House Ways and Means Committee OK's $41 million budget resolution

In a non-budgetary year, the House plans to spend nearly $41.13 million in new money compared to the February forecast base for the 2026-2027 biennium.

That is the budget resolution approved Monday by the House Ways and Means Committee. House Rules do not require a budget resolution in even-numbered years, but this one contains funding for bills previously approved by the committee or were heard Monday.

But it may not be the final numbers.

“As we move other packages out of this committee, we will set resolutions for those as well,” said Rep. Cedrick Frazier (DFL-New Hope), a committee co-chair.

Per the resolution, $15.44 million is for a public safety finance bill; almost $1.51 million for a higher education finance bill; $358,000 for a workforce, labor and economic development finance bill; and $185,000 for an elections finance bill. A $2 million reduction is sought in a housing finance bill.

The spreadsheet shows just under $25.64 million being set aside for standalone bills that are to be heard or have already been passed.

Additionally, the resolution caps new spending from the Workforce Development Fund at $401,000, and sets the budget reserve account at $3.42 billion and the cash flow account at $350 million.

As a reminder, the legislative session must end by May 18; however, bills cannot be passed on the last day of a biennial session.