No Special Session Yet; Legislators Hit the Campaign Trail

June 9, 2022

More than two weeks have passed since the Minnesota Legislature adjourned without agreement as to what to do with the state’s record-setting surplus. The possibility of a special session, which would need to be called by Gov. Tim Walz, remains unclear. 

Almost a month ago, and with a week remaining in the legislative session, prospects for an orderly end-of-session seemed promising. Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) and House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park), stood side-by-side with Walz to announce an agreed upon budget framework. The framework included a $4 billion tax deal, $4 billion in state spending, and a $1.4 billion bonding bill – a deal legislators on both sides of the aisle could get behind, in theory. 

The challenge remained, however, for legislators to work out a compromise on the details of final spending bills. The May 23 session deadline for adjournment came and went without movement on several key issues. Despite bipartisan agreement on a tax bill, conference committees on health and human services, E-12 education, public safety, and transportation failed to finalize a state spending deal. Without agreement on spending, the House would not move the tax bill, and the framework agreed to a week prior, did not come to fruition. 

Hortman immediately asked Walz to call a special session to finish their work. Miller said the state did not need a special session because its budgets were balanced.  Walz stated he was open to calling a special session, but only if both sides came to an agreement on the spending bills. 

As of this update, there has been no announced timeline for a special session. With the exception of a few announcements from the governor’s office advocating for a bipartisan resolution, leadership has largely been quiet on the prospect of a special session. Unlike last year, there is no requirement to pass a state budget this year, no looming government shutdown, and there is no deadline to pass anything. The state surplus sits on the bottom line until the Legislature reconvenes and acts on it. Whether that is this year or next, remains unclear. 

In the meantime, legislators are in-district, many of whom are campaigning. With 47 state senators and representatives retiring, the 93rd Minnesota State Legislature that will convene in 2023 will certainly look different than this year’s.  About five months remain until the November 8 election, and all 201 state seats will be up for election, along with the five statewide constitutional offices.  

Legislators are wasting no time, as campaign kickoffs and other fundraising events are in full swing. For MMA members interested in participating in a campaign, or who want to otherwise get involved ahead of the 2022 election, please reach out the Chad Fahning, MMA’s manager of state legislative affairs, or consider joining MEDPAC, the political arm of the MMA.