It's the first week of the 2025-26 legislative session and this one was a doozy! The Senate, which is currently tied 33-33, came to a power sharing agreement that will stand until the special election for Senate District 60, which is vacant following the death

GMNP Update - January 17, 2025
 
GMNP Update: A Newsletter for Members of the GMNP
 

GMNP UPDATE - 1/17/25
 

Dear GMNP Members,

 

It's the first week of the 2025-26 legislative session and this one was a doozy! The Senate, which is currently tied 33-33, came to a power sharing agreement that will stand until the special election for Senate District 60, which is vacant following the death of Senator Kari Dziedzic (DFL-Minneapolis). Under the agreement, the current Senate Co-Presidents are Sen. Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) and Sen. Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-Minneapolis), and Sen. Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks) and Sen. Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul) are serving as co-leaders. The outcome of the January 28 special election will be finalized in early February, at which point the Senate will almost certainly return to a one-seat DFL majority.

 

Things have not been going as smoothly in the House, which currently sits with a 67-66 GOP majority pending the outcome of another special election for House District 40B, left vacant when member-elect Curtis Johnson was ruled to have violated residency requirements. The House had made large strides towards a power-sharing agreement before the vacancy, but the temporary one-seat GOP majority has majorly derailed those plans. House Republicans announced their intention to take control of the House in the first days of session, which would prevent the DFL from regaining any shared power when the House likely returns to a 67-67 tie. In response, the DFL House members have boycotted the legislative session, theoretically preventing the Republicans from achieving a voting quorum, and continued to push for a power-sharing agreement. The GOP argues that they only need 67 members present for a quorum and have held proceedings to elect House leadership, scheduled committee hearings, and introduced bills. The issue is headed to the MN Supreme Court, which will likely need to determine whether 67 or 68 members are needed for a quorum.

 

On our end, we're continuing to meet with legislators on both sides of the aisle and do the necessary groundwork to move our priorities forward. 

 

If you have questions or want to discuss anything further, I encourage you to reach out at darielle@gmnp.org or (651) 295-1908.

 

Best,

 

Darielle Dannen

Executive Director, Greater Minnesota Partnership
 

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SIGNIFICANT HAPPENINGS THIS WEEK

The Governor and Lt. Governor released their budget recommendations yesterday. In the DEED budget recommendation, they made the following suggestions:   

  • Proposed a new program at DEED called Services to Success for $6 million in FY26-27 and at $1M per biennium ongoing.  This program would include a new office at DEED that would coordinate existing public service programs (think AmeriCorps). The ask includes funding for the office as well as grant funding.  This proposal originated with the Governor.    

  • The Drive for 5 Initiative is funded at $16M from the workforce development fund in FY26-27.    

  • There is an operating increase ask for DEED to cover increased staffing costs.

  • Eliminated the base funding for the BDPI program. The program could still be funded in a bonding bill but would no longer have ongoing funding.

  • Proposed policy changes to the Forward Fund that de-couples it from federal funding and changes the spending timeline to “available until spent."

  • Increases the Minnesota Job Skill Partnership (MJSP) grant awards limit from $400k to $500k.

You can review details about the above recommendations here.    
 

SIGNIFICANT UPCOMING HEARINGS

Note - because the House is unofficially organized, any posted House hearings are unofficial. At this time, agencies will not be attending House committee hearings, participating in any official House business, or completing fiscal notes.

 

Tuesday, January 21

  • House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee – DEED and DLI overview of Governor’s proposed budget; discussion of committee rules   

  • House Housing Finance and Policy – Committee overview and, introductions and background information  

  • Senate Housing and Homeless Prevention Committee – Committee overview and introductions, Presentation from Minnesota Housing Finance Agency  

  • Senate Capital Investment – Overviews from MMB, the American Society of Civil Engineers and Senate Council and Fiscal staff 

Additional hearings will be posted throughout the week. Circumstances may change depending on the situation in the House.

 

Click here for the combined legislative calendar, which includes committee materials and livestream links. Many hearings can also be found on YouTube. 
 

KEY BILL INTRODUCTIONS

  • SF203 (Port) - Housing Infrastructure Bonds (HIB) authorized for $400M  

  • SF223 (Draheim) - Requirements for municipal dedication fees - added sidewalks as an eligible use and requires record-keeping. Limits streets to minimum engineering standards if funded this  

  • SF224 (Draheim) - Requirements for building permits (adds building permits to agency response timeline requirements)  

  • SF225 (Draheim) - Limiting planned unit developments (prohibited if complies with existing zoning)  

  • SF227 (Draheim) - Tax-stressed cities demolition grant program - $2.246M FY26-27 each  

  • SF228 (Draheim) - Modifying Workforce Development Fund appropriations - creating "performance grants" for a percentage  

  • SF230 (Draheim) - Requiring consultation and reports on grants over $500k with Management Analysis and Development  

  • SF237 (Draheim) - Expanding the BDPI program to include commercial development  

Click here to search for bills, see a complete list of bill introductions, and view bill summaries.
 

KEY DATES/COMMITTEE DEADLINES

With House leadership still unresolved, committee deadlines and legislative breaks have not yet been determined. We'll share those dates as soon as we know them!
 

QUESTIONS?

If you have questions or want to discuss anything further, please feel free to reach out at darielle@gmnp.org or (651) 295-1908.
 

UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

CGMC Legislative Action Day - February 12, 2025

GMNP members are invited to join the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities for their annual Legislative Action Day in St. Paul. Visit the CGMC website for more information and registration.
 
 

The Greater Minnesota Partnership advocates for public policies and investments that stimulate prosperity throughout Greater Minnesota.

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