During the 2018 legislative session, the House introduced 1,819 bills and the Senate 1,672 bills. Over 8,600 bills in total were introduced in the biennium. In the end, this year, 115 bills were passed by the legislature, and the governor signed 100 into law. In total, 23 new laws are relevant to the University.
The 2018 Legislative Session convened on February 20, with Republicans continuing to hold a majority in the House and Senate following two special elections. This year also marked DFLer Mark Dayton’s last legislative session as governor; he will not seek re-election this fall.
Typically, the legislature focuses on capital investment projects in even numbered years. The House and Senate capital investment committees conducted many tours last summer and fall of proposed bonding projects throughout the state. Additionally, the Budget and Economic Forecast projected a $329 million surplus, and the governor, Senate, and House pursued a supplemental budget bill.
The University of Minnesota submitted both a capital request and a supplemental budget request to the state. The 2018 Capital Request included four projects: $200 million for Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement (HEAPR); $10.5 million for Greater MN Academic Renewal; $24 million for Pillsbury Hall Capital Renewal; and $4 million for Glensheen Capital Renewal. The University requested $10 million in the FY19 supplemental budget to hold tuition steady for resident undergraduate students systemwide.
The legislature passed a bonding bill in the final moments of session, and the governor signed the bill into law; however, no agreement was reached between the legislature and the governor on the supplemental budget. As a result, the governor vetoed the legislature’s omnibus supplemental budget bill a few days after the constitutionally mandated adjournment date of May 21. The governor also vetoed an omnibus tax bill designed to conform Minnesota’s tax system to newly enacted tax reforms on the federal level.
All Minnesota House seats are up for election this November, and Minnesotans will also elect a new governor. Several members of the House and Senate have announced their intentions to retire or pursue other elected offices. The legislature is scheduled to convene for the 91st legislative session on January 8, 2019.
During the 2018 legislative session, the House introduced 1,819 bills and the Senate 1,672 bills. Over 8,600 bills in total were introduced in the biennium. In the end, this year, 115 bills were passed by the legislature, and the governor signed 100 into law. In total, 23 new laws are relevant to the University. View these new laws at z.umn.edu/legislation.