Headlines
Session begins with tribute to Melissa Hortman as leaders set priorities amid questions about how much will get across the finish line
On Tuesday the House and Senate will begin the 2026 legislative session each by honoring former Speaker Melissa Hortman who was assassinated last June. It will be the first meeting of either chamber since that shooting took place. Senator John Hoffman (DFL-Champlin) who survived the attack will be on the senate floor and has already begun chairing committee hearings. It is a sober beginning to a legislative session that has seen additional turmoil since those shootings.
Approaching session legislative leaders have repeatedly said there are things that can and should get accomplished, while also managing expectations of the public by noting the structural budget issues the state is facing during a year where every seat is up for election. While the budget issues looming in FY28-29 are significant, the state currently enjoys a $2.5 billion surplus. That reduces the need for lawmakers to pass budget changes this year given that it is already balanced.
When it comes to the legislative divide, after a few special elections in both bodies the chambers are facing the same math they did last year. The Senate DFL is in the majority with a 34-33 advantage and the House is evenly split down the middle 67-67. The co-chair model will continue in the House, with the gavel passing back and forth between chairs every other hearing.
Leader Priorities
Over the last couple of weeks legislative leaders have taken to multiple venues to talk about the upcoming legislative session. Below is a summary from MICA on what those leaders have been saying.
While Governor Walz has not yet released his supplemental budget (there is no deadline in statute for a Governor’s supplemental budget during an even-numbered year) in January he did release his bonding bill recommendations. Last week he held a news conference proposing a $10 million relief package for small businesses impacted by the federal surge.
House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) emphasized that the state is still facing a deficit when asked about issues brought forward that require new spending. She continues to make the case that fraud is the top issue to address at the capitol. When it comes to bonding she has said the focus should be on roads, bridges, and wastewater infrastructure. While Speaker Demuth has been cautious when discussing any new spending proposals, last Friday during an interview on Minnesota Public Radio she said:
“Another area to look at fraud is after meeting our counties and knowing they are working with antiquated systems that both slow down the work that counties do to provide services to those that need it….that is another thing we could look at, do they have the dollars to upgrade those systems…in our counties they’re using systems that were created in 1989 and 1994.”
House DFL Caucus Leader Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids) is emphasizing affordability his caucus is also prioritizing investigations into the recent “Metro Surge” operation, and passing law changes related to gun violence. On fraud issues he’s said the legislature should make the programs in place to prevent fraud work better and make sure they have the resources and authority they need. When it comes to a bonding bill he said his caucus supports as big a bill as the state can support but said that if anyone tries to tie other issues to bonding that it means it won’t pass.
Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy (DFL-St Paul) said the senate will hold hearings on the impacts the federal government has had on Minnesota, both through the “Metro Surge” operation and HR1 which passed last July. She said the senate is also looking at proposals related to mental health, school safety, and gun law changes in response to shootings that have happened since last legislative session.
Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks) wants the legislature to focus broadly on reducing mandates for businesses across the state in Minnesota. He voiced concerns over the Governor’s proposal to have a $10 million forgivable loan program as picking favorites. Senator Johnson is also concerned about escalating costs in state government and the role fraud plays in that.
Counties across Minnesota meet with legislators to highlight technology modernization issue
Over the last several months many counties across Minnesota have met with their legislative delegations to talk about the challenges that counties and their clients face due to the outdated systems from the last century that they’re dealing with. Dakota County met with Governor Walz on the issue earlier this month. Stearns County met with Speaker Demuth and their delegation last week.
Technology modernization is the number one priority for the Minnesota Inter-County Association at the capitol this year, as it is for all the county organizations. MICA is helping organize the legislative path for those bills to move forward as well as informational hearings to highlight the issue for legislators to talk about how this challenge has a broad impact across many different issue areas.
Security changes at the capitol starting today
On Friday, February 13, the Department of Public Safety held a news briefing on the security changes at the capitol. The briefing was in response to an executive order issued by Governor Walz on capitol security on January 26. The points of entry will be much more limited this year, with four public access points. The main entrance to the capitol will now be on the ground floor, underneath the main staircase. The other points of entry will only be through the tunnel system.
Capitol security is encouraging people exit through those four public entrances as well. The building will close at 4:30, with exceptions being made when committee hearings start later.
There will be a new weapons and bag screening process. Below is the list of the prohibited items:
