Legislative Update
With just a few weeks remaining in the legislative session, work at the Capitol is shifting into high gear. Committees continue negotiating omnibus bills. Some have already passed, while others remain under active deliberation. With a tied House, every major piece of legislation must be the product of bipartisan negotiations, and the final bills will reflect contributions from both sides of the aisle. Throughout these discussions, I’ve remained committed to ensuring that our shared priorities are met in a fiscally responsible manner, because that’s how we ensure steady, sustainable funding for the services our families and communities rely on.
Passed off the House Floor This Week
Omnibus Bills
HF 2446 – (Anderson, Paul) Ag Omnibus Bill. This bill funds MDA, BAH, AURI, and DEED’s Broadband Office for fiscal years 2026–2027 and includes policy changes such as modifying farm down payment assistance, exempting certain pesticide handlers from licensing, and creating a biofertilizer innovation program.
HF 2432 – (Novotney, Moller) Judiciary, public safety, and corrections policy and finance bill. This bill increases funding by $50 million above base for FY 2026–27 while prioritizing core public safety needs, smarter corrections policy, and expanded training for peace officers. The Judiciary Finance portion spends $1.434 billion in Fiscal Years 26-27.
HF 1354 – (Moller, Novotny, Virnig, Repinski, Frazier) Public safety policy bill. A series of public safety bills strengthen school violence prevention efforts, expand victim notification rights, and enhance correctional health care standards. Key provisions include mandatory threat reporting by schools, continuity of medical treatment for incarcerated individuals, and expanded support for victims and fallen public safety officers.
HF 2563 – (Vang, MacDonald) Legacy Omnibus Bill. This bill appropriates money from the outdoor heritage fund, clean water fund, parks and trails fund, and arts and cultural heritage fund; the four funds established by the “Legacy Amendment” passed by the voters in 2008.
Standalone Bills
HF 1090 – (Lee) This bill renames the library construction grant program as the Mary C. Murphy Library Construction Grants Program and makes various updates to clarify eligibility, grant amounts, and project priorities for library improvement, accessibility, and construction projects. It also includes a requirement that participating libraries prohibit access to obscene internet content to qualify for funding.
HF 1058 – (Skraba) This bill updates the governance structure and membership composition of the North Koochiching Sanitary Sewer Board, clarifies district boundaries, and allows the Crane Lake Water and Sanitary District to reduce its board from five to three members. It also repeals outdated provisions and is contingent on local approval.
HF 124 – (Berg) This bill allows local governments and state agencies to accept certain gifts and make expenditures in connection with the death of a public safety officer killed in the line of duty. It authorizes support for memorials, team morale, and participation in national events honoring fallen officers, while also establishing gift reporting requirements and ensuring transparency.
HF 1355 – (Baker) This bill, known as the Brady Aune and Joseph Anderson Safety Act, strengthens safety standards for commercial divers involved in aquatic plant removal in Minnesota. It requires employers to ensure scuba divers are certified, properly equipped, accompanied by standby divers, and trained in CPR/first aid, while prohibiting permits for businesses with recent serious safety violations.
HF 571 – (Warwas) This bill provides funds to the city of Chisholm for street and utility infrastructure supporting the Wenton Addition housing development.
HF 3022 – (Scott, Leibling) Miscellaneous technical corrections made to laws and statutes; erroneous, obsolete, and omitted text and references corrected; redundant, conflicting, and superseded provisions removed; and style and form changes made.
HF 2551– (Kotyza-Witthuhn, West) Follow-up to 2024 children, youth, and families recodification; technical changes made.
Let's Continue Working Together
As we move into the final stretch of session, I will continue advocating for responsible solutions that reflect the needs of our communities. The bipartisan work we are doing now will shape the health of our state for years to come. One of those efforts, the Human Services Omnibus bill, which I have helped lead as co-chair, will be up for debate on the House floor during the first week of May. I look forward to continuing this important work and keeping you updated as we move toward the finish line.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I always welcome feedback and would be happy to meet with you to discuss any issues that matter to you. You can reach me at rep.joe.schomacker@house.mn.gov or call 651.296.5505 to schedule a visit.
Have a great weekend and thank you for your continued support!
Joe Schomacker