State Relations Updates

Governor Walz called the Minnesota Legislature into a seventh and final special session of 2020 on Monday, December 14, to extend the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency for another 30 days. The Senate voted to end the governor's peacetime emergency; however the House supported its continuation. 

Amid climbing COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, Governor Walz called the Minnesota Legislature into a sixth special session on Thursday, November 12, to extend the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency for another 30 days.

While we wait for the outcome of the presidential race, most congressional races have been finalized. In Minnesota, we have just one change in our delegation, with Congresswoman-elect Michelle Fischbach heading to Washington D.C. to represent the 7th Congressional District. Fischbach is a former state senator, former chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, and former lieutenant governor. 

As we wait for certified election results and recounts in a number of races, it appears that Minnesota will continue to have the only divided state legislature in the country. 

Governor Walz issued a proclamation last week calling the legislature into the fifth special session of 2020, on October 12, to extend the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency for another 30 days. During the four-day special session the legislature passed four bills, including a capital investment bonding bill. The bill contains over $75 million in general obligation funding for the University of Minnesota.

Governor Walz called the Minnesota Legislature into a fourth special session on Friday, September 11, to extend the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency for another 30 days.

Governor Walz called the Minnesota Legislature into a third special session on Wednesday, August 12, to extend the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency for another 30 days. The legislature passed two bills and adjourned sine die from the one-day special session. 

On July 13, Governor Walz convened the second special legislative session of 2020 as required by law after issuing an extension of the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency for another 30 days. On July 21, both the House and Senate adjourned the second special session sine die, unable to come to agreement on major issues.

On Saturday, June 20, both the House and Senate adjourned the special session sine die, unable to come to agreement on major issues.

The Minnesota Legislature adjourned the 2020 regular session last night sine die. Despite a flurry of negotiations over the final weekend, legislators were unable to reach agreement on major issues like capital investment and taxes. 

We have entered the final stretch of the state legislative regular session. Only 13 days remain until adjournment. Although we expect multiple special sessions throughout summer and fall, lawmakers will complete the majority of this year’s work before May 18. 

The Minnesota State Legislature has adjourned until Tuesday, April 14. During this extended recess the legislature will continue working by alternative means, but there will be no standing committee meetings or floor sessions. Legislators will meet on an on-call basis for emergency response and preparedness for COVID-19.

On Thursday, February 27, Minnesota Management and Budget announced that the state’s projected surplus for FY2020-21 has grown to $1.5 billion, up from $1.3 billion in November 2019.

The Minnesota House and Senate reconvened at noon, today, at the State Capitol for the start of the second regular session of the 91st Legislature.

Today, Governor Tim Walz released his 2020 capital investment recommendations. The proposal would provide $224.2 million for University of Minnesota capital projects.