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Ewald at the Capitol: Special Session, New Leader Selected, New Senate Subcommittee

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September 12, 2025
 

Special Session

Gov. Tim Walz met with legislative leaders this week to discuss a potential special session on gun violence, following the horrific shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis.

Because the legislature is evenly split along party lines, bipartisan support will be necessary to pass any legislation. This may prove to difficult due to differing policy priorities. Many Democrats support banning assault-style and semi-automatic firearms, while Republicans have proposed increasing funding for school safety and mental health resources and repealing Minnesota’s ban on conversion therapy.

Typically, agreements on which bills will be passed are made between the governor and legislative leaders before a special session is called. However, Gov. Walz stated he’s willing to move forward regardless, saying, “I will call a special session one way or another. Just have the hope. Just bring it up. Have the discussion … Maybe it doesn’t pass because the numbers aren’t there, but at least we’re going to know.”

Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth has said, “What we are looking for is bipartisan solutions that will make a difference, will keep kids and Minnesotans safer, and those are the things we want to work on. We have to have continued conversations and explore the root causes of why things happen. Not just doing a knee-jerk reaction.”

House Democrats Select New Leader

On Sept. 8, House Democrats selected Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids) as their next caucus leader. The leadership of House Democrats has been vacant since the tragic assassination of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark in June. Stephenson, now in his fourth term, co-chairs the House Ways and Means Committee and serves on the Taxes and Commerce committees.

Senate Democrats Announce New Subcommittee

Senate Democrats announced this week they are forming the Select Subcommittee on Federal Impacts on Minnesotans and Economic Stability to determine the impacts of the federal budget bill passed by Congress this summer.

Changes from the bill include tax cuts, reductions to Medicaid spending, and increased funding for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Chaired by Sen. Lindsey Port, the committee will begin meeting weekly on September 18, alternating between the Capitol and affected communities across the state.

Sen. Erin Murphy, during the announcement on Tuesday, said, “We think it’s important for us to understand from a budget perspective, what the Congress has done, but more importantly, we need to prepare, and help Minnesotans prepare, for what could be a hard economic hit and a lack of stability.”

The committee will be made up of five Democrats and four Republicans.
 

Senator Miller Announces Retirement

Sen. Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) announced he will not seek re-election next year. Miller, who previously served as Senate President and Majority Leader, was first elected in 2010 at age 26, making him the second-youngest person ever elected to the Minnesota Senate.

Throughout his tenure, he received multiple legislative awards, including Legislator of the Year and Outstanding Support for People with Disabilities. After retiring, he plans to focus on family, community service, and his businesses, though he said he won’t rule out running for public office in the future.

Other legislative retirements and changes can be found here.
 

State Budget Update

The August Revenue and Economic Update from Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) showed the state’s general fund revenues totaled $2.1 billion in August, $86 million, or 4.2% above the February forecast. This is due to income and sales tax collection exceeding prior expectations.

A more complete picture of state finances will be available in the October Revenue and Economic Update, which will include data from July through September.

State Fair Poll Results

The nonpartisan House Public Information Services Office and the Senate counterpart conducted their annual State Fair Polls to gauge where Minnesotans stand on key issues. It should be noted that this is not a scientific poll. Here are the responses for some prominent issues:

  • Guns at the Capitol: 78.9% of respondents support banning guns at the State Capitol.
  • Undocumented Immigrants: 66% believe undocumented immigrants should have access to state programs. This comes after legislation passed last session ending their access to MinnesotaCare.
  • School Start Dates: Only 39.9% support allowing school districts to permanently begin classes before Labor Day — a slight decline from previous polls.
  • Sports Stadium Funding: 69% oppose using state funds to build professional sports stadiums.
  • Fraud Oversight: 62% support creating a new state agency dedicated to investigating fraud, waste, and abuse.

Full House poll results can be viewed here.

Full Senate poll results can be viewed here.

These are not scientific polls and should be viewed for entertainment purposes only.

Ewald Consulting Government Relations Toolkit 

We have started sharing content to help you better understand the legislative process and how to engage effectively. From decoding how the Legislature works to learning how to advocate for your priorities, these resources are designed to support your advocacy every step of the way.

This week’s article covers developing and implementing a legislative plan.

