The Office of Higher Education (OHE) presented before both the House and Senate higher education committees this week. Committee members had the opportunity to meet the new Office of Higher... Continue Reading →

Minnesota State presented to both the Senate and House higher education committees yesterday. In the Senate, committee members learned about Minnesota State’s $246 million budget request to the Legislature this... Continue Reading →

Senate Republicans and House Democrats highlight session priorities Lawmakers introduced 122 new bills the first week of the 2019 legislative session. The House Democrats and Senate Republicans both held press... Continue Reading →

2019 Legislative Session convenes today The House and Senate are scheduled to convene the 2019 legislative session at noon today. In the House, 39 new members will be sworn in.... Continue Reading →

Walz appoints remaining commissioners Governor-elect Tim Walz appointed seven more commissioners today. At the press conference this afternoon, Walz said he is still looking for a commissioner to lead Minnesota... Continue Reading →

Walz announces more commissioner appointments Today Governor-elect Tim Walz announced seven more commissioners to his cabinet. Serving as the Commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture will be Thom Petersen.... Continue Reading →

Original article was written December 24, 2018 Legislative Update 12/24: Committee assignments announced Greetings, Late Friday evening, both the House and Senate announced committee assignments for 2019-2020. See Important Links for the full... Continue Reading →

Original article was written December 20, 2018 Governor-elect Walz announces three more cabinet members Governor-elect Tim Walz announced three more cabinet choices earlier today. He chose commissioners to head the... Continue Reading →

Governor-elect Walz makes first cabinet picks Governor-elect Tim Walz announced his first five cabinet choices earlier this afternoon. He chose commissioners to head the Department of Administration, the Department of Transportation,... Continue Reading →

November economic forecast: $1.54 billion surplus projected The Office of Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released the state’s November budget forecast today, which projects the state budget to have a $1.54 billion surplus... Continue Reading →

Senate higher education committee chair announced The Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus issued a press release this afternoon announcing some changes in the Senate committee structure and Senate chairs. Rep. Paul Anderson,... Continue Reading →

Original post is dated: Wednesday, November 21, 2018 This afternoon the Minnesota House DFL announced the committee structure and chair assignments for the 2019-2020 biennium. Rep. Connie Bernardy, DFL-New Brighton,... Continue Reading →

With a new majority in the House, the House DFL Caucus met last night and elected their top leaders for the next two years. Speaker of the House Representative Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn... Continue Reading →

Yesterday’s election in Minnesota saw over 2.5 million votes cast in the major statewide races, which at 61%, is the highest midterm turnout in Minnesota since 2002. At stake for... Continue Reading →

Congress passed a fiscal year 2019 appropriations package, H.R. 6157, "Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Act 2019 and Continuing Appropriations Act 2019," that includes full-year funding... Continue Reading →

Note: This update initially went out Wednesday of last week, 'yesterday' language refers to June 5, 2018. Filing for federal or state office in Minnesota is officially closed as of yesterday... Continue Reading →

Gov. Dayton signs bonding bill Gov. Mark Dayton signed the bonding bill this morning, which includes $129 million in asset preservation and projects for Minnesota State. He line-item vetoed one... Continue Reading →

Earlier today, Michelle Fischbach officially took the oath of office as Minnesota’s 49th Lieutenant Governor, filling the vacancy created upon Senator Tina Smith’s resignation from that role. As President of the... Continue Reading →

Governor Mark Dayton has vetoed the tax bill and the omnibus supplemental budget bill. In Dayton’s veto letter of the omnibus supplemental budget bill, he said, “I made my objections... Continue Reading →

An even-numbered session is traditionally considered a bonding year, and much of the focus this session was on passing a bonding bill. There was also a $329 million budget surplus... Continue Reading →

The Legislature adjourned the 2018 session sine die just before midnight, but not without both chambers first passing a bonding bill. After the Senate was unable to pass their bonding... Continue Reading →

With eight hours remaining in the 2018 legislative session, the Senate is in recess, and the House just came back from recess to take up more bills.  On the calendar for... Continue Reading →

Just three days remain before the Legislature must wrap up by midnight on Sunday. Lawmakers and Governor Dayton will work to try and reach consensus on a tax bill, funding... Continue Reading →

Contract ratification bill moving through Legislature Governor Dayton signed the first contract ratification bill, Chapter 102, on March 27, 2018. This bill ratifies labor contracts and compensation plans for state... Continue Reading →

Conferees adopt higher education article The supplemental budget conference committee adopted the higher education article today. The higher education article budget target agreement is $3 million. That money is appropriated... Continue Reading →

Last week of Session This is the final week of the 2018 legislative session, and we can expect long days and nights while lawmakers and Governor Dayton negotiate an end-of-session... Continue Reading →

Bonding The House Ways and Means committee took up the House’s $825 million bonding bill this morning, which includes $123 million for Minnesota State. Bill author Rep. Dean Urdahl, R-Grove... Continue Reading →

Supplemental finance bill takes another step After more than nine hours of debate yesterday, the House passed SF 3656 off the floor after substituting their omnibus supplemental finance bill language... Continue Reading →

Legislature focuses on tax plan The House and Senate tax bills are gaining momentum this week. Senate Republicans unveiled their tax plan on Tuesday, proposing a cut in state income... Continue Reading →