The clock is ticking and Senator Scott Jensen (R-Chaska) is burning midnight oil. As the legislature works to assemble a final state budget agreement, Senator Jensen has been selected to serve on the conference committees for the Higher Education budget bill and the Health and Human Services budget bill. The conference committees include five members from the House and five members from the Senate and are responsible for working out a compromise bill.

“I am excited to serve on the negotiating teams for these two critical budget areas,” said Senator Jensen. “Education and healthcare represent almost 80% of the state’s budget so if we don’t get our work done, the legislature doesn’t get its work done.”

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.