Inside the final day of the Minnesota legislative session
The Minnesota Capitol on April 4. Lawmakers are up against a May 19 deadline to complete their work.
Brian Bakst | MPR News file
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At midnight Monday, it is all supposed to be over. The state Legislature is supposed to adjourn after passing a new two-year budget. That’s not going to happen this year. A special session will be needed to complete the task because lawmakers are still navigating the remaining sticking points and political obstacles.
Peter Cox, one of a trio of MPR News reporters tracking the session, joined Minnesota Now with an update.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
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Audio transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING] NINA MOINI: About 12 hours from now, it was all supposed to be over. The state legislature is supposed to adjourn after passing a new two-year budget. That's not going to happen this year. A special session will be needed to complete the task because lawmakers are still navigating the remaining sticking points and political obstacles.
Peter Cox, one of a trio of MPR News reporters tracking the session, is here with an update. Thanks for being here, Peter.
PETER COX: Hi, Nina.
NINA MOINI: So it definitely sounds like the midnight adjournment deadline is off the table. Everything that needs to get passed has not been passed. What's getting done right now?
PETER COX: Yeah, it's all but guaranteed that we're headed into a special session. Lawmakers have been clear about that in recent days. But there are many big bills still working their way through that will require more work after the midnight deadline. Until that time, expect a flurry of less controversial bills to be passed.
NINA MOINI: OK. So then what happens?
PETER COX: So the ball is somewhat in the court of Governor Tim Walz. We know we're headed to a special session. But he's the one that decides when it gets called. It's a key leverage point. So he might want to make sure everything is sorted out before he schedules it. Or he could ride the momentum, if there's any, and call it right away. In that session, all the bills start fresh, and they're open to amendments. So there's a balancing act here.
NINA MOINI: And remind us what's been holding things up.
PETER COX: So the biggest challenge, Nina, is how to gain passage of a bill that will remove adult undocumented immigrants from Minnesota Care, the subsidized health care coverage for lower income people who do pay premiums. But there are landmines throughout the remaining budget bills, from transportation to education.
NINA MOINI: What are some of the political dynamics at play here?
PETER COX: So we're in a tie in the House-- 67 Republicans, 67 Democrats. And the Senate has a one-seat DFL margin. So in other words, close, close, close. Republicans have been quick to point out the more than three-week holdout from House Democrats at the beginning of session that they say set work back. The budget negotiations between the governor and legislative leaders took several weeks. And the final agreement was not given to legislators until last Thursday. That meant they had to wait to work on a budget until just the final few days in conference committees. But as it always is the case, they also had delays due to politics and negotiations.
NINA MOINI: Sure. So if lawmakers miss this deadline, why are leaders confident that they would be able to power through the rest of the budget bills by this weekend?
PETER COX: Well, they seem to be convinced it can all get done by-- before Memorial Day, one week from today. But for that to happen, the leaders and key committee chairs will need to button up these bills soon so they can get sent off, formally drafted, and ready for votes. Erin Murphy, the Democratic Senate Majority Leader, told her colleagues that they'll pass any budget bills that get completed by committees today.
ERIN MURPHY: I am feeling the same level of frustration and concern and have a mouth full of cuss words that I'm going to leave there. But we're here to do the work of the people. And right now, there is no work coming to us from the House.
PETER COX: So Senate GOP Leader Mark Johnson held his own availability. And he also voiced frustration.
MARK JOHNSON: The blame game is starting already. It's unfortunate that we're coming to this point where we have to figure out what the bills are going to be looking like. The Democrats in the House took 23 days off in the beginning of the session that would have been very useful at this point. And so now we're trying to cram that in. Inevitably, we're going to be going to special session. We have a number of bills that need to be closed up.
NINA MOINI: Some finger pointing there going on, Peter, which is to be expected. But some things have made their way to the governor for his signature. What are some of those?
PETER COX: Yeah, Nina, it's a small list, but both chambers have passed some budget and policy bills that are now awaiting the governor's signature. There's the DWI bill that was written in response to that fatal crash at the Park Tavern in St. Louis Park last fall. There's a judiciary, public safety, and corrections bill. And that includes a plan to close the Stillwater prison by 2029.
There's an ag and broadband development bill. And that, among other things, gives money for fighting bird flu, including funding for turkey lasers, which apparently keep wild birds away from turkey farms. And then there's also a housing finance and cannabis policy bill.
NINA MOINI: And so are there any other big backstops or deadlines that lawmakers have to meet?
PETER COX: So the legislature has to have a two-year budget in place by June 30 or risk a state government shutdown. Some of the budget bills will be in place by then. So they'll be immune. But much of the budget has not been ratified yet.
NINA MOINI: Lots to come in the coming days. But what is the rest of today look like for you?
PETER COX: Yeah, so there are several conference committees that are still hashing out bills. Here's a long list here, Nina, including higher education; K through 12 education; workforce, labor, and economic development; environment and natural resources; commerce; state government; finance; transportation; and health and human services policy and finance bills. So clearly, the legislators have a lot of work to finish up before these bills head up for large floor votes.
I'd expect many of them to get floor votes today. But some of those could get hung up over divisive issues. As far as floor sessions goes, it's going to be a bit of stop and go. But by midnight, this regular session will be over.
