Monday Morning’s Hot Cup of Political Realitea - March 23–27, 2026
- Melissa Reed
- Apr 19
- 7 min read
After last week’s blizzard, Minnesota’s 70-degree weekend mimics the wild swings at the Capitol on this Manic Monday. The melting snow revealed work left undone, and lawmakers returned to Saint Paul to dig out from a backlog of hearings and approaching committee deadlines. Legislators and staff are working hard to make progress before the March 27 policy bill deadline.
‘SUP GOVERNOR: Governor Tim Walz rolled out new proposed supplemental budget that would tax large social media companies, expand the child care tax credit, lower the sales tax while broadening it to professional services, and provide partially forgivable loans and rental assistance for small businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge.
He also announced a plan to take Medicaid administration out of the hands of private insurers and counties, shifting it to the Department of Human Services in a fee‑for‑service model. Walz said the restructuring would improve transparency and reduce fraud, but Republicans criticized the plan as an overreach and vowed to block it.
RENT HELP: Senate Democrats approved a $40 million emergency rental assistance bill (SF 3596) to help Minnesotans who lost wages during Operation Metro Surge. The one‑time funds would be distributed by counties and tribal governments and come from leftover settlement dollars. Republicans argued the aid could encourage fraud and said the crisis was self‑inflicted; the House Republican caucus opposes the bill, making its future uncertain.
PSILOCYBIN THERAPY PILOT: House Health Finance & Policy Committee voted to send HF 2906 to the Commerce Committee. The bill would establish a pilot program allowing adults with qualifying medical conditions to receive psilocybin‑assisted therapy under strict supervision and would reclassify psilocybin from Schedule I to Schedule IV. Supporters testified that the therapy saved lives, especially for veterans; there was no opposition at the hearing.
BCA INVESTIGATOINS: A bill (HF 3405) to require the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate deaths involving federal agents failed to advance on a party‑line vote in the House Public Safety Committee. Proponents argued that state investigations are needed after federal agents killed Minnesotans Renee Good and Alex Pretti during Operation Metro Surge. Republicans countered that the BCA already has authority and the bill is unnecessary.
SPORTS BETTING AND PREDICTION 🔮 MARKETS: Senators introduced SF 4511 allowing tribes to operate in‑person and mobile sports betting with revenue shared among tribes, horse tracks, non‑profits and problem gambling programs. The bill gained urgency after federal regulators approved “prediction markets,” which allow unregulated wagering on political and financial events. The Senate Rules Committee forwarded the sports betting bill to the Commerce Committee, while a competing bill would ban prediction markets entirely.
NORTH STRONG: The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library announced that the people of the Twin Cities will receive the 2026 Profile in Courage Award. The award recognizes tens of thousands of residents who risked their safety to peacefully protest Operation Metro Surge, document federal enforcement actions and support immigrant neighbors. The library noted that residents, faith leaders and labor and community groups united across racial and political lines to defend constitutional rights.
ICE AIRPORT DEPLOYMENT DRAWS HEAVY SCRUTINY: On March 21, President Donald Trump threatened to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to U.S. airports if congressional Democrats did not agree to fund airport safety. He wrote on Truth Social that “on Monday, ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents,” and said the agents would provide security during a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. The shutdown left Transportation Security Administration employees unpaid, prompting more than 400 workers to resign and over 10% to call in sick. Democrats blasted the proposal, noting that ICE agents are not trained for airport security; Sen. Richard Blumenthal called it a reckless misuse of ICE and warned it would alarm the public, while Rep. Bennie Thompson said the plan would bring a “tool of fascism” to airports. The debate underscores ongoing scrutiny of ICE tactics in Minnesota and nationally as Operation Metro Surge continues to draw protests and legislative attention.
The Hot Goss’
Caucuses, Conventions and Campaigns, Oh My!
Statewide precinct caucuses held on Feb. 3 marked the first step toward the 2026 elections. DFL officials reported roughly 30,000 participants, with some precincts seeing 75 percent first‑time caucus‑goers. On the GOP side, House Speaker Lisa Demuth led the gubernatorial straw poll, and her campaign said the results showed momentum for the Demuth–Wilson ticket. Businessman Kendall Qualls finished second, while MyPillow founder Mike Lindell placed a distant third and former nominee Scott Jensen trailed significantly. DFL governor hopeful US Sen. Amy Klobuchar was expected to dominate the Democratic straw poll, though official figures were not released. Party nominating conventions are scheduled for later this spring. March 22–23 endorsing conventions. In Senate District 46, delegates considered whether to endorse incumbent Sen. Ron Latz or St. Louis Park councilmember Lynette Dumalag. Pre‑convention reporting suggested Latz maintained strong support from DFL leaders while Dumalag’s insurgent bid reflected ideological tensions within the party. Late Sunday it was reported the convention voted in support of a Joint Motion of both campaigns to adjourn with no endorsement.
On the Republican side, Rep. Chris Swedzinski announced on March 21 that he will not seek re‑election after serving in the Minnesota House since 2011. He said he wants to spend more time with his family and return to private life. Swedzinski thanked his constituents and colleagues, including Sen. Gary Dahms, who also plans to retire. The open seat in House District 15A will add another competitive race to the 2026 election cycle.
