 Rep. Fue Lee and Rep. Roger Skraba discuss legislation following a March 20 floor session. (Photo by Michele Jokinen)
A look back at what happened in the Minnesota House of Representatives the week of March 17-21
The House was at its full capacity this week for the first time in the 2025 session.
Rep. David Gottfried (DFL-Shoreview) took the oath of office Monday to fill the vacant District 40B seat. The addition of Gottfried returned the chamber to a 67-67 tie, ending the Republican’s one-vote majority, and set in motion the House plan to operate under a tie. That meant Republican and DFL co-chairs began overseeing committees on Tuesday.
The House had its first 67-67 tie vote on the floor Monday. The deadlocked chamber failed to pass HF4, which proposes a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot asking if a portion of projected future budget surpluses should be returned to state taxpayers.
Committees continued to be a flurry of activity this week as the deadline for first two deadlines for committees to approve bills is April 4.
A bill requiring warning labels on social media received the thumbs up from the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee. The House Health and Finance Committee laid over a bill proposing to create a state dementia program manager. And the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee voted favorably for legislation to overhaul the state’s DWI requirements for ignition interlock devices, in response to the fatal crash at a popular St. Louis Park bar last year.
Have a restful weekend. Here’s a look back at this week:
AGRICULTURE
Decontaminating nitrate-polluted private wells in southeast Minnesota is bill’s aim
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18606
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Stopgap funding proposed for local community television stations
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18622
BONDING
St. Paul officials seek more than $400 million in state funds for sports facility upgrades
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18634
BUDGET
Deadlocked House halts proposal to automatically return surpluses to taxpayers
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18609
CIVIL LAW
Bill supporters say confidentiality critical to success of restorative justice programs
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18614
EDUCATION
Facing late Labor Days, legislation would allow districts to start school year early
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18616
Students advocate for adding overdose response, prevention to health curriculum
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18627
Lawmakers debate future funding for school worker summer unemployment benefits
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18636
ELECTIONS
Elections panel considers tighter rules for handling absentee ballots
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18624
EMPLOYMENT
Workforce bill seeks to expand access to skilled trades training
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18612
ENERGY
Making Minnesota a ‘Silicon Valley of clean energy’ goal of House bill
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18615
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Changes to off-highway vehicle trail development, management may be down the road
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18637
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Families dealing with dementia face ‘maze’ of services. A House bill aims to simplify the system.
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18608
House lawmaker pushes for county-level technology upgrades across state
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18611
Funding boost sought for early intervention program
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18629
Bill would expand power of MN attorney general’s office to prosecute Medicaid fraud
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18630
Bill would add tools to fight fraud in state human services programs
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18633
HIGHER EDUCATION
Bill seeking to expand college grant program faces funding challenge
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18617
House, Senate hearing recommends candidates to serve as U of M regents
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18620
HOUSING
Landlords could be required to warn tenants of nearby water hazards
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18618
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
‘Sacred communities’ would face new local oversight under House bill
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18607
MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS
Lawmakers propose ‘1st Minnesota Day’ to honor legacy of Gettysburg heroes
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18610
Minnesota lawmakers target ‘claim sharks’ exploiting veterans
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18621
PUBLIC SAFETY
Minnesota legislators consider new funding to stabilize funding for victims of crime
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18619
Bill proposes funding violent crime enforcement teams across state
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18628
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
House lawmakers show bipartisan support for proposed warning labels on social media
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18631
Digital equity the objective of proposed state broadband office expansion
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18625
STATE GOVERNMENT
Walz proposes $39 million anti-fraud plan that includes new centralized investigations unit
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18635
TAXES
Left on cutting room floor in ’24, tax committee dusts off omnibus bill provisions for another look
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18613
Minnesota farmers could see a clean water tax break
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18623
Bill could have new parents asking, ‘Who’s my little tax credit?’
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18632
TRANSPORTATION
ATVs could go to town under bill proposing to expand access to some roads
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18605
Legislature looks to crack down on repeat DWI offenders
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18626
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