Monday Morning’s Hot Cup of Political RealiteaApril 20 – April 24, 2026

Monday Morning’s Hot Cup of Political Realitea 

April 20 – April 24, 2026 

Wolves in 5 🏀. The week of April 20 marks the beginning of the Timberwolves playoff run, and a shift from committee work to negotiations and floor votes at the Minnesota State Capitol. Lawmakers set three committee deadlines early in the session. Bills had to be acted on in their house of origin by the buzzer on March 27 (first and second deadlines). The final deadline for major appropriation and finance bills was April 17. With these key trade deadlines passed, the May 18 adjournment looming and the House still divided, expect rapid movement on bills that have bipartisan support—particularly infrastructure projects, anti‑fraud measures and targeted tax provisions.  

Because the state budget was set in 2025, 2026 is not a budget year. However, lawmakers still hope to pass a bonding bill, targeted tax changes and policy legislation. Controversial items may either be paired with more urgent bills or deferred until 2027. The next couple of weeks may be as wild as a play playoff series: with an overtime special session not an option, momentum can swing quickly, unexpected bench players can step up, and nothing is decided until the clock hits sine die on May 18, 2026.  

This week, the Senate will move additional omnibus bills through Finance, and the House will likely take up measures such as the HCMC sales tax bill and the inspector general proposal. Earth Day on April 22 will bring advocates to the Capitol for rallies on clean water and environmental issues. The House’s Fraud Prevention committee will likely revisit the Feeding Our Future investigation and expect further negotiations on the North Star Comeback tax plan, HCMC funding, and small business relief measures. 

Because the House is tied, there will be no global “budget target” as in past years, and committees must determine individually how to proceed.  

OMNIBUS BILL, REJECTED! In Minnesota, omnibus bills traditionally combine multiple smaller bills into a single package to be considered by the full House and Senate. During this session, however, House GOP co‑chairs announced that they would not support omnibus bills and would instead take up each bill separately. After the first deadlines, the Senate had been moving omnibus bills, but the House Republican caucus wanted to move bills individually and would not set budget targets.  

Rep. Paul Torkelson, the GOP House Ways and Means Co-Chair, confirmed that there would be no budget targets, and the House would insist on separate bills. Observers noted that deals could still come together quickly if leaders agree, but without omnibus vehicles the path to adjournment became much less predictable. 

SENATE KEEPS ROLLING: The DFL-controlled Senate has continued to assemble large omnibus bills and send them to the House. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy acknowledged that some large Senate bills might lack a House companion due to the GOP stance, but she said pieces of those bills could still move forward if they are priorities. The Senate’s Transportation, Finance and other committees have advanced omnibus bills on housing, education and public safety, but without House companions those proposals may end up as bargaining chips in end‑of‑session negotiations. Expect that pieces from multiple Senate bills may be combined into a final deal or left for 2027. 

Examples of omnibus activity 

• Workforce Omnibus (HF 3732): The House Workforce Development Finance and Policy Committee advanced an omnibus bill that would create an Office of Community Investment to manage state grants. Supporters said the new structure would replace a system where programs get funded through end‑of‑session bartering rather than being evaluated on outcomes. Several grant programs may ultimately be traded in negotiations as legislative leaders assemble final packages. 

• Children and Families: Children and Families committee’s attempt to adopt a “minibus” collapsed when GOP members refused to move any omnibus bills. This illustrates the challenge of passing even modest combined bills in a tied House. 

• Transportation and Housing: Other committees have advanced omnibus bills in the Senate, but House counterparts are slow to act.  

DOWN TO THE BUZZER: The combination of tight deadlines and the absence of budget targets means that deals will be reached in private and that rank‑and‑file members gain leverage because leaders need every vote in a tied House. The session’s theme is “gridlock,” with major priorities not moving because each party can block the other’s proposals. 

NO GLOBAL BUDGET TARGETS: Without joint House–Senate budget targets, there is less guidance for committees on how much spending is available. House DFL Leader Zack Stephenson and SpeakerLisa Demuth acknowledged after their first meeting with Governor Walz on April 16 that they would not set overall targets but instead negotiate issues individually. They described the meeting as “encouraging,” saying there was alignment on priorities like saving Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), addressing state fraud scandals, and passing a bonding bill. Stephenson said there was still “a lot of session left” to get things done, while Demuth noted that deals would require bipartisan cooperation in the tied House. 

