SAINT PAUL, MN - Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the State Government and Elections Budget bill on a bipartisan vote. The State Government provisions protect Minnesotans by maintaining essential government services, supporting healthy aging, and enhancing fraud prevention. The Elections provisions fund the Campaign Finance Board and provide necessary matched funds for the Help America Vote Act.
"As President Trump and his oligarchy weaponize our way of life and our access to government services with devastating DOGE cuts, we in Minnesota value a strong sense of community, accountability in public investments, and caring for one another to deliver a government that can work for everyday people," said Representative Ginny Klevorn (DFL-Plymouth), Co-Chair of the House State Government Finance Committee. "This budget reflects our commitment to Minnesota values while addressing critical needs across our state."
The budget bill makes strategic investments to maintain critical state functions with responsible stewardship of public funds. It includes funding for the governor’s office and executive branch, the Legislature, constitutional offices, and the operation of numerous state agencies.
The legislation also includes comprehensive fraud prevention efforts to help ensure public dollars are used for public purposes and help Minnesotans receive services they count on. The fraud prevention package includes data sharing and payment withholding provisions when fraud is suspected, expands the Minnesota Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Investigation Unit, and delivers investments to the Secretary of State to prevent business filing fraud.
A key component of the legislation establishes a Healthy Aging Subcabinet to support Minnesota's aging population. This Subcabinet will be charged with designing a comprehensive Minnesota Healthy Aging Plan, engaging the public in creating policy solutions for aging-related challenges, identifying opportunities within state government to improve quality of life for older adults, and serving as a resource to the legislature on policies that enhance the aging experience in Minnesota.
The Elections provisions of the legislation include matching dollars for the Help America Vote Act and provides the budget for the Campaign Finance Board’s operations, which oversees financial operations that seek to influence state elections.
“Voting and access to it is a right, not a privilege,” said Rep. Mike Freiberg (DFL-Golden Valley), co-chair of the House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee. “The important thing is that Democrats successfully protected our work from the last biennium. In a time where Democracy is under attack at the Federal level, this bill ensures that here in Minnesota, our elections are safe, secure, and free.”
In 2024, Minnesota received $1 million in federal funds from the Help America Vote Act to uphold election security, including laws enacted under the Democratic trifecta. The federal dollars require a state match of 20%, so the Elections Budget appropriates the required funds. These dollars are primarily used for election security measures like cybersecurity software, improvements to the statewide voter registration system, and the Security Navigator Team.
Rep. Emma Greenman (DFL – Minneapolis) proposed an amendment to the budget bill prohibiting attempts to bribe voters either directly or through a lottery. This amendment would clarify that providing a monetary incentive, directly or through a lottery, to register to vote or to sign a petition related to an election is a crime. Billionaire Elon Musk promoted $1 million giveaways at Trump rallies during the Wisconsin Supreme Court election this spring. House Republicans blocked the Greenman amendment.
A conference committee of House and Senate members will meet to reconcile differences for a final bill.
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