CapWatch

Minnesota Update Deadlines Quickly Approaching; State of State Announced As the policy committee deadlines draw closer, the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives continue to hold numerous committee hearings and process dozens of pieces of legislation each day. Several higher profile bills advanced last week, and the tempo will only increase as the March 22,…

Minnesota Update Committee Work Continues Last week the legislature remained busy with committee work, hearing bills, and progressing towards the March 22nd committee deadline, despite taking a mid-week break so members could return to their district for precinct caucuses on Tuesday evening and to attend the service for the three fallen Burnsville first responders Wednesday…

Minnesota Update Legislative Work Continues As the Minnesota Legislature gets up to speed this session, most of the early activity occurs during committee hearings. Legislative committees continued to hear priority proposals in both bodies. The first and second policy committee deadlines, which are the dates by which bills must be heard and passed out of…

Minnesota Update First Week of 2024 Session Much like last year, the 2024 legislative session started with several substantive legislative proposals moving through the committee process quickly. Most notably, legislation attempting to address controversy over the authorities of school resource officers (SROs) and a proposal seeking to fix mistakes in last year’s omnibus tax bill…

Minnesota Update Minnesota Legislature Kicks Off New Session Today the Minnesota Legislature gavels in the 2024 legislative session with approximately 14 weeks to assemble a biennial capital investment proposal and address a number of outstanding policy issues. In early December, the Office of Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released the first of two budget forecasts…

Minnesota Update Walz Administration Announces Infrastructure and Bonding Package Yesterday, Gov. Tim Walz released his proposed capital investment proposal in advance of the 2024 legislative session.  The infrastructure package, commonly referred to as a “bonding bill” because of the state bonds used to finance the projects, would total $982 million with nearly half committed to…

Municipal Election Results Are In Last week, a number of communities across Minnesota held elections, the majority of which focused on city council and mayor races. Most notably, three of Minnesota’s larger municipalities, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and Bloomington, held elections which, in some instances, saw broad and sweeping changes to municipal government. It was the…

Federal Update Congress has packed its bags for the August recess. Let’s take a look at what they checked off the legislative to-do list before leaving town, and what work awaits on appropriations and the NDAA upon their return. Here’s your Federal CapWatch for Monday, July 31. Dwindling Days: Congress leaves town for the summer with just…

Federal Update Good morning. The NDAA goes to the House floor. Appropriators race ahead of August recess. And Biden’s pick to lead the Joint Chiefs testifies. Here’s your Federal CapWatch for Monday, July 10. Gear Up: Lawmakers are readying for debate on scores of amendments when the NDAA hits the floor later this week. Race Before Recess: Appropriators…

Minnesota Update The weeks immediately following the end of a legislative session are often quiet as legislators return to their districts (and often to their “day jobs”) before a busy summer of local events and voter engagement. While that has generally been the case this past month, last week saw two major announcements that are…

Federal Update Good morning. With the debt limit measure now signed into law, the House turns to debate gas stoves. A Senate bill would seek to eliminate double taxation on Taiwanese businesses operating in the U.S. House Republicans turn a critical eye on the CDC. Here’s your Federal CapWatch for Monday, June 5. Dept Crisis Averted: Debt limit…

Minnesota Update Governor Walz Signs Budget and Other Priorities into Law The week immediately following the end of the 2023 legislative session was filled with ceremonial bill signings as Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and DFL-legislators sought to celebrate a record-setting $72 billion state budget. On Wednesday May 24, 2023, Gov. Walz held a ceremonial bill…