TEAMWORK MAKES DREAMWORK: 

• Bonding and capital investment: Both chambers want to pass a bonding bill for infrastructure projects. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy and Gov. Walz have emphasized its importance, and the April 16 meeting reportedly included a discussion of bond funding. Bonding bills must originate in the House and require three‑fifths vote in support in both chambers for passage. 

• Tax policy: Governor Walz’s supplemental budget proposes a child tax credit expansion, a social media fee and property tax relief. Senate Majority Leader Murphy has said some proposals will be left behind because the state cannot afford everything. Fiscal policy may take a back seat because 2026 is not a budget year, but targeted tax bills could become bargaining chips in negotiations. 

• Fraud and oversight: High‑profile fraud scandals have pushed both parties to create an Office of Inspector General. Senate DFL Senator Grant Hauschild told PBS that the Senate will insist on an independent inspector general to tackle fraud. House Republicans likewise emphasize tackling waste and fraud; Rep. Spencer Igo told PBS the remaining time should address fraud and affordability. 

END OF SESSION GAMEPLAN: With the final committee deadline of April 17 passed and no global budget, legislative leaders will likely compile a small number of omnibus bills combining selected policy and finance provisions. Negotiations will happen privately among the governor and legislative leaders. Expect that: 

• Bonding plus targeted policy trade‑offs: A bonding bill may be paired with policy or spending items that appeal to both parties—e.g., some tax relief or local projects in exchange for anti‑fraud measures and perhaps modest public safety provisions. 

• Focus on bipartisan, small bills: Many smaller, bipartisan bills have advanced through committees and may pass individually in the final weeks. 

• Expect limited omnibus bills: The House GOP’s stance against omnibus bills has disrupted the traditional process. Only a few combined bills—likely relating to bonding, tax relief and targeted policy changes—may emerge. Individual bills will need bipartisan support to pass. 

• Negotiations will be pivotal: With no budget targets, the governor and leaders of both parties will negotiate privately to craft final packages. Watch for agreements that tie popular provisions (bonding, tax relief) with priorities such as anti‑fraud measures or modest public safety provisions. 

The Hot Goss’ 💅🏼 

What’d I miss!? 

IMPEACHMENT RESOLUTION DEFEATED: On April 17, a House Rules Committee got dicey when Republican Floor Leader Harry Niska and Rep. Ben Davis introduced a resolution to investigate impeaching GovernorTim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison over alleged failures to stop a multi‑billion‑dollar charity fraud. Niska argued that impeachment was “the only tool we have” to hold executives accountable. DFL members called the effort a distraction; Rep. Michael Howard said the resolution was “fundamentally unserious” and detracted from real work. The committee deadlocked along party lines, so the resolution did not advance. 

MIXED BAG ON OMNIBUS BILLS: Despite the House GOP’s opposition to large omnibus packages, several policy finance bills made it out of committee before the deadline. The House passed omnibus bills on human services, health, workforce, higher education, and public safety, while other proposals—such as children and families, judiciary, energy and the Legacy finance bill—failed to advance. One omnibus that did pass the floor was the liquor bill (HF 2027/SF 2511). It contains a “Grandparents’ Happy Hour” provision allowing nursing homes and assisted living facilities to serve alcohol during organized social events, provided certain safeguards are met. Rep. Danny Nadeau hailed it as collaborative legislation, and it sailed through the House in time for happy hour on a 129‑1 vote. Rep. Drew Roach, the lone hold-out, will likely not be invited to Flip Cup Night with Nana. 

BIPARTISAN MOMENTS: MPR News highlighted several cross‑party bills that found traction despite the tense atmosphere. These include measures to ban cryptocurrency kiosks, require economic interest disclosures to include crypto holdings, and bar mental health therapists from using AI in patient care.  

TENSION AND ETHICS COMPLAINTS: Returning from the Easter/Passover break, the House confronted dueling ethics complaints. Two GOP legislators—Reps. Elliott Engen and Walter Hudson—were stripped of committee assignments after a widely circulated photo showed them drinking at a bar during a committee meeting. Democrats filed ethics complaints, and Republicans responded with a complaint against DFL Rep.Alex Falconer. Speaker Lisa Demuth said the actions were based on police reports about Engen’s DWI and Hudson’s alleged firearm possession while intoxicated.  

