Northern Minnesota is under a new alert until Friday at 7 p.m.

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

The Minnesota Legislature's long-awaited special session is now underway in St. Paul. However, the big question is whether it will actually be successful. 

There's no guarantee there are enough votes to pass all of the bills — some Senate DFLers aren't happy with the agriculture and environment budget bill that they say rolls back environmental protections. 

Special session underway

How Dayton's Minnesota priorities were sunk

If lawmakers can't come to an agreement Friday, they could stay even longer — legislators are already 25 days late in finishing their work. 

The Legislature has until July 1 to finish before a partial government shutdown.
 

In many cases, political squabbling — the governor and legislative leaders failed to agree on a budget by the end of the regular legislative session. 

In other cases, overtime sessions were called in regards to disaster relief and assistance. 

2) Who can call and end a special session?

Only the governor can call a special session. However, only a vote of the Legislature can end it. 

Lawmakers convened outside the Capitol for the first time in 110 years because of the renovation project. 

They're meeting in temporary chambers in an adjacent office building and using old-fashioned voice roll-call votes on bills. 

Behind the scenes of the Capitol face-lift

Including this year, there have been 51 special sessions of the state Legislature and the Minnesota Territorial Legislature 

They've ranged ranged from meeting to complete the passage of budget bills to stadium funding to regulating intoxicating liquor for American Indians (that was in 1862). 

These sessions appear to be becoming less "special." This is the 16th of the last two decades (there were three in 1997 and two in 2010). 

 special sessions cost an estimated $51,000 per day, with the money going toward things like per diems and security.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Nancy Yang

Author

The Minnesota Legislature's long-awaited special session is now underway in St. Paul. The big question is whether it will actually be successful.

5 things to know about special sessions

Go Deeper.

Like this?