Minnesota Legislature ramps up work in sprint to session deadline

A typical session of the Minnesota Legislature is like a marathon, long and tiring.

But the end? It’s much more like a relay.

Lawmakers are now in their final sprint after getting budget targets from the governor and legislative leaders on Thursday.

With a special session likely, they’re working this weekend to make as much progress as they can before the regular session ends on Monday.

This weekend, conference committees are meeting, and the House and Senate are holding floor sessions, negotiating bills for final passage.

DWI bill heads to governor

On Friday evening, the House passed a DWI bill that will create harsher penalties and promote the use of interlock systems in vehicles for those with multiple DWIs. It will also extend the look back period for previous DWIs from 10 to 20 years.

The Senate passed it Saturday afternoon.

The bill is a response to a deadly drunk driving crash that killed two people and injured 12 last fall at the St. Louis Park Tavern.

“It was born of tragedy in St Louis Park and hopefully will prevent or take steps toward preventing future similar tragedies,” said Sen. Ron Latz, DFL- St. Louis Park, one of the authors. “The bill’s framework is intended to use incentives and punishments to drive people into the interlock program rather than taking chances and driving without valid licenses or insurance on our streets without the protections of making sure that they are sober while they are driving.”

The bill now heads to Gov. Tim Walz’s desk, where it’s expected to be signed into law.

Education moves through the House

Debate heated up over an education budget and policy bills and a bill that sunsets giving unemployment to hourly school workers in the summer of 2028.

All three bills passed and now head to conference committees to be hammered out between leaders in both chambers.

"What we were able to do with this bill is to provide some flexibility in funding streams that the districts have been asking for, while protecting the integrity of what the funding streams were intended to be used for,” said Rep. Cheryl Youakim, DFL-Hopkins. “I’m happy that we’re able to protect the major provisions we put in place last session and to keep policy changes to a minimum.”

Youakim, who is co-chair of the House Education Finance Committee, celebrated parts of the bill that will increase the number of special education teachers, fund building repairs and expand math tutoring programs.

Her co-chair on the committee, Rep. Ron Kresha, R-Little Falls, said the bill hits many of the issues both Democrats and Republicans wanted. He said it gives schools flexibility, gives them tools to boost literacy rates, and requires the Department of Education to cut funding for nonprofits that fail to meet requirements.

“This is the easiest vote we have in education right now,” he said. “If you look at what is here and how we're trying to help schools, this is the best we can do at this point. The vote coming back will be way more difficult.”

Kresha pointed to key funding differences in the House and Senate bills, which are now headed to a conference committee to be worked out. The unemployment provision for hourly workers sunset is expected to be debated in a conference committee.

Veterans and military bill moves forward 

The first budget bill out of conference committees on Friday focused on military and veterans. The biggest area of focus of the $356 million Military and Veterans bill is housing.

The bill puts around $39 million towards new funding for veterans housing. 

"I really appreciated the holistic approach looking at our veterans’ homes, making sure we have the operating adjustments to have the staff for the veterans’ homes,” said Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger, DFL-Woodbury. “We all know that if we address homelessness, we do address suicide as well, but I do also appreciate the extra emphasis on the suicide prevention."

The bill also extends some veteran benefits and recognition for the veterans of the Secret War in Laos.