State government finance bill breezes through committee vote

Funding for state constitutional offices, the Legislature and more than 30 state agencies, boards commissions and councils easily gained approval Thursday.

A delete-all amendment to HF2783, with a largely cleanup amendment, was approved by the House State Government Finance and Policy Committee and sent to the House Ways and Means Committee. 

“This bill is a way to serve Minnesotans and to ensure that the services Minnesotans expect and deserve are run efficiently and effectively,” said Rep. Ginny Klevorn (DFL-Plymouth), who co-chairs the committee with Rep. Jim Nash (R-Waconia).

Added Nash: “Had it been left to our own respective devices the bill would look very, very differently. … We worked well together.”

The end product is an omnibus state government finance bill that contains $1.35 billion in spending for the 2026-27 biennium, a $45 million increase over February’s forecast base.

[MORE: View summary and detailed fiscal tracking sheet, change items]

The bill includes a trio of anti-fraud measures: creation of a special review unit within the Office of the Legislative Auditor, additional staffing and subpoena power for the attorney general’s office to combat Medicaid fraud, and establishment of a process to challenge and remove fraudulent business filings filed with the Office of the Secretary of State.

[MORE: $45 million increase proposed in state government spending bill]

Rep. Tom Sexton (R-Waseca) put a positive light on the circumstances.

“We’re in a budget situation where we have to make difficult decisions. We’ll get through it, and we’ll be a better Minnesota because of it.”