A bipartisan group of Senators (Sen. Carla Nelson, Sen. Roger Reinert, Sen. Jeremy Miller, Sen. LeRoy Stumpf, and Sen. Karin Housley) want to end last minute lawmaking. They have proposed adding a new legislative deadline for conference committee reports to be released one week prior to adjournment.

 “Our adjournment date was predetermined when Minnesota’s Constitution was signed. It did not sneak up on us. Yet again this year, we find ourselves in a familiar predicament. With no apparent progress on transportation or taxes, it looks as if we’re headed for another chaotic ending to the session,” said Sen. Nelson. “Adding a fourth deadline for conference committee reports will add transparency to the process, give legislators and the public time to read and understand bills, and avoid last-minute deal making behind closed doors.”

Currently, section 2.03 of the Joint Rules of the Senate and House calls on leadership to agree to three committee deadlines to move bills through the process. Under the proposed fourth committee deadline, conference committees would be required to act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills, including omnibus bills, at least one week prior to adjournment. The position has also been adopted by the bipartisan Purple Caucus.

“Changes to a very traditional institution like the state legislature happens very slowly.  Many of my Senate colleagues want to see more transparency in law-making; this may be one way,” added Sen. Stumpf.