Legislative Update – End of 2026 Session
Dear Neighbors –
The 2026 Legislative Session came to an end at midnight on Sunday, May 18th after many long nights of floor sessions, debates, and our sit-in pushing Speaker Lisa Demuth for a floor vote on the comprehensive gun violence prevention package our community has been asking us for.
After an incredibly difficult year—the killing of Melissa and Mark Hortman, the mass shooting at Annunciation, and the federal ICE occupation— we came into this session determined to respond to the Minnesotans pleading with us to act to protect our kids, our neighbors and our communities.
All session, we used the power we had in 67-67 tied House to advance policy that responds to the harms our communities are experiencing -- from trying to ban the weapons of war terrorizing our kids, to imposing legal restraints and accountability on federal agents roaming our neighborhoods, and reigning in the tech giants who are spying on us and our kids to drive their profits.
We were able to find bipartisan agreement on a number of key priorities: funding stabilizing Hennepin County Medical Center, property tax refunds, a robust local jobs and infrastructure bill, and $40 million to provide rental assistance for Minnesotans across the state impacted by the federal occupation.
But unfortunately, Republicans used their power to block most of the common sense long-term policy solutions supported by a broad swath of Minnesotans. If we had just one Republican vote, or one more seat, we would have responded to our communities and made progress on the issues you write to me about everyday:
- A comprehensive gun violence prevention package that includes an assault weapons ban, high-capacity magazine ban, safe storage proposals, red flag law improvements, mental health support, and school safety funding.
- An federal ICE response package that would keep ICE out of our schools and hospitals, help our small businesses harmed by Metro Surge, ban federal agents from using masks and give Minnesotans’ a civil recourse when their constitutional rights have been violated.
- Bills to level the economic playing field and lower costs, like my bill banning predatory surveillance pricing that hurts consumers, and taking on the insurance industry to lower health care costs.
In the Minnesota Senate, the DFL majority took action on many of these priorities and sent us over impactful bills that we should have passed into law. But unfortunately, when these bills came to the House, Republican Speaker Lisa Demuth refused to let these bills get a vote on the floor and not a single Republican lawmaker would join us. Whether it was standing up to Trump, the gun lobby, or the billionaires who are doing better than ever, Republicans refused to stand up for Minnesotans and meet the moment.
Standing Up with Our Community - Gun Violence Prevention Package
The most egregious example came after the Minnesota Senate took a historic vote, and passed a comprehensive gun violence prevention bill. This bill of evidence-based, publicly supported measures to address the epidemic of gun violence reflected the work of Minnesotans - survivors, families, students, healthcare providers, and thousands more Minnesotans. But instead of reporting the bill to the House, Speaker Lisa Demuth refused to report the bill, effectively hiding it in a desk drawer and blocking a vote.
The public was demanding a vote on this bill. Annunciation families in our community, gun violence prevention advocates, families and students across Minnesota all wanted to know where each of us stand. I will always stand with our community and was proud to join students from across the state to deliver 8,000 petitions to the Speaker’s desk demanding a vote. I led my House DFL caucus to declare an urgency to try and take a vote on a version of the bill on the House floor.
And when 67 Republicans blocked an urgency vote, my DFL colleagues and I forced a sit-in on the House Floor for 39 hours as we pressured Speaker Lisa Demuth to ‘Hold the Vote’. For 39 hours, we talked to Annunciation families, students, and healthcare providers who called in to share your heartbreaking stories and push for the change we know will save lives. You can watch my speech on the House Floor here.
I am really disappointed that every one of my House Republican colleagues chose to ignore these Minnesotans and their constituents, and instead sided with the gun lobby and the industry fueling this gun violence epidemic. But I am so proud of the Minnesotans who showed up, day after day, because they believe a better, safer future is within reach and they are willing to organize for it. Minnesotans have shown up with courage and resolve, and it’s time for every 201 of us in the legislature to live up to their example.
Despite this legislative setback, the momentum is only growing to take bold and comprehensive action to prevent gun violence. Right now, every member of the legislature is going back to their districts and will have to explain to their constituents what they did to address the weapons of war that have inflicted so much harm in our communities.
In Minnesota, you should be able to go to school, church, or a movie without fearing for your safety. I’ll continue to be right here alongside you organizing for comprehensive gun violence prevention in our state–for as long as it takes to get it done. We will continue to pray, and move our feet, until action is taken to protect our children from these weapons of war.
What We Were Able to Pass in Divided Government
In a tied House, with 67 DFLers and 67 Republicans, my DFL colleagues and I worked every day to make life better for Minnesotans and make life more affordable by addressing high costs for health care, housing, child care, energy, and groceries.
While most of those bills were blocked on a party vote, we did ensure that we saved Hennepin County Medical Center by providing immediate funding to stabilize the state’s largest safety net hospital, and laid out a framework for future governance of HCMC. I’m also grateful to say we secured $40 million in rental assistance for those impacted by Metro Surge, passed a tenant-landlord relations bill and invested $100 million in funds for building new housing.
Our final negotiations included property tax refunds to give Minnesotans breathing room during this affordability crisis created by the decisions coming out of Washington D.C. We also successfully passed solutions to combat and prevent fraud, protecting Minnesotans' state dollars and keeping them out of criminals' hands.
I’m grateful to everyone of you who called, emailed, testified, and shared your stories and your calls for change since August. You have changed the conversation at the Capitol and built momentum for action. This is not the end, and we’ll continue working towards a Minnesota where everyone can feel safe in their communities.
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