As the legislature works to assemble a final state budget agreement, Sen. Mike Goggin (R-Red Wing) will serve on the conference committee for the Agriculture budget bill. The conference committees, which each include five members of the House and five members of the Senate, are responsible for working out a compromise on differences in the bills passed by both bodies.

At the end of April, the Minnesota Senate passed the Agriculture budget bill that allocates over $258 million in funding. This year’s bill includes a $4 million increase from the last biennium and prioritizes mental health services for farmers, rural broadband, and affordable workforce housing.

“I am proud to serve on the negotiating team for this important budget area,” said Sen. Goggin. “Republicans have passed a budget that protects taxpayers from tax increases but still fully funds our shared priorities, and that is what I will continue to advocate for during negotiations.”

Conference committees will begin meeting this week and will continue until an agreement is reached. After a conference committee has come to a compromise, both legislative bodies must vote to approve the agreement before sending it to the governor for a signature or veto. The legislature is constitutionally-mandated to adjourn by May 20.