Minnesota lawmakers reconvene Monday morning for goodbyes, with the window to pass final bills having closed.
The Legislature concluded a tense session late Sunday by authorizing construction projects, a financial rescue for a safety net hospital, new safeguards against fraud and price breaks for car and home owners.
There was a flurry of activity right up to the end, with lawmakers trying to scoot items across the finish line. A transportation proposal missed the mark in the Senate while the House failed to advance a bill that would set term limits for future governors.
Lawmakers were almost evenly split — 101 DFLers and 100 Republicans.
House DFL Leader Zack Stephenson hailed what did get done.
“We just had an incredibly productive session at a time when I think walking in, most people were not optimistic about that,” Stephenson said early Monday. “A narrowly divided legislature couldn’t be more divided.”
They were dealt challenges outside of their control — from adjusting to new requirements from the federal government for health and food programs to coping with the assassination of their former colleague to an extended federal immigration agent surge. Gun bills roiled the Capitol, too.
“There are lots of disappointments every year. This was a big one, and that’s been festering for so long,” Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, said while sitting beside Sen. Zaynab Mohamed outside the chamber as the clock ticked down.
“Gun violence, Metro Surge, horrific things happening to the community, and the House won’t act on them, and it’s a tied House,” Marty said. “We understand partisan politics, but refusal to vote on her gun violence bill, refusal to allow business relief for the businesses hurt by the surge, there are very few things we’ve won on.”
Mohamed, a Minneapolis Democrat, agreed.
“We've had the opportunity to do more to step up to protect our neighbors, to save programs, and instead we're often choosing between a political headline instead of doing the right thing for people,” Mohamed said.
Emotions were high from the start. Lawmakers mourned former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and the two children killed at Annunciation Catholic Church and School.
Republicans zeroed in on fraud, where some changes to firm up defenses did get made.
They also tried to roll back regulations, mostly without success. Lawmakers spent a lot of time talking past one another.
Rep. Danny Nadeau, R-Rogers, said it often felt like lawmakers were talking past one another.
“Very different views, but all of a sudden we come down here and we stand in one place, but it's almost like we’re back to back,” he said. “So we don’t see what the other person is seeing.”
Legislative leaders said they did the best they could with the political layout. They were also trying to limit spending out of concern a deficit is brewing.
A broad package to close out the session included emergency funding to help prevent the closure of HCMC — the Minneapolis safety-net hospital. A first round of $50 million could help stabilize its finances and another $150 million won’t be far behind.
“These are the people that care for us, and they needed us to step up for them, because that is where people had their babies, maybe on their worst day of their life, they were saved by HCMC,” Rep. Esther Agbaje, DFL-Minneapolis, who championed the proposal.
The deal also included property tax assistance that provides a 15 percent bump to those homeowners who qualify for the homestead tax credit. Drivers could also see some relief from one-year decreases in license tab fees. For the owner of a $25,000 vehicle, the savings is about $72. For a $50,000 vehicle, the renewal cost would fall by about $145.
Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, celebrated those elements.
“We’re able to finally get the tab fees reduced by $254 million,” he said. “That's $254 million that’s going to be staying in Minnesotans’ pockets when they come to renew their tab fees.”
Lawmakers also earmarked money for rental assistance funding and school safety. A new anonymous threat reporting system will be established to head off more school tragedies.
They also renamed a highway and garden in honor of Hortman. And they adopted permanent security upgrades at the Capitol. As well as new protections for lawmakers, judges and other office holders when they’re off the complex.
Republican Rep. Greg Davids said while there have been struggles, the narrowly divided Legislature has fostered positive changes.
“I’ve served in the majority, I’ve served in the minority, and I know how each of those works. I’ve never served in a tie before, and you know what’s been interesting is that it has actually made us sit down with the other side and talk,” Davids said. “That's a good thing.”
Lawmakers return today for retirement speeches. Those running for new terms will turn to campaign mode; candidate filing starts Tuesday.
All 201 legislative seats are on November’s ballot. Both parties hope the tie is broken — as long as they’re the ones on top when the 2027 session starts in January.
MPR News fellow Cait Kelley contributed to this story
