Governor Tim Walz, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka and House Speaker Melissa Hortman this morning (11am) announce an agreement on Minnesota’s roughly 52-billion-dollar budget, 13 hours before the midnight deadline for the legislature to adjourn. It’s basically impossible for lawmakers to finish details of the budget today, so a special session is likely, Hortman says possibly wrapping up by June 14th — that’s when lawmakers would have to be back anyway to vote on the governor’s COVID emergency powers.
On the biggest issue, Hortman indicates the legislature and governor would share responsibility for parceling out some of the billions in federal COVID aid, but in some areas Walz would have sole jurisdiction. And leaders say there will be guidance today regarding state taxes on COVID unemployment benefits and Paycheck Protection Program loans to businesses.
Hortman and Gazelka also both indicate there will be additional police reform measures, but wouldn’t say what they might be