Last days of the legislative session

Good morning, Reformers.

We’re a day away from the end of the Minnesota legislative session. Some updates this week from our colleague Michelle Griffith from the Capitol: 

Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders announced a deal on big-ticket items they plan to pass, including a $205 million bailout for the beleaguered Hennepin County Medical Center, an infrastructure package, some property tax relief and a one-year, temporary reduction in car tab fees. 

On Wednesday, lawmakers also passed a $165 million housing bill that includes $100 million for housing and $40 million for a longstanding housing assistance program called FHPAP. Walz’s office says the latter provision is help for people impacted by Operation Metro Surge, but Democratic Rep. Mike Howard, co-chief author of the housing legislation, denied that it’s specifically to help affected immigrants.

Legislative leaders in the House have yet to come to a deal on the future of an obscure federal drug discount provision called 340B in Minnesota. The bill to possibly extend and strengthen 340B has invited a high-priced influence war between hospitals, who keep the savings from drug discounts and want the bill to pass, and pharmaceutical companies, who don’t.

In a DFL party line vote, the Minnesota Senate approved a package of bills aimed at reining in ICE officers. The measure is not likely to pass the House, which is deadlocked between Republicans and Democrats.

House Democrats tried and failed to get a floor vote on their gun control measures, and some Democrats held a sit-in on the House floor over the gun issue from Thursday to Friday. House Speaker Lisa Demuth, a leading GOP candidate for governor, said the bills failed to pass committee so they got no floor vote.

Also Friday, Brian Martucci reported that the deadlocked House threatened to upend $200 million in Legacy funding for conservation efforts. Recall, the 2008 Legacy Amendment dedicated sales tax money to support arts and culture, clean water, parks and trails, and environmental programming across Minnesota. The spending still has to be appropriated by the Legislature, however, and it’s been held up in the deadlocked House. Brian tells us sources say a deal is in the works. 

Madison McVan will be covering the Capitol for us on Saturday. Send her tips. 

Michelle Griffith has today off but will be there until the bitter end Sunday. Send her tips. 

An ICE officer shot at a St. Paul man in December after pulling him over. Now, the man is facing federal felony charges for allegedly pinning an agent, though he says that agents rammed his car from behind, and the evidence provided by the government so far largely consists of interviews with the agents on the scene who contradict each other, Madi reported. Unlike in the three other ICE shootings in Minnesota this winter, no video of the incident has emerged.

Sarah Gelbard wrote about the experience of deaf immigrants during the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota. Advocates say that a fear of ICE lingers, especially for those who have limited support and are not yet fluent in English or ASL.

The Trump administration’s latest lawsuit against Minnesota aims to short-circuit a six-year effort by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office to hold the oil industry accountable for what Ellison calls “a campaign of deception” targeting Minnesotans. Ellison says he’s not planning to back down, Brian Martucci reported.

Hennepin County Medical Center — the state’s largest safety net hospital that became a focus for lawmakers this session  — served patients from all but one Minnesota county in 2025, Max Nesterak and I reported. 

Joshua Thoreson, a local author and educator, argued that there’s ample reason for prosecutors to bring a case against Jonathan Ross for the killing of Renee Good.

Josh Crosson, the executive director of education advocacy group EdAllies, argued that Minnesota’s school funding crisis has become a full-blown emergency that requires action.

Neurobiologist Matt Beckman wrote that he wished Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s recent policy rollout included something about scientific research, which is under attack.

Miss Twin Cities 2026 Anna Brennan, who works to make teens safer online, wrote in support of a bill that would require parental consent for younger social media users; limit addictive design features for children; and restrict targeted advertising aimed at minors. The Senate passed the bill Friday with a 66-0 vote after the House passed it 132-2; it’ll go back to the House with a Senate amendment before getting the governor’s approval.

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