Minnesota Report
The script of the 2026 Legislative Session was written at its onset. The historic tied House at 67-67 the single vote majority in the Senate set the stage for an interesting interaction. Here is the power-sharing agreement. The assassination of the Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and family dog Gilbert left a dark cloud over the House Chamber combined with the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School drew attention once again to the issue of gun violence.
Much of the signed agreement by the four legislative leaders House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-13A, Cold Spring), DFL House Leader Zack Stephenson (DFL-35A, Coon Rapids), Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy (DFL-65, St Paul) and Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson (R-01, East Grand Forks) came to pass. Here is the signed agreement.
Republicans created a session only committee Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy to attempt to address the issue, but merely became a partisan blame game charade. The primary legislative responses to fraud actually came from the establishment of the Office of Inspector General and the IT bill, which funds a long-over due update to the state’s computer infrastructure. Although, any computer system changes bring to mind the haunting and clunky roll-out of the MNLARS—by Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) and the Department of Public Safety which, cost tens of millions of dollars and causing massive backlogs, system crashes, and processing delays. So hence, this is what Republicans have to run on in the November election.
On the DFL side, the need for a rescue plan for Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) literally stem from the federal cuts to Medicare. HCMC operates as a major safety-net hospital, with approximately 75% of its patients are uninsured or rely on public programs like Medicaid resulting in the fix—part of a $660+ million omnibus health and human services bill—HCMC will receive a $205 million bailout from Minnesota’s state general fund, and the establishment of a $500 Hospital Reserve Fund through 2031.
The acknowledgment of the problems in other hospitals, such as North Memorial, along with rural hospitals across the state are where the Reserve Fund will be applied.
The $1.2 billion Bonding Bill passed and included a provision for a one-year reduction of license tab fees. The implementation date for this is set for January 1, 2027. The opportunity to start this was available on October 1, of this year, but it would have occurred before the November election and become a valuable political points for incumbents, and a non-universal application for vehicle owners. The entirety of a calendar year means an equal disbursement for all tab fee payers.
There is $125 million available for Homestead Tax Credits.
At the time of this article 96 bills have arrived and been signed by Governor Tim Walz (DFL-MN). Here is the list.
The number of bills which passed both bodies and are headed to the Governor for signature are 95. Here is the list.
Many legislators will not return, most notably Speaker Demuth who is running for Governor. In the House there are 10 retirements 7 Republican and 3 DFL. The are 7 House members seeking Senate seats and 5 Republican members and 6 DFLers from either body seeking either a statewide office or a Congressional seat. The entire list of who and what can be seen here.
All-in-all the legislature got it work done on behalf of the citizens of Minnesota. Each side has its political points to use in the election and the ever present specter of Donald J Trump (R) will haunt Republicans and be a banner like a pirate flag for DFLers.
2026, will prove to be a monumental election.