minnesota legislature

Minnesota may be headed for another special session later this summer or fall

Sen. Erin Murphy/(D) Senate Majority LeaderST. PAUL (KVRR/FOX9) — Gov. Tim Walz has still not called for a special session to finish up budget work in Minnesota. That’s because working groups are still trying to iron out differences on a number of budget bills including education and taxes. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy says they have ironed out many of…

Minnesota Legislature Ends Regular Session Without Passing Budget Bills, Special Session Will Be Called

ST. PAUL (KVRR) — The final day of Minnesota’s legislative session fizzled out late Monday without finishing and voting on budgets for commerce, education, energy, health, human services, transportation and more. Conference committees became working groups this morning to finish work on the budget bills. Both chambers also failed to vote on an omnibus tax bill. It made it to…

Regular Session To End Tonight in St. Paul, Special Session Likely

ST. PAUL (KVRR/FOX9) — Time is going to run out for the Minnesota Legislature to pass the next two-year budget. The regular session must end at 11:59 tonight. Leaders say a special session seems likely. Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders had announced a roughly $67 billion budget agreement heading into this weekend. Lawmakers in both chambers passed several bills…

Shield Act Would Give School Districts Grants for Bullet-proof Windows & Lockdown Systems

ST. PAUL (KVRR/KFGO) — Making Minnesota schools safer is the idea behind the Shield Act. The bill is sponsored by Republican Rep. Elliott Engen of White Bear Township. He says it would provide funding for schools to set up security plans using technology like bullet-proof windows and doors, lockdown systems, and direct communication with law enforcement. Engen wants the grants…

House Democrats boycott opening day of Minnesota’s legislative session to thwart narrow GOP majority

Republican State Rep. Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring sworn in as House SpeakerUPDATE 8:29PM : Democrats respond to Republicans holding session in the House without them. Former Speaker of the House Rep. Melissa Hortman said, “Very strange afternoon indeed. We saw something on the floor of the Minnesota House of Representatives today that we have never seen in Minnesota history,…

Hearing Held In Advance of Sports Betting Bill Being Introduced in Minnesota

ST. PAUL (KVRR) — Attempts to legalize sports betting in Minnesota have been proposed in the state Legislature every year since a Supreme Court ruling in 2018 paved the way for states to decide. But in the end the proposals ultimately failed to gain lawmaker’s approval. But lawmakers are about to get another proposal.  So will this be the year…

Republicans File Petition Over Special Election, Democrats Threaten A No-Show In The Minnesota House

ST. PAUL (KVRR) — Minnesota House Democrats are threatening not to show up for the first day of the session if a power-sharing agreement isn’t reached with Republicans. The body was tied at 67 until a judge decided that Curtis Johnson didn’t live in the district he won in November. That gave Republicans a slim 67-66 majority but it won’t…