Week in Review: April 27-May 1

— UPDATED at 4:40 p.m.

Bills were moving this week as the clock ticks down to the final day of the 2026 session.

After more than two months, the bill to create an Office of Inspector General has finally exited the committee process. HF1338/SF856*, a top priority for the caucuses this session, is now on its way to the House Floor with approval from the House Ways and Means Committee after a late-evening vote Wednesday.

Three proposals emerged this week as possible rescue plans for the Hennepin County Medical Center as the House Health Finance and Policy Committee heard about the dire nature of the situation from hospital and county leaders Tuesday.

Some bills cleared the final hurdle in the House in a pair of floor sessions this week. That included the lengthy HOA and community interest communities package, HF1268/SF1750*, which is headed back to the Senate after it was amended by the House. Lawmakers added a predictive market wagering ban to the public safety package, HF3990/SF4760*, before also returning it to the Senate for concurrence.

Gov. Tim Walz gave his final State of the State before the Legislature Tuesday night, receiving accolades for his tenure from DFLers and words of disappointment from Republicans.

To conclude the week, the House Ethics Committee found no probable cause to support ethics complaints against Rep. Elliott Engen, Rep. Walter Hudson and Rep. Alex Falconer. 

A little over two weeks left until May 18 — and a reminder that bills cannot be passed on the final day of the biennial session.

Enjoy what’s looking to be a sunny spring weekend. Here’s a look back at this week in the House:

BUDGET

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

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19122

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE

House lawmakers push to fund weather-resiliency program for Minnesota homes

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19124

CIVIL LAW

Proposed pretrial release changes, prohibition of cash bail could be decided by Minnesota voters

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19127

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

House unanimously passes bill that aims to slash wait times for prescribed opioid recovery drugs

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19126

Three House proposals emerge to stabilize HCMC as operating losses project to $1.7 billion over next decade

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19130

Omnibus health finance bill advances narrowly in Ways and Means Committee

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19133

HOUSING

House lawmakers OK digital payment protections for tenants, landlords

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19137

Bill regulating HOAs, common interest communities passes House

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19139

MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

Expanded burial rights in veterans cemetery gets committee approval

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19123

PUBLIC SAFETY

Predictive market wagering ban added to public safety package that passes House

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19138

STATE GOVERNMENT

House lawmakers advance bill to boost spending on Capitol security

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19125

House panel to consider ethics complaints against Reps. Engen, Hudson and Falconer

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19129

Walz reflects on term, looks toward future in final State of the State address

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19131

Bipartisan inspector general bill clears Ways and Means Committee, heads to House Floor

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19134

House moves toward putting gubernatorial term limits on November ballot

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19135

TAXES

Luring major sporting events to Minnesota the aim of bill before tax panel

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19128

New fifth income tax tier proposed to boost local government, county aid

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19132

Tax committee considers 100% tax on money acquired by fraud

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19136