Article Link:

Developing and Implementing a Legislative Plan
 
Capitol Building

Ewald at the Capitol: Election Updates, Capitol Security, Board of Regents

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August 28, 2025

Election Updates, Capitol Security, Board of Regents

Special Elections and Campaign Announcements

Minnesota is experiencing considerable political turnover this year, with multiple special elections underway and several high-profile legislators launching campaigns for higher office.

This week, primaries were held for two vacant State Senate seats to be filled in a special election. In Senate District 49, vacant since the unexpected death of Sen. Bruce Anderson, Republican-endorsed candidate Michael Holmstrom secured the nomination. In Senate District 47, empty since the resignation of Sen. Nicole Mitchell, Democratic endorsee Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger won her primary, defeating fellow lawmaker Rep. Ethan Cha. Both special elections are scheduled for November 4.

Another key race is coming up next month. The special election to fill the seat of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, who was tragically assassinated in June, will take place on September 16. That contest will feature Democratic candidate Xp Lee and Republican Ruth Bittner.

More special elections may follow, depending on the outcomes of two upcoming local races this fall that feature sitting legislators. Among them:

  • Sen. Omar Fateh is running for mayor of Minneapolis. His endorsement by Minneapolis Democrats was revoked last week, after controversy over the convention process.
  • Rep. Kaohly Her is challenging Mayor Melvin Carter for mayor of St. Paul.

Looking further ahead, the 2026 election cycle is already beginning to take shape. Rep. Kristin Robbins has declared her candidacy for governor, while Rep. Cedrick Frazier has announced his campaign for Hennepin County Attorney.

Sen. Eric Pratt is joining fellow Sen. Matt Klein in running for Congressional District 2, aiming to succeed Rep. Angie Craig, who is launching a bid for the U.S. Senate.

Rep. Ben Bakeberg has entered the race for Sen. Pratt’s current senate seat in SF 54.

Capitol Security

The Advisory Committee on Capitol Security met on August 20 to discuss potential safety upgrades at the Minnesota Capitol in response to the June shootings that claimed the lives of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband and left Sen. John Hoffman and his wife injured.

Chaired by Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, the committee began developing recommendations for the Legislature to consider during the upcoming session. Members received an overview of current safety measures from security staff and discussed possible improvements.

Proposals discussed by members included installing metal detectors, banning firearms on the premises, requiring bag checks, and encouraging cultural shifts such as heightened situational awareness and reducing inflammatory rhetoric. Rep. Jim Nash emphasized that many changes will take time because they need legislative approval. Gov. Tim Walz, while not on the committee, voiced support for reforms that balance public access with enhanced security.

The committee will reconvene next month to continue the discussion. In the meantime, the Department of Public Safety has already implemented several measures, including reducing the number of public entrances, installing alarms on external doors, and hiring additional security officers. A third-party review of Capitol security is also expected later this year to further guide the process.

UMN Board of Regents

Normally the Board of Regents (the University of Minnesota’s governing body) is appointed by the state legislature. However, the legislature failed to fill four vacant seats during the most recent session, so it was left up to Gov. Walz to temporarily fill the vacancies. He appointed four new interim regents this month, which include a former U.S. ambassador to Norway, a former United Nations food aid counselor, a doctoral student and an employee search group executive.

The appointments were not without controversy, having drawn criticism from both Republicans and some progressive Democrats. House Republican Floor Leader Harry Niska expressed concerns that “the seats are being handed out as rewards to campaign donors rather than being filled on merit.” Republicans have also argued that gubernatorial appointments in this situation bypass the Legislature’s constitutional role in selecting regents.

Sen. Omar Fateh, the Democratic chair of the Higher Education committee tasked with recommending candidates for the legislature to approve, criticized the governor for selecting “a handful of wealthy, well-connected lobbyists who worked to shut student voices out of the board.”
 

State Budget Update

The July Revenue and Economic Update from Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) showed the state’s general fund revenues totaled $2.194 billion in July, falling $62 million, or 2.8% below the previous forecast in February. Since July marks the first month of Fiscal Year 2026, this shortfall also reflects the fiscal year’s opening performance.

The largest drop came from individual income tax receipts, which were $51 million below projections. Corporate tax collections also fell short by $23 million. On a more positive note, sales tax revenue exceeded expectations by $3 million, and other miscellaneous revenues came in $10 million higher than forecast.

A more complete picture of state finances will be available in the October Revenue and Economic Update, which will include data from July through September.
 

Ewald Consulting Government Relations Toolkit 

Starting this month, we’ll share content to help you better understand the legislative process and how to engage effectively. From decoding how the Legislature works to learning how to advocate for your priorities, these resources are designed to support your advocacy every step of the way.

