in Grassroots Advocacy

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The Ewald Consulting Government Relations team provides various services to help associations achieve their legislative aims. Government Affairs Director Valerie Dosland says the team is well-equipped for success. “Each member of our team has previous experience working as legislative staff inside the Minnesota capitol and provides a broad range of skills to our lobbying team. Each of us specializes in specific issue areas — ranging from early childhood and K-12 education to health and human services, local government, elections, taxes, and transportation.”  

As government relations continue to evolve, the Ewald Consulting team remains vigilant to adapt and support its clients from a position of strength. “We have greatly expanded our capabilities to provide effective grassroots engagement strategies for our clients,” Valerie continues. “This includes bringing on grassroots advocacy software to make it easier for our clients to engage in the legislative process.” In the most recent legislative session, associations that leveraged grassroots advocacy tools to augment their impact saw engagement from members at higher levels than ever before.

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Associations Next: How Content Can Enhance Your Mission

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In this episode, we welcome back Mike McIntee, Director of Content Development and Management at Ewald Consulting. We review why content is crucial for modern associations, and go over some of the projects the content team has completed in the past year. People are the most important part of what we’re doing as associations—and the right content can bring the enthusiasm and buy-in we need to succeed.  

Takeaways: 

  1. Content is a tool for engaging and connecting with members by making information memorable. Content development includes various mediums, such as video and audio podcasts, to break through the daily email clutter and capture members’ attention using strong storytelling. Surveys tell us that people who watch these videos have a more positive attitude toward the association. 
  2. Virtual content should be better than a Zoom meeting. You can elevate the virtual engagement experience for members, especially in a post-COVID world. High-quality livestreaming experiences feel more like television programs rather than standard Zoom meetings. This approach aims to connect remote viewers with the live event, making it more enjoyable and interactive. 
  3. There so much more to explore. Just some of the ideas discussed include “hype videos” to build anticipation for events, using animation to explain concepts, and using informative videos to attract individuals to careers or industries they might not have considered. 

 

 

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