
2023 Session Accomplishments
STAR TRIBUNE: DFL is delivering for Minnesota.
Minnesotans elected a Senate DFL Majority because they want a state government that will fight for the values we all share and deliver results.
This legislative session, the Senate DFL will advance policies and legislation grounded in these values that will move Minnesota forward.
Senate DFL 2023 Priorities
Building an Economy that Works for All Minnesotans
- We will fight for a level playing field for working Minnesotans, small businesses, and family farmers.
- We will pass legislation that protects workers and helps grow the middle class.
- We will invest in the unique needs of communities, whether they’re rural, suburban, urban, or tribal.
Protecting Rights, Expanding Freedoms, and Defending Democracy
- We will enshrine fundamental rights for Minnesotans, not strip them away.
- We will fight on behalf of racial, gender, and disability justice.
- We will protect our democracy from those who seek to undermine it.
Lowering Costs and Bringing Stability to Minnesotans
- We will move quickly to address rising costs and help Minnesotans who are struggling.
- We will focus on making health care more affordable and accessible to all Minnesotans.
- We will pass a balanced state budget that is focused on helping the family budget.
Ensuring Safe Communities, Strong Schools, and a Healthy Climate
- The Senate DFL will invest in proven solutions to make Minnesotans feel safe, help our students, and protect our environment.
- No matter where you live or what you look like, you deserve a fair chance at success.
- We will support our students and teachers to expand Minnesota’s tradition of educational excellence to ensure inclusion of all students.
2023 Bills Passed
Building an Economy That Works for all Minnesotans
- Infrastructure Investment Act (IIJA) (HF 26)
- Passed in the Senate: 1/30/23
- Signed into law: 2/7/23
- In the news: Guest Commentary: Investing in the infrastructure needs of our communities
- Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act (HF 37)
- Passed in the Senate: 1/26/23
- Signed into law: 1/31/23
- In the news: ‘A more equitable Minnesota’: Walz signs CROWN Act into law
- Requiring the Minnesota Department of Management and Budget to include inflation in the state forecast (HF 35)
- Passed in the Senate: 2/20/23
- Signed into law: 2/21/23
- In the news: Bill adding inflation back into MN government spending estimates heads to Gov. Walz

Protecting Rights, Expanding Freedoms, and Defending Democracy
- Protecting Reproductive Options (PRO) Act (HF 1)
- Passed in the Senate: 1/28/23
- Signed into law: 1/31/23
- In the news: Codify abortion rights with ‘PRO Act’
- Juneteenth state holiday establishment (SF 13)
- Passed in the Senate: 1/26/23
- Signed into law: 2/3/23
- In the news: Minnesota Legislature approves bill prohibiting discrimination based on ethnic hairstyles
- Restoring the right to vote for individuals with felony convictions who have fulfilled their debt to society (HF 28)
- Passed in the Senate: 2/21/23
- Signed into law: 3/3/23
- In the news: Felons deserve voting rights, Opinion: Minnesota’s vote to re-enfranchise felons is a victory for democracy, Ex felons in Minnesota say right to vote is ‘life changing’.
- Driver’s Licenses for All (HF 4)
- Passed in the Senate: 2/22/23
- Signed into law: 3/7/23
- In the news: When undocumented immigrants can drive, their kids can live in dignity, too
- Updating the “Veterans’ Restorative Justice Act” (HF 45)
- Passed in the Senate: 3/22/23
- Signed into law: TBD

Lowering Costs and Bringing Stability to Minnesotans
- Federal tax conformity (HF 31)
- Passed in the Senate: 1/11/23
- Signed into law: 1/12/23
- In the news: Tax conformity’ benefits taxpayers
- Extended unemployment insurance for Northshore miners (SF 40)
- Passed in the Senate: 1/12/23
- Signed into law: 1/25/23
- In the news: New DFL senator pushes extension of unemployment benefits for hard-hit miners
- Emergency Food Shelf Funding (HF 213)
- Passed in the Senate: 2/27/23
- Signed into law: 3/2/23
- Universal School Meals (HF 5)
- Passed in the Senate: 3/14/23
- Signed into law: 3/17/23
- In the news: Minnesota Senate Backs Free School Meals for All Students
- $50 million in emergency rental assistance for Minnesota families (HF 1440)
- Passed in the Senate: 3/27/23
- Signed into law: TBD
- Commissioner of Human Services public health emergency transition procedure establishment (SF 2265)
- Passed in the Senate: 3/27/23
- Signed into law: TBD

Ensuring Safe Communities, Strong Schools, and a Healthy Climate
- Funding the Minnesota Attorney General’s office to expand resources to prosecute violent crimes (SF 33)
- Passed in the Senate: 1/30/23
- Signed into law: 2/7/23
- In the news: Attorney General Ellison’s request for more criminal prosecutors to become law upon House passage
- 100% clean energy by 2040 (HF 7)
- Passed in the Senate: 2/2/23
- Signed into law: 2/7/23
- In the news: Clean air Minnesota
- Department of Natural Resources Lands Bill (HF 50)
- Passed in the Senate: 2/20/23
- Signed into law: 2/21/23
- Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (SF 667)
- Passed in the Senate: 2/27/23
- Signed into law: 3/16/23
- Catalytic converter theft prevention (HF 30)
- Passed in the Senate: 3/2/23
- Signed into law: 3/16/23
- In the news: Our View: Cheer crackdown on catalytic converter thefts

Other Legislation Passed
- Confirmations:
- Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen
- Department of Revenue Commissioner Paul Marquart
- Department of Administration Commissioner Alice Roberts-Davis
- Department of Management and Budget Commissioner Jim Schowalter
- Department of Veteran Affairs Commissioner Larry Herke
- Department of Higher Education Commissioner Dennis Olson
- Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach
- Department of Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold
- Department of Education Commissioner Willie Jett II
- Department of Information Technology Services Commissioner Tarek Tomes
- Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Commissioner Ida Rukavina
- Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero
- Legislation:
- Updating state statute pertaining to the transfer of ownership for certain motorized vehicles (SF 31)
- Passed in the Senate: 1/30/23
- Signed into law: TBD
- Competency attainment modifications for criminal proceedings (HF 121)
- Passed in the Senate: 3/1/23
- Signed into law: 3/16/23
- Physical education standards review delay authorization (HF 112)
- Passed in the Senate: 3/15/23
- Signed into law: 3/20/23
- Office of Administrative Hearings deficiency funding authorization and appropriation (SF 1816)
- Passed in the Senate: 3/15/23
- Signed into law: TBD
- Uniform Electronic Wills Act (HF 244)
- Passed in the Senate: 3/22/23
- Signed into law: TBD
- Updating state statute pertaining to the transfer of ownership for certain motorized vehicles (SF 31)