NINA MOINI: All right, Peter, thank you for bringing us the very latest.
PETER COX: You're welcome, Nina.
NINA MOINI: That was MPR News reporter Peter Cox, who, along with Dana Ferguson and Clay Masters, will be busy keeping tabs on all that the Minnesota legislature is up to right up until the end, whenever that is.
Peter Cox, one of a trio of MPR News reporters tracking the session, is here with an update. Thanks for being here, Peter.
PETER COX: Hi, Nina.
NINA MOINI: So it definitely sounds like the midnight adjournment deadline is off the table. Everything that needs to get passed has not been passed. What's getting done right now?
PETER COX: Yeah, it's all but guaranteed that we're headed into a special session. Lawmakers have been clear about that in recent days. But there are many big bills still working their way through that will require more work after the midnight deadline. Until that time, expect a flurry of less controversial bills to be passed.
NINA MOINI: OK. So then what happens?
PETER COX: So the ball is somewhat in the court of Governor Tim Walz. We know we're headed to a special session. But he's the one that decides when it gets called. It's a key leverage point. So he might want to make sure everything is sorted out before he schedules it. Or he could ride the momentum, if there's any, and call it right away. In that session, all the bills start fresh, and they're open to amendments. So there's a balancing act here.
NINA MOINI: And remind us what's been holding things up.
PETER COX: So the biggest challenge, Nina, is how to gain passage of a bill that will remove adult undocumented immigrants from Minnesota Care, the subsidized health care coverage for lower income people who do pay premiums. But there are landmines throughout the remaining budget bills, from transportation to education.
NINA MOINI: What are some of the political dynamics at play here?
PETER COX: So we're in a tie in the House-- 67 Republicans, 67 Democrats. And the Senate has a one-seat DFL margin. So in other words, close, close, close. Republicans have been quick to point out the more than three-week holdout from House Democrats at the beginning of session that they say set work back. The budget negotiations between the governor and legislative leaders took several weeks. And the final agreement was not given to legislators until last Thursday. That meant they had to wait to work on a budget until just the final few days in conference committees. But as it always is the case, they also had delays due to politics and negotiations.
NINA MOINI: Sure. So if lawmakers miss this deadline, why are leaders confident that they would be able to power through the rest of the budget bills by this weekend?
PETER COX: Well, they seem to be convinced it can all get done by-- before Memorial Day, one week from today. But for that to happen, the leaders and key committee chairs will need to button up these bills soon so they can get sent off, formally drafted, and ready for votes. Erin Murphy, the Democratic Senate Majority Leader, told her colleagues that they'll pass any budget bills that get completed by committees today.
ERIN MURPHY: I am feeling the same level of frustration and concern and have a mouth full of cuss words that I'm going to leave there. But we're here to do the work of the people. And right now, there is no work coming to us from the House.
PETER COX: So Senate GOP Leader Mark Johnson held his own availability. And he also voiced frustration.
MARK JOHNSON: The blame game is starting already. It's unfortunate that we're coming to this point where we have to figure out what the bills are going to be looking like. The Democrats in the House took 23 days off in the beginning of the session that would have been very useful at this point. And so now we're trying to cram that in. Inevitably, we're going to be going to special session. We have a number of bills that need to be closed up.
NINA MOINI: Some finger pointing there going on, Peter, which is to be expected. But some things have made their way to the governor for his signature. What are some of those?
PETER COX: Yeah, Nina, it's a small list, but both chambers have passed some budget and policy bills that are now awaiting the governor's signature. There's the DWI bill that was written in response to that fatal crash at the Park Tavern in St. Louis Park last fall. There's a judiciary, public safety, and corrections bill. And that includes a plan to close the Stillwater prison by 2029.
There's an ag and broadband development bill. And that, among other things, gives money for fighting bird flu, including funding for turkey lasers, which apparently keep wild birds away from turkey farms. And then there's also a housing finance and cannabis policy bill.
NINA MOINI: And so are there any other big backstops or deadlines that lawmakers have to meet?
PETER COX: So the legislature has to have a two-year budget in place by June 30 or risk a state government shutdown. Some of the budget bills will be in place by then. So they'll be immune. But much of the budget has not been ratified yet.
NINA MOINI: Lots to come in the coming days. But what is the rest of today look like for you?
PETER COX: Yeah, so there are several conference committees that are still hashing out bills. Here's a long list here, Nina, including higher education; K through 12 education; workforce, labor, and economic development; environment and natural resources; commerce; state government; finance; transportation; and health and human services policy and finance bills. So clearly, the legislators have a lot of work to finish up before these bills head up for large floor votes.
I'd expect many of them to get floor votes today. But some of those could get hung up over divisive issues. As far as floor sessions goes, it's going to be a bit of stop and go. But by midnight, this regular session will be over.
NINA MOINI: All right, Peter, thank you for bringing us the very latest.
PETER COX: You're welcome, Nina.
NINA MOINI: That was MPR News reporter Peter Cox, who, along with Dana Ferguson and Clay Masters, will be busy keeping tabs on all that the Minnesota legislature is up to right up until the end, whenever that is.
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