During a short special session, the Minnesota Legislature passed an entire state budget before adjourning on early Saturday morning. In total, the legislature passed eleven budget bills; each bill awaits action by Governor Tim Walz.
“After a marathon, 21-hour special session, we reached a remarkable compromise that truly meets the needs of Minnesotans across the state. We made historic investments in education, transportation, and health care – without asking the taxpayers for additional revenue. This is a bipartisan accomplishment,” said Senator Jerry Relph (R-St. Cloud). “These investments will not benefit just the St. Cloud area, but the entire state of Minnesota. I’m really proud to have reached across the aisle to get this done.”
The largest area of the budget, health and human services, spends more than $15 billion over the next two years on health care and social service programs and includes robust prescription drug transparency requirements to aid consumers in getting the best price for a medication, an insulin program that allows individuals in need to receive a month’s supply of insulin, and funding for mental health services.
Landmark protections for elderly and vulnerable Minnesotans will go into effect next year, including the explicit right of senior care facility residents to use electronic monitoring devices, licensing for assisted living facilities, and funding for more agency staff to assist long-term care residents with questions, concerns, or complaints. In addition, the successful premium security program will remain in place – a proven method of lowering health insurance rates for families, farmers, and small businesses.
Education funding was another top priority, with the budget agreement calling for an increase of two percent to the per-pupil general education formula in each of the next two years – amounting to nearly $1.5 million in additional funding for the St. Cloud School District and more than $700,000 for Sartell-St. Stephen Schools. The budget also includes $90 million to help cover the rising costs of special education and provides districts with funding for safety enhancements.
Minnesotans will see the first middle-class income tax cut in nearly two decades, bringing the second-tier income tax bracket down from 7.05% to 6.8%. Minnesota tax laws will also conform more closely to the federal tax code, easing the extra steps required for tax filing. Billions will be invested in Minnesota’s transportation infrastructure – without raising the gas tax, vehicle sales tax, or license plate tab fees.
In addition to funding to study a potential St. Cloud extension to the Northstar Commuter Rail, the transportation budget agreement also includes an audit of the state’s transportation and public safety departments to ensure transparency and includes an additional $275 million over the current budget for statewide road construction, delivery, and maintenance. A long-term fix for the fatally-flawed MNLARS program was also passed.
Finally, the budget spends an additional $40 million on broadband expansion in rural communities, increases funding to protect the state against cybersecurity threats, includes funding for dozens of new corrections officers, and pumps significant funding into workforce training programs across the state. In addition to passing legislation aimed at making college textbooks more affordable, the legislature expanded the state grant program and capped in-state tuition at most public colleges and universities in Minnesota.
“We came together in the end to pass critical funding for so many areas and programs – and the end result is a compromise that will make our state better. I’m looking forward to the governor signing this budget into law.”
Senator Jerry Relph represents St. Cloud, Waite Park, St. Augusta, Haven Township, Minden Township, and St. Joseph Township in the Minnesota Senate.