This week’s articles go over what work in the interim between legislative sessions looks like, and an overview of the legislative rule making process.

Article Links:

Work in the Interim

Legislative Rulemaking
 

 

 

Capitol Building

Ewald at the Capitol: Special Elections, New Laws, Budget Challenges

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August 1, 2025

SPECIAL ELECTIONS, NEW LAWS, BUDGET CHALLENGES

Special Elections

Minnesota is on track to have six special elections this year, which would tie the record set in 1994. In addition to the three elections held during the 2025 legislative session, at least three more are coming due to the assassination of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, the unexpected death of Senator Bruce Anderson (SD 29), and Senator Nicole Mitchell’s (SD 47) resignation due to a conviction of felony burglary.

The election for Hortman’s seat in House District 34B (Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Coon Rapids) is scheduled for Sept. 16, with a Democratic primary on Aug. 12. Both Senate special elections will take place on Nov. 4. Current DFL state Representative Ethan Cha has filed to run in SD 47. DFL Representative Amanda Hemmingsen Jaeger has also announced she is running, but has yet to file. Republican Dwight Dorau, who ran for the seat in 2024, has also filed. So far, four Republicans and one DFLer have filed for SD 29. Filing closes for both senate special elections on Aug. 6 at 5 p.m.

More special elections may be necessary if sitting legislators are elected to other offices, including Senator Omar Fateh, who is running for Minneapolis mayor. Additionally, if one of the open state senate seats is filled by a sitting state representative, that would precipitate another special election for the house seat. With a nearly even partisan split in the legislature, these races could affect the balance of power in the next session.

New Laws

Seven new laws go into effect Aug. 1, impacting several areas — including public safety and property rights. Key changes include stronger penalties for repeat impaired drivers by extending the DWI lookback period from 10 to 20 years, lengthening license revocation times, and increasing ignition interlock requirements. Lawmakers also raised the speed limit from 30 to 35 mph for farm equipment and vehicles hauling uncovered trash or debris.

Local governments can now require background checks for applicants seeking to operate adult entertainment or massage businesses. Service dog trainers will receive the same housing access as individuals with disabilities who rely on service animals. This includes full access to housing and exemption from extra pet fees.

The Minnesota Partition Act modernizes the 120-year-old legal framework for selling jointly owned property, clarifying legal procedures and court involvement. In addition, the Office of the Ombudsperson for American Indian Families is now exempt from certain court fees, aligning its privileges with those of tribal representatives. A new law also grants limited confidentiality to conversations within restorative justice programs to promote more open dialogue among participants.

MMB July Update

A recent monthly update from Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) shows that state revenues are exceeding the previous forecast from February. Net revenues are now estimated to total $31.9 billion, which is 2.7% ($847 million) higher than the February forecast. The increase is primarily due to increased revenue from income taxes. Corporate taxes, sales taxes, and other revenues were below forecast. Despite the additional revenue, the July update anticipates a worse economic outlook than in February, mainly due to slower growth, higher inflation, and higher interest rates. The next major budget update from MMB is expected in late November/early December, which will give us a better idea of the state budget outlook heading into the 2026 legislative session.
 

Federal Changes Will Impact State Budget

The recent passage of President Donald Trump’s Reconciliation Bill by Congress is expected to have significant impacts on the state budget. The legislation notably includes cuts to Medicaid funding that will add new challenges to the state’s finances, as summarized recently by the MN Department of Human Services. Despite this, Gov. Walz has said that there is no need for another special session this year to address these changes.
 

New Fraud Investigation Opened 

Gov. Walz announced this week that the Department of Human Services (DHS) has paused payments to 50 housing stability providers, resulting from a broader FBI investigation into fraud in Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Program. This program has received federal attention after the cost, originally projected to be $2.5 million annually, soared to over $100 million last year.

Federal agents have described this as a “massive scheme to defraud” the program, which has offered Medicaid coverage for housing stabilization since 2020. Acting under a new state law, officials now have the authority to suspend funding for up to 60 days when credible evidence of fraud exists. Although the pause may affect some legitimate organizations, Walz emphasized that stricter controls are necessary to close gaps in the system. Additional documentation rules for providers will take effect in August, according to DHS. This case adds to a growing list of investigations of fraud into Minnesota’s state programs — namely Feeding Our Future and autism support centers.
 

 

 

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