Legislative Session Starts; MMA to Focus on 5 Major Issues
February 19, 2026
State lawmakers returned to St. Paul on February 17 for the second half of the 2025-2026 biennium.
Global Agreement on Budget Announced May 15, Still Work to do to Finish on Time
May 15, 2025
Legislative leaders from both bodies have been meeting regularly with Gov. Tim Walz to reach an overall agreement on the size of the state budget for the next two-year period. On May 15, Walz and legislative leaders held a press conference to announce that they have reached an agreement on overall spending levels for the next biennium.
Even with all sides reaching a deal, there is not much time left to pass the bills needed to implement the budget before the midnight May 19 deadline to adjourn.
A special session to finish the work appears likely. Walz is the only person who can call a special session. In the past, when a special session was needed to complete the budget, some governors have waited to call one until after an agreement had been reached. In other years, governors have called legislators back right away to finish the work. Currently, Walz is hoping to call a one- to three-day session to vote and pass the agreed upon budget bills before Memorial Day.
Latest News
MMA Leaders Testify on Medicaid Cuts
February 19, 2026
On the second day of the legislative session, MMA leadership was already advocating for one of its top priorities - minimizing the harm of federal changes to Medical Assistance (MA).
MMA Priority Bill on AI and Prior Auth Already Moving at the Capitol
February 19, 2026
Legislation to prohibit the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in prior authorization requirements was heard in the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee on February 19.