Deadline is Here

The 2024 Legislative Session will end with no time to spare. Legislative leaders have rationed the allotted 120 session days so that every last one will be used, with day 120 coinciding with the constitutionally-mandated last possible date for session, Monday, May 20. The legislature will be in session today, Saturday, and Sunday to pass bills, with a final gathering on Monday to hear retirement speeches from those who won’t be back next year.

No Agreement

With less than 60 hours left to pass bills, bipartisan agreement remains elusive. Without an agreement, the DFL controlled legislature will continue to pass more than a dozen remaining conference committee reports on omnibus bills. However, any bills that require minority party votes to pass will likely be left undone—including a capital investment (bonding) bill, sports betting bill, and an Uber/Lyft bill.

Trump in Town

While the 2024 Legislature is in its final throes, the Republican Party will conduct its state convention from the capital city. This evening, former President Donald Trump will headline the GOP’s large fundraising dinner, the Lincoln Reagan Dinner, as part of his visit to St. Paul.

State Revenue Collections Leveling Off

After announcing a surplus of $3.7 billion in the February Forecast and an increase in revenue collections of $241 million for February and March, Minnesota Management and Budget has now announced that net general fund revenue collections in April totaled $16 million above what was forecasted in February. Net receipts from individual income and sales taxes for the month were less than forecast, while net corporate and other tax revenues were higher than expected. This leveling off of revenue collections will be monitored by state officials in the months to come.

See You in 2025

This is the last Top 5 of 2024. Prior to a change passed in 2023, the Legislature started session in odd-numbered years on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in January (as early as January 2), but the 2023 statute change pushed out the start date an extra week. The 2025 Legislative Session will begin on Tuesday, January 14.

May 17, 2024