The Legislature convened a special session on June 14 and we have been hard at work in final negotiations crafting bipartisan budget bills that will fund our state for the next two years. Details on the overall budget agreement and where the Legislature currently is in the process can be found here.
Current Status of Budget Bills
We’ve reached bipartisan compromise on most budget areas. Here are the bills we have passed thus far.
Higher Education: Makes investments to ensure students can recover from the unprecedented challenges they’ve faced over the past year. It will help ensure young people have the ability to thrive as they move forward in the post-pandemic workforce.
Agriculture: Invests in emerging farmer outreach, urban and youth agriculture, the Farm-to-School initiative, Good Food Access, and funding for environmentally-friendly production practices and conservation techniques.
Our regular session came to an end last month, however, our work for the year is far from over as we approach a special session set for next week. House and Senate leaders and Governor Walz have reached a budget agreement that we are using as guidelines in our conference committee negotiations. We have reached agreements on our Energy/Commerce, Taxes, Higher Ed, Agriculture, and Legacy Finance budgets. Some of the more contentious bills like E-12 Education and Public Safety still have a ways to go however. Details on the overall budget agreement and what the special session will look like can be found here.
DFL Releases Eviction Off-Ramp
It is critical that we prevent a massive housing crisis as we begin to return to normal. The House DFL has a common sense plan to give everyone the time they need to catch up on their rent and mortgage. Watch our press conference to learn more about our plan. If you are behind on housing payments, apply for aid here.
Our regular session came to an end Monday, however, our work for the year is far from over and we are headed towards a special session. Before the regular session ended leadership reached a major agreement on budget targets for this year. This will set the guardrails for the rest of our negotiations for the year. With these targets we have the opportunity to make significant investments throughout the state that will benefit families, students, workers, and our local businesses. We will continue to meet and negotiate in conference committees to iron out the more difficult policy details. Details on the overall budget agreement and what the special session will look like can be found here.
Cannabis Legalization
Last week we passed HF 600, a bill which legalizes and regulates adult-use cannabis in Minnesota, while expunging records of people convicted for nonviolent offenses involving cannabis.
I am proud of the bill we passed. It has come to fruition after years of hard work and careful planning. I know that by ending the prohibition on adult-use cannabis Minnesota will be able to heal the harm caused by prohibition. This bill takes into consideration the injustice caused by prohibition while ensuring that legalization will protect the health and safety of all Minnesotans.
Overall, the biggest responsibility for lawmakers this session is to enact a new two-year state budget. The House has approved all of our budget bills off the floor, all of which were put together with the goal of helping workers, small businesses, students, and families all emerge from the challenges of the past year with the ability to succeed and thrive. Here are each of the bills we’ve passed:
These last two weeks we have again been forced to confront our state’s issues around systemic racism and injustice for Black, Brown and Indigenous Minnesotans. I am grateful that Derek Chauvin was held accountable for his murderous actions, but just a week earlier we saw the tragic killing of Daunte Wright. We clearly have significant work to do so that Black lives are valued and all Minnesotans are safe in their communities. I encourage you to read the People of color and Indigenous Caucuses statements on the killing of Daunte Wright here, and on the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin here.
Budget Bills Passed
We are entering the final weeks of session so we are passing our comprehensive budget bills (also called omnibus bills) on each legislative topic. These will form the base of our negotiations as work to craft a budget that works for all Minnesotans. This means we are staying up late on the House floor debating the final amendments before we pass the bills. We have passed most of the omnibus bills for the session and only have a couple left. Here are some highlights:
I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on the most pressing issues we are working on at the Capitol. If you have not done so already, please complete this survey to help me understand where you feel I should focus my efforts for the rest of session.
Vaccine Update
Yesterday, Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan announced the expansion of vaccine eligibility for people 16 years of age and older starting March 30th. The announcement is in response to the increased supply of vaccines by the federal government to arrive in April. This is fantastic news and a clear sign that we are entering the final stretch of fighting this vaccine. Read more about this development here.
