Legislative Update: May 23, 2025
Dear Neighbors -
The Capitol continues to be an important space for Minnesotans to come together, rally for a stronger future we want to build together, and raise our voices in opposition to the chaos, cruelty, and corruption of the Trump Administration.
This week I attended a disability services rally in the Capitol rotunda organized by my colleague Rep. Kim Hicks, where we called for strong investments in the services and care our neighbors rely on every day. We should not be balancing a budget on the backs of our most vulnerable, and DFLers are continuing to fight for a budget that works for all Minnesotans.
End of the 2025 Regular Session
Shortly before our midnight deadline on Monday evening, the House adjourned the 2025 regular legislative session. The House and Senate passed many of the budget bills before that deadline, sending them to the Governor for his signature. However, other parts of the budget were still locked in negotiations, meaning we will have to return for a short special session to complete our remaining work.
Special sessions are common in the Minnesota Legislature, especially during times of divided government control. In fact, the only recent budget year where we haven’t needed a special session was in 2023, when DFLers had a trifecta with the House, Senate, and Governor working efficiently together to pass one of the most transformative budgets in state history.
Unfortunately, Republicans have been holding up budget bills as a tool to try and take healthcare, Paid Leave, and other services away from people and force a special session. On many of these bills, Republicans have brought in last-minute policy demands unrelated to our budget because they’re more interested in fighting partisan battles to take away programs and support for our most vulnerable neighbors.
Minnesota Republicans have shown us they’re going to follow the playbook of Trump and his MAGA allies in Congress in order to push an agenda that only benefits the ultra-wealthy and corporations. They are willing to break their word, waste time, and threaten to shut down the state government because they aren’t able to compromise.
What Got Done in Regular Session
Before adjournment, we passed the state budget bills for Veterans and Military Affairs, Agriculture, Housing, Judiciary and Public Safety, and State Government and Elections. We also passed our Legacy bill funding projects that preserve our environment and arts and cultural heritage, a pensions bill to support our teachers, firefighters, and police, and a human services policy bill.
These bills are on their way to the Governor for his signature and enactment. While many of them don’t go far enough in protecting Minnesotans, unrigging the economy, and addressing the impacts of the Trump Administration, it was the best we could do in divided government and it was important for us as DFLers to ensure the state government continues functioning.
What Is Still Left to Do in Special Session
Many of the larger budget bills still remain locked in negotiations. We still need to pass a K-12 Education budget, as well as our Health and Human Services budgets. Together, this represents more than three quarters of our entire state budget. We also have not passed our budgets for Higher Education, Environment, Jobs and Labor, Transportation, and Commerce.
Another outstanding budget we are currently negotiating is the Jobs and Labor bill, where I served on the conference committee that has now turned into a work group that is meeting to finalize a budget.
Frustratingly, the main obstacle to passing these bills has been House Republicans' insistence on non-budget items that rollback freedoms and protections for workers. On the Jobs and Labor work group, we have seen business interests descend on the Capitol during this period to try to roll back legislation I passed in 2023 banning noncompete agreements in our state.
Protecting Workers from Noncompete Agreements
The truth is, Republicans and the Minnesota Business Partnership think they can use their influence to pass a rollback of the noncompete ban while the public isn’t looking. Corporations are very well represented by their lobbyists here at the Capitol, but they’re not the ones who should be negotiating bills that impact the workers of Minnesota—it is us.
Ever since the session ended, corporate lobbyists have been operating behind the scenes to take away the power of workers by rolling back our state’s ban on noncompete agreements. A reporter from the Minnesota Reformer even confirmed this, reporting that after I asked a question about the GOP’s bill, the GOP Chair asked for a recess and “conferred with a lobbyist from the Minnesota Business Partnership in the hallway” while our committee was in recess and the microphones were off.
I’m bringing that fight out in the public because Minnesota workers impacted by non-competes don’t have high powered lobbyists and it’s up to us as representatives to listen to their voice and fight to curb the corporate control and greed. You can watch my comments in our work group meeting here.
What’s Next?
Minnesota is already grappling with an uncertain economic future thanks to the actions of the Trump Administration. Republicans in the Minnesota legislature would make it worse by kneecapping progress and cutting services while the wealthy and well-connected get richer. Republicans should set aside these partisan ultimatums and recognize that passing a budget is the most important job we have as legislators, come to the negotiating table in good faith, and get this done.
While we wait for final budget agreements and the Governor to officially call a special session, I’m on the Jobs and Labor working group and hard at work fighting for a Jobs and Labor budget focused on protecting workers, and investing in communities and small businesses in our district and state.
On a personal note
The district’s most enthusiastic puppy, Sir Charles Barkley turned one years old this week! As spring turns to summer, Barkley is excited to greet many of you on long walks around Lake Nokomis, sniffs by the bunny statute, and splashing in the Creek. Birthday photo credit goes to Urban Hound Playground -- a great family-owned small business in our community that takes great care of Barkley when I’m at the Capitol for those long session days.
Stay in Touch
Thank you for your time, energy, and all you do to make our community a great place to live, work, and play. Always feel free to reach out to me with your input and ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance. My email is rep.emma.greenman@house.mn.gov or you are always welcome to call me at the Capitol at 651-296-4200 and follow my Facebook page for updates.
It’s an honor and a privilege to be your State Representative. I'm very proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish together and look forward to the work we have ahead of us. Together, we can create a stronger, brighter future for all Minnesotans!
Best,
Emma Greenman
State Representative