The Minnesota Legislature convened the 2021 session on January 5.
Following the results of the 2020 election, the partisan makeup and leadership of the legislature looks similar to the previous two years, with Democrats in control of the House and Republicans in control of the Senate. Minnesota continues to have the only divided legislature in the country.
The Minnesota Legislature convened the 2021 session on January 5.
Following the results of the 2020 election, the partisan makeup and leadership of the legislature looks similar to the previous two years, with Democrats in control of the House and Republicans in control of the Senate. Minnesota continues to have the only divided legislature in the country.
Session priorities
The main focus of the 2021 legislative session will be passing a state budget for FY22-23, and addressing the impact of COVID-19 on the state’s health care system and economy.
Minnesota is currently operating on a $48 billion budget that provides funding for the fiscal years running July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2021. In the odd-year legislative session, the legislature’s focus is on crafting a two-year state budget for the next biennium which begins July 1, 2021.
Based on the November budget forecast from Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB), Minnesota is projected to have a $1.3 billion budget deficit in the next biennium. Governor Walz will use this forecast to guide his budget recommendations, which will be released by January 26.
An updated budget forecast will be released from MMB at the end of February. The legislature will use this forecast to create their budget recommendations. Legislators are expected to propose various solutions to solve a potential budget deficit including raising taxes, cutting spending, using the state’s budget reserve fund, and reallocating funding from other state sources of revenue.
U of M budget and capital requests
The University’s FY22-23 budget request, a $46.5 million increase above current base funding for the next biennium, consists of one category: operations and maintenance funding. This is the lowest requested increase by the University in over 20 years. The decision was made to come forward with an historically low biennial budget request in this difficult financial environment because the University of Minnesota remains a key partner in boosting Minnesota’s future economy.
The University’s 2021 capital request provides $264 million for three projects: $200 million for Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement (HEAPR); $62.4 million for the Chemistry Undergraduate Teaching Laboratories on the Twin Cities campus; and $1.6 million for pre-design and design for the Science Building on the Duluth campus.
On Tuesday, January 12, President Joan Gabel presented an overview of the University of Minnesota system and the biennial budget request to the Senate Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee. Watch President Gabel’s testimony.
Legislative Kickoff Breakfast
Thank you to those who joined us yesterday for the first-ever virtual, systemwide Legislative Kickoff Breakfast. More than 700 advocates registered from across Minnesota to hear President Gabel, Governor Walz, and Minnesota Business Partnership Executive Charlie Weaver discuss the upcoming legislative session. Afterwards advocates broke off into virtual rooms by campus to discuss local advocacy efforts. Watch this Legislative Kickoff Breakfast video to learn why students around the state support the University's budget request.
We are grateful for your advocacy efforts and encourage you to stay engaged through UMN Advocates throughout the 2021 legislative session. Visit UMN Advocates for more information and to contact your elected officials.