Hello from the State Capitol,
The 2025 legislative session has come to an end, and we will soon go into an extended session thanks to the decision by House Democrats to boycott the State Capitol for 23 days after session started.
The governor and legislative leaders did find consensus on a budget framework recently. It provides significant reductions to the state’s budget, and unlike last session when Democrats raised taxes by $10 billion, Minnesota families will not see a tax increase at the state level this session.
Representatives and senators who were serving on conference committees worked through the weekend trying to craft compromise budget proposals relating to a specific area of government. Finance bills relating to veterans’ programs, agriculture, housing, public safety, and the Legacy Amendment were all sent to the governor for his signature.
Budget bills dealing with commerce, education, energy, environment and natural resources, health, higher education, human services, labor and workforce development, and transportation fell short of a compromise by the legislative deadline, and will now be worked on during a special session.
I expect the governor will wait until an agreement has been reached on each of the outstanding bills, and then call a special session so the legislature can approve them. Until then, we will wonder what might have been had House Democrats showed up for work on time and put the people’s business ahead of their own partisan interests.
I will be sure to keep you updated on our budget progression.
As always, if you ever have any legislative questions, please contact me. I can be reached at rep.steven.jacob@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651.296.2273.
Talk to you soon,
Steve