The 2020 legislative session began on February 11 with a positive budget balance of $1.5 billion and a strong economic outlook for Minnesota. By mid-March, the COVID-19 pandemic had completely upended the state’s economic forecast and forced the Legislature to… Read More »OVERVIEW
Beginning the 2020 Legislative Session the state had a significant forecasted surplus. In a matter a few months the legislature took the unprecedented step of needing an update budget forecast as a result of the economic uncertainty COVID-19 created. The… Read More »JOBS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COVID-19 provisions passed Initial public health emergency funding Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, legislators quickly realized funding was needed for public health response activities. With the scope of this crisis still uncertain, the Legislature urgently passed $21 million in funding… Read More »HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Provisions passed Trichloroethylene (TCE) Ban On a near-unanimous vote of 61-1, the Senate passed the “White Bear Area Neighborhood Concerned Citizens Group Ban TCE Act” banning the use of trichloroethylene (TCE), a volatile organic compound that is known to cause… Read More »ENVIRONMENT
Provisions passed Renewable Development Account – clean energy projects A Senate-House compromise agreement was reached on financing renewable energy development projects from the Xcel Energy Renewable Development Account, allowing four energy projects to go forward: $46.2 million, spread over three… Read More »ENERGY
COVID-19 provisions passed The Senate DFL caucus is committed to expanding – rather than suppressing – voter access and will continue to advocate for policies that make it more convenient and less onerous to vote. Help America Vote Act (HAVA)… Read More »STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT