93rd Minnesota Legislature

The Ninety-third Minnesota Legislature was the meeting of the legislative branch of the state of Minnesota, composed of the Minnesota Senate and the Minnesota House of Representatives between 2023 and 2024. It convened in Saint Paul on January 3, 2023 and adjourned ''sine die'' on May 20, 2024.

Background

This was the first legislature to be fully DFL-controlled since the 88th Minnesota Legislature in 2013–15. During the first session (2023), the body passed a number of major reforms to Minnesota law, including requiring paid leave, banning noncompete agreements, cannabis legalization, increased spending on infrastructure and environmental protection, modernizing the state's tax code, codifying abortion rights, universal free school meals, and universal gun background checks, among others. The ''Star Tribune'' called it "one of the most consequential" ever in Minnesota, while Governor Tim Walz stated that it was the "most productive session in Minnesota history." Some journalists compared the session to the 67th Minnesota Legislature, which from 1971–1973 enacted major changes to school finance known as the "Minnesota Miracle".

At the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce's session priorities gathering in St. Paul in early 2024, the state's four legislative leaders expressed opposition to changing the law to allow strong beer in grocery stores and a constitutional amendment for a full-time Legislature.

The second legislative session (2024) began in February. Given the $72 billion two-year budget adopted in the previous session, the primary agenda for the second session was the passage of new policy initiatives. There was legislative success in refining the state's newly legalized adult-use cannabis market to streamline the licensing process and to provide clarity to businesses regarding employee drug testing. Other significant changes made involved the role and responsibilities of school resource officers, banning shadow noncompetes, establishing unemployment benefits for striking workers, and requiring companies to post salary ranges for jobs. Another central task for the session was the assembly of a public construction bill to finance infrastructure projects. However, lawmakers did not pass it before the end of session deadline. A sanctuary state bill to limit state cooperation with ICE was introduced, but was not considered. An Equal Rights Amendment ballot measure passed the House, but was not voted on in the Senate.

Major events

* January 3, 2023: On the first day of the 93rd Minnesota Legislature, new legislators were sworn in in person for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
* April 19, 2023: Governor Tim Walz delivers his 2023 State of the State address to a joint sitting of the Legislature.
* March 26, 2024: Governor Walz delivered his 2024 State of the State address at Owatonna High School.
* May 20, 2024: The 2024 session concluded with the passage of a 1,430-page "mega-omnibus bill"
HF 5247
, barely meeting a midnight constitutional deadline for legislative business. The bill's text faced vocal opposition and significant amounts of attempted amendments from Republicans throughout the session. It passed both chambers along party lines only a few minutes before the end of session.

Major legislation

2023 session

Enacted in 2023

* January 31, 2023: Prohibiting discrimination based on hair texture (CROWN Act)
Laws 2023, Chapter 3
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H.F. 37

S.F. 44

* January 31, 2023: Protect Reproductive Options Act
Laws 2023, chapter 4
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H.F. 1

S.F. 1
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* February 3, 2023: Recognizing Juneteenth as a State Holiday Act
Laws 2023, chapter 5
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H.F. 48

S.F. 44

* February 7, 2023: Renewable and carbon free electricity standards act
Laws 2023, chapter 7
�
H.F. 7

S.F. 4

* March 3, 2023: Voting rights restoration for felons on parole act
Laws 2023, chapter 12
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H.F. 28

S.F. 26

* March 7, 2023: Driver's Licenses for All Act
Laws 2023, chapter 13
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H.F. 4

S.F. 27

* March 16, 2023: ICWA Codification Act
Laws 2023, chapter 16
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H.F. 1071

S.F. 667

* March 17, 2023: Universal Free School Meals Ac
(Laws 2023, chapter 18
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H.F. 5

S.F. 123

* April 27, 2023: Conversion Therapy Ban Act
Laws 2023, chapter 28
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H.F. 16

S.F. 23

* April 27, 2023: Trans Refuge Ac
(Laws 2023, chapter 29
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H.F. 146

S.F. 63

* April 27, 2023: Reproductive Freedom Defense Act
Laws 2023, chapter 31
�
H.F. 366

S.F. 165

* May 5, 2023: Democracy for the People Act
Laws 2023, chapter 34
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H.F. 3

S.F. 3

* Omnibus appropriations acts
** May 15, 2023: Omnibus housing act
Laws 2023, chapter 37
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H.F. 2335

S.F. 2566

** May 15, 2023: Omnibus veterans and military affairs act
Laws 2023, chapter 38
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H.F. 1937

S.F. 2247

** May 16, 2023: Omnibus agriculture and rural broadband act
Laws 2023, chapter 43
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S.F. 1955

H.F. 2278

** May 19, 2023: Omnibus legacy act
Laws 2023, chapter 40
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H.F. 1999

S.F. 1682

** May 19, 2023: Omnibus judiciary and public safety act
Laws 2023, chapter 52
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S.F. 2909

H.F. 2890

** May 24, 2023: Omnibus higher education act
Laws 2023, chapter 41H.F. 2073S.F. 2075

** May 24, 2023: Omnibus jobs and economic development act
Laws 2023, chapter 53
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S.F. 3035H.F. 3028

** May 24, 2023: Omnibus early education act
Laws 2023, chapter 54
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H.F. 2292

S.F. 2373

** May 24, 2023: Omnibus K-12 education act
Laws 2023, chapter 55
�
H.F. 2497

S.F. 2684

** May 24, 2023: Omnibus commerce act
Laws 2023, chapter 57
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S.F. 2744

H.F. 2680

** May 24, 2023: Omnibus environment, climate, and energy act
Laws 2023, chapter 60
�
H.F. 2310

S.F. 2348

** May 24, 2023: Omnibus human services act
Laws 2023, chapter 61
�
S.F. 2934

H.F. 2847

** May 24, 2023: Omnibus state government act
Laws 2023, chapter 62H.F. 1830

S.F. 1426

** May 24, 2023: Omnibus transportation act
Laws 2023, chapter 68
�
H.F. 2887

S.F. 3157

** May 24, 2023: Omnibus health and human services act
Laws 2023, chapter 70
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S.F. 2995

H.F. 2930

*May 16, 2023: Lead pipe replacement funding act
Laws 2023, chapter 39
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H.F. 24

S.F. 30

*May 24, 2023: Deepfake regulation act
Laws 2023, chapter 58
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H.F. 1370

S.F. 1394

*May 24, 2023: Paid Family and Medical Leave
Laws 2023, chapter 59
�
H.F. 2

S.F. 2

*May 24, 2023: Omnibus tax act
Laws 2023, chapter 64
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H.F. 1938

S.F. 1811

*May 24, 2023: Nursing home emergency aid act
Laws 2023, chapter 74
�
H.F. 3342

S.F. 3363

*May 24, 2023: Nurse and Patient Safety Act
Laws 2023, chapter 75
–
S.F. 1384

H.F. 1522

*May 24, 2023: Omnibus State government finance bill
Laws 2023, chapter 62
-
HF 1830

SF 1426

*May 30, 2023: Legalizing Adult-Use Cannabis
Laws 2023, chapter 63
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H.F. 100

S.F. 73

*June 1, 2023: Omnibus capital investment cash appropriations act
Laws 2023, chapter 71
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H.F. 670

S.F. 676

*June 1, 2023: Omnibus capital investment borrowing act
Laws 2023, chapter 72
�
H.F. 669S.F. 676

Proposed in 2023

Boldface indicates the bill was passed by its house of origin.
* Legalizing Affordable Housing Act
H.F. 3256

S.F. 3259

* Sports betting legalization
H.F. 2000

S.F. 1949

* Proposed constitutional amendment guaranteeing equality under law ('
S.F. 37
''
H.F. 173

* Ranked Choice Voting
H.F. 2486

S.F. 2270

* Great Start Child Care Credit
H.F. 9

S.F. 9

* Social security tax; total elimination
H.F. 300

S.F. 15

* Supermajority vote needed to raise revenue
H.F. 2221

S.F. 1838

Vetoed in 2023

* May 25, 2023: Protections for rideshare workers bill
H.F. 2369

S.F. 2319

2024 session

Enacted in 2024

* May 7, 2024: Event ticket price transparency act
Laws 2024, chapter 94

H.F. 1989

S.F. 2003

* May 15, 2024: Rights and compensation for minors in internet content act
Laws 2024, chapter 103

H.F. 3488

S.F. 3496

* Omnibus policy and supplemental appropriations acts
** May 17, 2024: Omnibus education policy act
Laws 2024, chapter 109

S.F. 3567

H.F. 3782

**May 17, 2024: Omnibus elections act
Laws 2024, chapter 112

H.F. 4772

S.F. 4729

**May 18, 2024: Education supplemental budget act
Laws 2024, chapter 115

H.F. 5237

S.F. 5252

**May 19, 2024: Environment and natural resources supplemental budget act
Laws 2024, chapter 116

H.F. 3911

S.F. 3887

** May 19, 2024: Tax bill
Laws 2024, chapter 127

H.F. 5247

S.F. 5234

** May 23, 2024: Emergency medical services aid act
Laws 2024, chapter 122

H.F. 4738

S.F. 4835

** May 24, 2024: Tenant's Bill of Rights
Laws 2024, chapter 118

S.F. 3492

H.F. 3591

** May 24, 2024: Omnibus supplemental jobs and economic development act
Laws 2024, chapter 120

S.F. 5289
/
H.F. 5205

** May 24, 2024: Omnibus judiciary and public safety act
Laws 2024, chapter 123

H.F. 5216

S.F. 5337

** May 24, 2024: Omnibus higher education act
Laws 2024, chapter 124

H.F. 4024

S.F. 4003

*May 18, 2024: Minnesota African American Family Preservation Act
Laws 2024, chapter 117

H.F. 912

S.F. 716

*May 20, 2024: Junk fee prohibition act
Laws 2024, chapter 111

H.F. 3438

S.F. 3537

Proposed in 2024

* Local Voices Local Choices Act
S.F. 3868

H.F. 3276

* Independent redistricting commission
H.F. 4593

S.F. 4894

* Ban on rainbow flag bans
H.F. 4273

S.F. 4652

* Statewide upzoning bill
H.F. 4009

S.F. 3964

* Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment
H.F. 173

S.F. 37

Legislative initiatives

2023 session

In the 2023 legislative session in Minnesota, state lawmakers faced the task of creating a two-year state budget with a $17.5 billion surplus, significantly larger than in previous years. This led to a budget of $71.5 billion, a 40% increase over the previous period. Key financial decisions included $3 billion in tax relief measures, substantial investments in infrastructure totaling $2.6 billion, and significant expansions in social programs.

State funding for education increased by over $2.2 billion. The increase updated the per pupil funding formula and enhanced financial predictability for districts. The reform also tackled the long-standing issue of the cross subsidy for special education and English learner programs. Early childhood education received substantial attention, with $300 million allocated towards early education initiatives, managed by the newly created Department of Children, Youth and Families. This department consolidates several programs previously spread across different state agencies. Curricular changes included the addition of required courses in civics, personal finance, Holocaust and genocide studies, and ethnic studies. The Legislature also prohibited highly realistic active shooter drills, replacing them with violence prevention training. The reforms also provided for free breakfast and lunch for all students and mandates the provision of menstrual products and Naloxone in schools.

The $3 billion tax bill was one of the largest omnibus bills in the 2023 session. Components of the bill included rebate checks for 2.5 million Minnesotans, designed to return a portion of the surplus to taxpayers, but less than initially proposed by Governor Tim Walz. The legislation introduced a substantial child and working family tax credit intended to cut childhood poverty rates by a third, benefiting low-income families with phased-out credits based on income levels. Additionally, the bill made strides towards progressive taxation by eliminating state income tax on Social Security for over 75% of recipients. Other notable tax increases included a global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) tax on businesses with global earnings and regional sales tax hikes in the Twin Cities metro area for housing and transportation initiatives. Moreover, the bill increased funding for local government aid, provided a boost to property tax refunds, and revived a historic tax credit for building renovations. It also expanded a film production tax credit to attract more film and television production to Minnesota.

2024 session

The recreational cannabis law saw a substantial update, introducing a vetted lottery system for distributing licenses and allowing pre-approved licenses for early cultivation to ensure product availability when retail stores open next spring. Additionally, the prohibition on serving THC and alcoholic beverages within five hours was replaced with a rule against serving intoxicants to already intoxicated patrons. For medical cannabis, patients can now assign registered caregivers to grow up to eight plants on their behalf.

In transportation, labor, and housing, the session addressed the lawsuits against the Minneapolis 2040 comprehensive plan and limited the use of environmental laws to challenge future city plans. Aimed at combating worker misclassification, legislation now defines independent contractor qualifications and increases penalties for fraud. The session also set statewide standards for ride-share driver pay rates, preempting local control and ensuring increased pay for drivers.

Regarding public safety, the legislature allowed limited use of prone restraints in schools and increasing penalties for gun straw purchases. Binary triggers, which allow firearms to fire on both trigger pull and release, were banned.

In social media and child protection, Minnesota became the first state to ban profiting from social media accounts featuring children, requiring profits to be set aside for the children when they turn 18, with exceptions for child actors and models.

The session allocated $24 million for emergency medical services (EMS) in greater Minnesota, $6 million for a pilot program in the Northeast, and created a new Office of Emergency Medical Services. Consumer protection saw the passage of the ' Taylor Swift bill,' mandating ticket sellers list full prices upfront, and the Debt Fairness Act, which bans reporting medical debt to credit bureaus and prevents withholding treatment due to unpaid debt.

