An agreement has been reached on a comprehensive two-year state government finance bill that funds government operations and makes substantial reforms to state agency contracts, budgeting, information technology, and oversight. The legislation secures Minnesota election integrity with dedicated Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funding along with investments to improve Minnesota’s election equipment. Additionally, the bill secures resources to enhance Minnesota’s ability to respond to other cybersecurity threats. 

“Since I took office, my number one priority has been state government reform focused on maximizing the value of each tax dollar,” said Senator Koran (R-North Branch), a member of the State Government committee. “I am proud of the work we accomplished in this bill to increase accountability and improve the way government serves the public.”

The Senate’s bill approves the full federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) account appropriation of $6.595 million to allow Minnesota to modernize, secure, and update the statewide voter registration system and improve election cybersecurity. Additional dollars are dedicated for improvements to Minnesota’s election systems, including funding for popular electronic poll books to speed up and modernize the voter registration process.

The bill includes substantial investments in cybersecurity, providing $20 million over four years to prepare the state for other potential cyberattacks and ensure the state is taking necessary steps to protect Minnesotans in the future. 

The state government budget also funds Minnesota’s constitutional offices and other government boards and commissions including Minnesota IT Services, the Department of Administration, Minnesota Management and Budget, the Department of Revenue, Minnesota Historical Society, and the Humanities Center.