HCMC AND OTHER BUDGET DISCUSSIONS: The House Taxes Committee considered a bipartisan bill (HF 4841) to repurpose a 0.15 % sales tax used to pay Target Field bonds into a 1% local tax dedicated to Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) and North Memorial Health. Rep. Danny Nadeau (R) and Rep. Aisha Gomez (DFL) both support the bill, and Gomez has said the House DFL will not leave St. Paul without a solution for HCMC. 

House Republicans unveiled a North Star Comeback Plan promising $3.8 billion in tax cuts, elimination of taxes on tips and overtime pay, and investments in IT modernization and fraud prevention. Meanwhile, Senate DFL leaders continued pressing for a bonding bill and targeted relief rather than sweeping tax reductions. 

OPERATION METRO SURGE AND BUSINESS RELIEF: With federal immigration enforcement still affecting Twin Cities neighborhoods, lawmakers considered a $100 million relief fund for businesses harmed by Operation Metro Surge. Trying to survive federal raids is like playing a road game at altitude: local businesses are gasping for breath, and the Legislature needs to help them catch their second wind. At a House Ways and Means hearing, Rep. Cedrick Frazier stressed the fear still present and said the program would help businesses statewide.  

Looking Ahead 🔮 April 20–24, 2026 

Minnesota Legislative Calendar 

Monday, April 20 

HOUSE 

• Ways and Means Committee, 10:15 AM (Capitol 120) – final stop for major finance bills. HF 3489 (field trip policies and grooming offense), HF 3393 (iron ore mining benefits), HF 3785 (electric bike and motorized bicycle definitions and dealer licensing), SF 856 (creating an Office of the Inspector General and appropriating funds), HF 4006 (modifying funding for Eveleth’s Progress Parkway), HF 4615 (changing pay for state‑activated service members), HF 3919 (benefits for veterans of the Secret War in Laos), HF 4591 (grants for noncommercial radio stations), HF 3682 (grantee fraud risk rating system) and HF 4240 (election administration changes) 

• House Floor Session, 1 PM 

• Advisory Committee on Capitol Area Security, 2:30 PM – chaired by Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, this commission receives updates from the Department of Public Safety and the House Sergeant‑at‑Arms and hears public comment.  

SENATE 

• Finance Committee, 9:30 AM – begins a week of hearings on the Veterans, Housing, Health and Human Services, Safety & Security and supplemental finance omnibus bills. Monday’s agenda features SF 4059, appropriating money to public‑television stations. No public testimony is expected, and documents had to be submitted ahead of time. 

• Senate Floor Session, 11 AM 

• Rules and Administration Committee, 15 minutes after floor session – Agenda includes technical corrections (SF 4244), small business recovery loan program (SF 4535), coverage for infertility treatment (SF 1961), reporting requirements for licensing boards (SF 3969), discrimination based on disability status (SF 3210), building code modifications (SF 3720), a one‑time school safety aid (SF 5000) and guidelines for chemical irritant use (SF 4144). Bills may be advanced to the floor or referred to other committees 

• Transportation Committee, 3 PM – SF 4055 (trunk‑highway maintenance and expansion requirements), SF 4658 (transit planning and transit‑oriented development), SF 4657 (evaluation and planning processes for transportation projects), SF 4598 (design standards and variances), SF 5085 (classification and funding for pedestrian crossings) and SF 3990 (trunk‑highway project development). Presentations from the Sierra Club and Our Streets will inform the discussion. 

Tuesday, April 21 

HOUSE 

• Rules and Legislative Administration Committee, 10 AM – co‑chaired by Rep. Jamie Long (DFL) and Rep. Harry Niska (GOP). Approve April 15 minutes and set the Calendar for the Day for April 23. 

• Capital Investment Committee, 10:15 AM – hears bonding requests for a long list of local projects: new habitats at Como Zoo, redevelopment of the Sears site in St. Paul, an indoor sports dome, improvements to West 7th Street, upgrades to St. Paul Regional Water Services, a secure psychiatric treatment facility, wastewater improvements for the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District, additions to the Willard Munger Trail, a downtown deck over Shepard Road and more. Vehicle bills HF 3478 (Centennial Office Building redevelopment) and HF 4656 (community tree‑planting grants) may be voted on. These hearings will influence the shape of the bonding bill. 

