Governor’s Budget Rollout

This week, Governor Walz began rolling out key features of his proposed budget with two press conferences focused on investments in economic and children and families initiatives. The $12 billion children and families proposal includes investments in child care tax credits, school lunches, and school funding, while the economic proposal, totaling $4.1 billion, would include workforce benefits, climate investments, and agriculture supports. Two more packages will be announced in the lead-up to the full budget announcement on January 24.

Cannabis

The House bill to legalize adult-use recreational cannabis, H.F. 100, was approved by the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee this Thursday, and is set to be heard by Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee early next week. Meanwhile, its Senate companion bill will have its first hearing in Judiciary and Public Safety Committee next week. A lengthy committee path remains ahead for this major piece of legislation.

Clean Energy

On Wednesday, the House Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee approved Majority Leader Jamie Long’s bill to require 100% carbon-free energy production in Minnesota by 2040. The bill provides “off-ramps” to utilities who do not believe they can reach this goal either for technological or financial reasons. H.F. 7 next heads to the House floor for a vote.

Earned Sick & Safe Time

House and Senate Labor committees each approved bills on Tuesday that would mandate that employers provide paid time off for sick leave. Both will make their next stops in the respective chamber’s State and Local Government committees.

Breakneck Pace

This session is off to a running start. Just three weeks into session, several major bills have passed off of the House floor and still more have been rapidly rounding their committee stops. While the action of the Senate has proceeded more slowly, we are still on pace for the busiest first month of session in recent memory. However, don’t be fooled into thinking legislators expect to finish their business anytime soon—Capitol observers suggest there will be multiple waves of major spending packages before session adjourns.

January 20, 2023