Legislative Update

2022 Legislature Prepares to Convene

The Minnesota Legislature will reconvene on January 31st for what promises to be a challenging session. 

The top issue for the session will be what to do with the projected $7.7 billion budget surplus, the largest in state history.  The surplus was created by federal stimulus funds, reduced state spending in some areas due to COVID and better than expected tax receipts from individual and corporate income taxes as well as sales taxes.  

Some legislators see this massive surplus as a once in a lifetime opportunity to fund infrastructure, education, housing and other projects.  Others want to see the surplus returned to tax payers in the form of tax cuts.  Because a two-year budget was passed in 2021, the Legislature doesn't have to do anything.  If the Republican Senate, DFL House and DFL Governor can't agree, the funds will sit until the 2023 session.

An issue that is top-of-mind for all legislators is redistricting.  One result of the 2020 census is that state and congressional district lines must be redrawn to reflect population shifts in the; State.  Rural Minnesota has continued to lose population as the Twin Cities has grown.  A 5-judge panel is expected to draw the final district lines, which can be expected to result in some incumbent legislators finding themselves in the same district as their current neighbor.  This will mean intraparty fights for endorsement and primary victories as well as general election contests between incumbents from different parties.

All 67 state Senate seats, 134 state House seats and the Constitutional Officers (Governor, Attorney General, Auditor and Secretary of State) will be on November's ballot.  Because of the close margins in the Legislature, Minnesota is expected to be a priority for both parties nationally.  The House is currently controlled by the DFL by just 4 seats and the Republicans control the Senate by just 3 seats. 

MAPA's top legislative priority for 2022 will be its harmonization bill.  This proposal is intended to address the numerous technical changes in statues regulating PAs as a result of the 2020 PA practice act reforms.  There are many, many provisions in state law that now conflict with the 2020 changes and must be corrected.  

The House has announced it will continue to operate virtually, with no public meetings in St. Paul.  The Senate is expected to operate on a hybrid basis, under which hearings will be open to the public, but not all members are required to attend in person.  This creates a big challenge for lobbyists and their clients, as communications with legislators and staff will be largely reduced to emails, text and phone calls.  

Tom Lehman

MAPA Lobbyist