• Taxes Committee, 10:15 AM (Capitol 120) – takes up a slew of tax‑increment‑financing requests from cities including Eden Prairie, Wayzata, Columbia Heights, Fridley, Chaska, Hopkins and Mountain Lake, plus HF 4251 (Capitol‑complex host program) and HF 4361 (modifying Minneapolis’ local sales tax and downtown taxing area).  

• Fraud Prevention & State Agency Oversight Policy Committee, 1:15 PM – continues its deep dive into charter school governance and reviews materials on the Feeding Our Future scandal. 

• Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement, 5:30 PM – reviews pension contribution and cost‑of‑living bills (SPTRFA contributions, PERA Police & Fire COLA), State Board of Investment changes and other measures laid over from previous meetings. 

SENATE 

• Finance Committee, 8:30 AM – the committee takes up SF 4167 (state officials’ security and protective services program appropriation) and SF 203 (housing infrastructure bonds), as well as any amendments carried over from Monday. The meeting runs until 10:30 AM and may reconvene after the floor session. 

• Taxes Committee, morning (time to be announced) – scheduled to begin its review of tax proposals. Expect hearings on local sales tax authorizations, property‑tax adjustments and pieces of the governor’s tax plan. This is the Senate’s chance to set its own tax‑policy priorities. (Exact start time was not posted at press time but is typically 8:30 AM or 9:00 AM.) 

• Capital Investment Committee, afternoon – the Senate counterpart to the House committee will review bonding requests and infrastructure proposals. Look for discussion of housing projects, water and wastewater systems and local infrastructure needs. 

• Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement, 5:30 PM – meets jointly with the House commission to consider pension and investment bills. Testimony will be limited because previous hearings covered much of the substance. 

Wednesday, April 22 

HOUSE: 

• Taxes Committee, 10:15 AM – 2:00 PM – extended meeting to hear a marathon lineup of local sales tax authorizations: Champlin, Baxter, Alexandria, Sauk Centre, Douglas County, Albert Lea, Caledonia, La Crescent, Glencoe, Audubon, Elk River, Vergas, Plymouth, Minnetonka, Lanesboro, Warwas and Rochester. Two new local sales tax bills (Champlin and Virginia) will be introduced that day. 

• Ways and Means Committee, 1 PM  – reconvenes to move additional bills: HF 1141 (housing infrastructure bonds), HF 4372 (extending deadlines for meat processing training grants), HF 3426 (allocating Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund money and extending prior appropriations), HF 4200 (making cannabis tracking data nonpublic and modifying data practices rules for the Office of Cannabis Management), HF 3936 (funding public television stations), HF 4222 (modifying state park acquisitions and authorizing land sales) and HF 4138 (establishing new requirements and enforcement mechanisms for minors’ social media accounts). No public testimony will be taken. This meeting sets up floor debates for later in the week. 

SENATE: 

• Finance Committee, 8:30 AM – continues omnibus bill hearings. The committee may mark up the Housing, Veterans, HHS, Safety & Security and supplemental finance bills and take testimony from stakeholders.  

• Transportation Committee, 3 PM – reconvenes to consider any remaining transportation policy bills or to adopt amendments to the bills heard Monday. The committee may also discuss metropolitan transit and road safety issues raised during earlier testimony. 

• Rules and Administration Committee, immediately after the Senate floor session – stands ready to process any last‑minute referrals or procedural motions.  

Thursday, April 23 

HOUSE: 

• No committee hearings are scheduled. The House is expected to hold a floor session to debate bills that cleared Ways and Means and Taxes, with members focusing on amendments and final votes.  

SENATE: 

• Finance Committee, 8:30 AM – continues work on omnibus bills and may release its supplemental finance bill. Detailed spreadsheets and amendment packages will drop this week. 

• Taxes Committee, morning – expects to meet to adopt its tax bill and finalize language on local sales taxes, property‑tax relief and tax‑credit expansions. The exact time had not been published at press time. 

Friday, April 24 

HOUSE:  

• No House committees are scheduled to meet. If necessary, the House may hold a floor session to take final votes on bills or send them to conference committees.  

SENATE: 

• Finance Committee, 8:30 AM – plans to wrap up its work on the remaining omnibus bills and send them to the floor. It’s the last home game of the week—senators will want to clear the docket before the weekend. 

• Taxes Committee (if needed) – may hold a brief meeting to make technical corrections or adopt final amendments.