Legislators from around the state reconvened in St. Paul today for the start of the 2020 legislative session. The Senate Republican majority’s agenda for the abbreviated session, which is scheduled to end on May 18, is expected to include proposals for an infrastructure-focused bonding bill, for reducing prescription drug costs, for addressing rising incidents violent attacks in the Twin Cities, and for managing the state’s projected $1.33 billion budget surplus.

“If you look at the big numbers, our economy is in fantastic shape,” said Sen. Julie Rosen, chair of the Senate Finance Committee. “Unemployment is low, we’re adding jobs, and we have a healthy budget surplus. Now we have to make sure working families are benefitting as well. That means more tax relief from our large budget surplus, access to affordable health care and inexpensive prescription drugs, and childcare that doesn’t break the bank. Those are some of the things we will work on this session.”

Last month Senate Republicans unveiled their Vision 2020 Agenda, a comprehensive plan for the upcoming legislative session. The agenda includes ideas for health care, transportation, education, energy, job growth, violence prevention, and more.