If you haven’t yet, sign up for the state’s Vaccine Connector to get connected with opportunities once you’re eligible
Today marks the second deadline at the Legislature, which requires committees to act favorably on bills or companions of bills that met the first deadline in the other body. It is just the latest sign that we are moving quickly through the session, and brings us closer to creating a responsible and balanced budget. With our legislative recess coming at the end of next week, we are officially at the halfway point through the 2021 Legislative Session.
Our third deadline comes on April 9, by which point we will need to pass major finance and appropriation bills. These are the bills that fund the core areas of our budget – like education, health and human services, and transportation. The pace of our work will only pick up, as we get this budget together before our adjournment in May. While we still have a ways to go, I remain optimistic that my colleagues and I will come together to make sure the final budget we pass reflects our values and is focused on helping Minnesotans get through this pandemic and recover.
Budget
Minnesota’s economic outlook has come a long way since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when state economists forecast major budget deficits for the state. Thankfully, through our progress against this virus, and thanks to state and federal aid, our economic outlook continues to improve.
We will also be receiving an influx of additional aid thanks to the latest federal relief bill, which will deliver approximately $4.9 billion in funding for COVID-19 related expenses. This aid will be a major boost at the local, county, and state level. However, it is largely one-time funding that can only be used for COVID-19 related expenses. We must make sure this aid, as well as the final budget we create is focused on helping those that have been hardest hit by the pandemic.
Following a significant change in the state’s fiscal outlook in the February 2021 budget forecast, Governor Walz has released a revised budget proposal. While this is only a proposal, and does not take into account the latest federal aid, it does give guidance to the Legislature on where his priorities are. It is only a proposal, and it is up to us in the Senate and the House to do the work of creating the actual budget for the state.
Vaccines now available to all VA-enrolled Veterans
If you are a veteran, please enroll with the VA and get your vaccine. If you know a veteran, please share this information with them.
If you have any questions or wish to unsubscribe from this Newsletter please feel free to contact my office at 651-296-2556 or by email at sen.jerry.newton@senate.mn.
I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on the most pressing issues we are working on at the Capitol. If you have not done so already, please complete this survey to help me understand where you feel I should focus my efforts for the rest of session.
AAPI Violence
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in violence against Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), immigrants, and international citizens. Over the past month in particular, there has been a rise of anti-AAPI violence, and these violent acts have culminated in the horrific murders in Atlanta, Georgia, which included six AAPI women. We must all stand up and confront hate when we see it, I stand with our AAPI communities and will work to ensure that they feel safe wherever they are. Please watch my colleague Rep. Tou Xiong’s speech on this tragedy, and the Minnesota Asian Pacific Caucuses statement on the issue.
As session progresses I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on the most pressing issues we are working on at the Capitol. Please complete this survey to help me understand where you feel I should focus my efforts for the rest of session.
Several of my bills are continuing to move through the process. One of particular note, HF 648, had a hearing in the State Government committee this week This bill would stop health plans from limiting the amount of screenings and tests for opioids. We shouldn’t force those in recovery and their loved ones to bear the costs of these tests.
Virtual Town Hall
Sen. Jerry Newton and I are holding a virtual town hall on Tuesday, March 30 at 7:00 p.m. We hope you’ll join us to discuss your ideas and priorities for the legislative session. The town hall will be held on Zoom. If you would like to participate in the Zoom portion, click here to RSVP and to submit a question.
Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) officials released their February 2021 Budget and Economic Forecast yesterday, and it showed good news. They are projecting a positive budget balance of $1.6 billion for the next biennium. Minnesota’s budget outlook is significantly better for this biennium and the next due to an improved U.S. economic outlook that is bolstered by federal actions that have emerged since November and were not incorporated in earlier projections.
Now that we know what the financial climate of the state will look like for the next two years, it is now up to the Legislature to craft a balanced and responsible budget. The forecast shows a cautiously hopeful picture for our state, but we also know this recovery has not been felt equally for Minnesotans. We must create a budget that ensures a fair recovery that helps those who have been most affected by the pandemic and one that strengthens our communities.