EXIT, STAGE LEFT & RIGHT: At least 23 legislators have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026. According to the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, the list includes 14 Senators and 9 House members:
Senators Jim Carlson, Steve Cwodzinski, Gary Dahms, Rich Draheim, Steve Drazkowski, Jeff Howe, Warren Limmer, Alice Mann, Jeremy Miller, Sandy Pappas, Ann Rest, Bill Weber, Melissa Wiklund and Tou Xiong,
Representatives Patti Anderson, Sandra Feist, Erin Koegel, Ron Kresha, Kelly Moller, Paul Novotny, Tim O’Driscoll, Joe Schomacker and Paul Torkelson.
With all 201 seats on the ballot and several incumbents seeking other offices, expect substantial turnover in the Legislature next year.
Stay tuned as more members announce their plans before the June 2, 2026, filing deadline!
What’s Ahead (March 23–27)
Lawmakers face the first and second committee deadlines on March 27, so many committees will spend long days assembling omnibus bills and finalizing policy proposals. With Ramadan nearing its end and Easter and Passover breaks looming, expect schedules to be compressed. Key issues on the horizon include:
Monday, March 23
In the House, Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy opens the day international remittance, followed by Ways and Means hearing largely non- controversial stand-alone bills. Agriculture finance egg-zamines expired farm egg donation. House Floor Session 3:30PM.
Senate Jobs will hear SF 4527 (Pha) and SF 4535 (Champion), both addressing small businesses negatively impacted by federal ICE enforcement activity. The Minnesota Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Coalition provided the committee with a letter and fact sheet detailing the needs of Minnesota’s small businesses. Human Services looks to repeal the fraud-reddened Housing Stabilization program. Transportation looks to enhance bus rapid transit service and access to bus stops for all riders with SF 4377. Senate Floor Session 11:00AM.
Tuesday, March 24
House Commerce looks at Earned Wage Access tools that allow workers access to wages a few days early in HF 2874, while State Government Finance again looks at the session-dominating issue of fraud and agency oversight in the creation of the Office of Inspector General (SF 856). The DFL holds the gavel today in Jobs, and the committee looks to prohibit surveillance-based pricing and wage discrimination HF 4131 and requiring employers to provide access to suitable seating for employees while at work in HF 3796. Taxes looks to give families a break on sales and use taxes for school supplies with HF 331.
Senate State and Local Government responds to transparency concerns and prohibits local elected officials from engaging in nondisclosure agreements (SF 4548), and Sen. Mohamed presents SF 2621 which would place a Constitutional Amendment on the November 2026 General Election Ballot for voters to decide whether to increase the sales tax 3/8 to raise over $400 million per year for accessible affordable housing needs. Commerce reviews various aspects of cannabis licensure and regulation, and the Energy committee looks specify required elements in an application to the Public Utilities Commission for a certificate of need for a petroleum pipeline around demand forecasting in HF 4377. Environment and Natural Resources has HF 4257 clarifying some PFAS reporting requirements and advance permitting efficiency with HF 4264.
Wednesday, March 25
House Commerce & Consumer Protection kicks off the morning with prohibitions on surveillance-based pricing and cannabis regulation companions from Tuesday’s Senate hearings, and HF 4188 with multiple consumer protection policies looks like a potential omnibus bill vehicle. Workforce, Labor and Economic Development examines aspects of Minnesota’s Paid Leave program with bills such as HF 2113 exempting small employers from paid leave requirements. The GOP has the gavel is Transportation and will attempt to reallocate funds away from the Blue Line light rail transit extension project to the state general fund with HF 3507. Expect 12:15PM Floor hearing paper push.
Senate Judiciary and Public Safety will hear bills responding to the housing impacts of the ICE occupation including SF 4171 (altering utility billing rules during expedited evictions) and SF 4537 (modifying the expedited eviction process) Human Services will release and walkthrough its vehicle bill in SF 476, with a delete-everything amendment expected prior to the hearing. Transportation will debate the future of autonomous vehicles in SF 4618. Expect 11:00AM Floor hearing paper push.
Thursday, March 26
Legislative activity tapers as the Easter and Passover break and First/Second deadline on March 27 approaches. Only a handful of committees are scheduled including House Workforce, Labor and Economic Development receiving a presentation on the Report of the Review of Competitive Grant Processes, and the creation of a new Local News Talent Pipeline competitive grant program with HF 4072. The bonding bill sees action with Capital Investment hearing a dozen local projects from Minnesota cities and counties. House Floor Session 3:30PM.
Senate Health and Human Services will take testimony, mark-up and pass out the omnibus HHS policy bill, which will be posted later today (3/23). Taxes will hear several city requests for local option sales taxes and TIF bills. Commerce is expected to take up the earned wage access bill, though no hearing is posted yet. Senate Floor Session 11:00AM.
Friday, March 27
Deadline day. Most House committees are canceled as legislative staff compile omnibus bills for floor consideration. In the Senate, Judiciary and Public Safety and Human Services committees have reserved time in case any last‑minute measures need hearings. Lawmakers will spend the day negotiating final language and planning floor debates as they head into a week‑long holiday recess.
The Deets
Fraud Modernization Plans
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