Environmental and health legislation included requiring consultation between the Met Council and the MnDOT on light rail projects, prioritizing land sales within reservation boundaries to Indian reservations, and allocating $5.8 million for nitrate pollution mitigation. The state aims to reduce nitrogen fertilizer purchases by 25% by 2030. Funding was also provided for ATV trail construction and ice rescue operations.

Broadband development legislation prioritized grant applications from organizations adhering to specific labor rules, though it faced opposition from the Minnesota Cable Communications Association. Health and education saw midwives being allowed to administer certain medications, permitting Native American smudging ceremonies in schools, and requiring health plans to cover medically necessary gender-affirming care with some religious exemptions. Schools must implement cell phone policies by March 2025, and book bans based on viewpoint were prohibited.

Energy and waste management legislation required producers to contribute to state recycling programs and aimed to speed up permitting for clean energy projects. The Voting Rights Act added state protections against voter suppression and mandated courts to support voters. Lastly, legislation regulated and banned many so-called junk fees, requiring businesses to disclose the full price of products or services upfront.

The African American Family Preservation Act, renamed the Layla Jackson Law, focused initially on addressing the disproportionate number of African American children affected by child welfare practices but was expanded to include any child "disproportionately encountered, engaged, or identified in the child welfare system." The broader scope means that nearly all foster children in Minnesota will receive enhanced protections, similar to those afforded under the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, which applies only to Native American children.

Several key bills did not make it through the 2024 session. These include the Equal Rights Amendment, which aimed to protect gender rights and included provisions for abortion access and gender identity protections, passed the House but did not come to a Senate vote. Sports betting legislation was not finalized before the deadline, nor was a measure to allow strong beer sales in grocery stores. Additional measures that did not pass include: requiring cities to allow duplexes and triplexes in single-family zones; preventing landlords from rejecting tenants based on government rent vouchers; making Metropolitan Council members elected instead of appointed; local ranked choice voting expansion; establishing a statewide $15 minimum wage; and, allowing physician-assisted suicide in certain cases.

Political composition

Senate

House of Representatives

Leadership

Senate

* President: Bobby Joe Champion ( DFL)
* President pro tempore: Ann Rest (DFL)

Majority (DFL) leadership

* Majority Leader (since February 6, 2024): Erin Murphy (DFL)
* Majority Leader (until February 6, 2024): Kari Dziedzic (DFL)
* Assistant Majority Leaders
** Liz Boldon
** Nick A. Frentz
** Mary K. Kunesh
** Foung Hawj
** Kelly L. Morrison
** Erin P. Murphy (until February 6, 2024)

Minority (Republican) leadership

* Minority Leader: Mark T. Johnson (R)
* Assistant Minority Leaders
** Julia E. Coleman
** Zach Duckworth
** Justin D. Eichorn
** Karin Housley
** John Jasinski
** Bill Weber

House of Representatives

* Speaker: Melissa Hortman (DFL)
* Speaker pro tempore: Dan Wolgamott (DFL)

Majority (DFL) leadership

* Majority Leader: Jamie Long (DFL)
* Majority Whip: Athena Hollins
* Assistant Majority Leaders
** Esther Agbaje
** Kaela Berg
** Luke Frederick
** Sydney Jordan
** Liz Lee
** Brad Tabke

Minority (Republican) leadership

* Minority Leader: Lisa Demuth (R)
* Deputy Minority Leader: Paul Torkelson
* Minority Whip: Jim Nash
* Assistant Minority Leaders
** Dave Baker
** Elliott Engen
** Spencer Igo
** Bjorn Olson
** Kristin Robbins
** Isaac Schultz
** Peggy Scott
** Nolan West

Demographics

At the start of the 93rd legislature, 35 of the 203 members (17.2%) identified as a member of an ethnic or racial minority. This included 13 members identifying as African American (5 of whom further identified as Somali), 9 members as Hmong, 4 members as Native American Indian, 4 members as Hispanic and Latino (1 of whom further identified as Puerto Rican), and 1 member as Japanese. 3 members reported multiracial identities: Lisa Demuth (R) was born to a White mother and African American father; Aisha Gomez (DFL) describes herself as "a mixed-heritage Latina, Arab and Jewish woman", and Alicia Kozlowski (DFL) was raised by their Ojibwe mother and Mexican father.

Of the 78 members who reported a religious affiliation, 47 are Protestants (including 20 Lutherans), 22 are Catholic, 7 are Jewish, and 2 are Muslim.

Members

Senate

House of Representatives

Changes in membership

House of Representatives

Senate

Committees

Senate

House of Representatives

See also

* List of Minnesota state legislatures

Notes

References

{{Minnesota Legislatures

Minnesota legislative sessions
Minnesota
Minnesota
2023 in Minnesota
2024 in Minnesota