Gov. Walz Issues First Veto, Blocks Bill Setting Minimum Wage For Uber And Lyft Drivers

Walz’s office announced the veto hours after Uber said it would pull out of greater Minnesota if the governor signed the bill.

Minnesota Lawmakers Bring National Popular Vote One Step Closer To Reality

With the addition of Minnesota, backers of the plan are just 65 electoral votes away from making it a reality.

Lawmakers Tout Minnesota Legislature's Accomplishments To Reduce Racial Disparities

"We’ve done a lot...we did it by ensuring that we were focused on inclusivity and breaking down systemic barriers," Rep. Ester Agbaje said.

Nurse Staffing Bill Is Gutted In Final Hours Of Minnesota's Legislative Session

Some senators withdrew their support because of an exemption for Mayo Clinic.

Minnesota Legislature Closes 2023 Session By Passing Bills On Health, Infrastructure

State lawmakers passed a series of far-reaching bills during a fast-paced, momentous session.

Bill That Could Doom Fairview-Sanford Merger Heads To Walz's Desk; Fairview, Sanford Undeterred

The legislation prohibits health care transactions that “substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly.”

Mayo Clinic Wins Full Exemption From Nurse Staffing Bill In Agreement With State Leaders

All of Mayo Clinic’s facilities in Minnesota will be fully exempt from the union-backed bill.

MN Lawmakers Pass Gas Tax, Retail Delivery Fee, And Metro Sales Tax

The three major tax measures are intended to help pay for the state's transportation infrastructure.

DFL Grapples With Third Controversy Over Minneapolis Endorsements

The Democratic-Farmer-Labor endorsement convention for one Minneapolis ward was canceled amid allegations of phony delegates.

In Bankruptcy's Wake, A Minnesota Meatpacking Plant's Visa Workers Face An Uncertain Future

HyLife announced in early April that if it can’t sell the plant, it anticipated laying off the 1,007-person workforce by June 2.

Uber Warns Customers And Drivers That It May Leave Minnesota Over Proposed Legislation

Uber said the legislation would threaten passengers’ safety and drivers’ earning potential.

Are Minnesotans Really Fleeing To Low-Tax States?

Between 2021 and 2022, according to Census data, Minnesota lost about 19,400 people to other states.

Police Called To Break Up Fights At Democrats' Convention

Minnesota Democratic Party Chairman Ken Martin blamed the brawl on supporters of Minneapolis city council candidate Nasri Warsame.

Lawmakers To Name Chemical Ban ‘Amara's Law' To Honor 20-Year-Old Cancer Victim

"Minnesota invented PFAS. By passing this, Minnesota is going to invent the solution and end this harm caused by forever chemicals."

Bipartisan Group Projects U.S. Default As Soon As Early June, Citing ‘Quite Low' Cash Flows

"It's certainly time to get concerned," Bipartisan Policy Center Director of Economic Policy Shai Akabas said.

New Quarter-Cent Metro Sales Tax For Housing Assistance Likely To Pass Legislature

The state House approved the tax on Monday as part of a $1 billion bill that funds new affordable housing development and preservation.

Minnesota May Make Prison Phone Calls Free To Keep Families Connected, Reduce Recidivism

Minnesota prisoners get two free five-minute phone calls every week, after which they’re charged 4 cents per minute for phone calls.

Nurses' Union Says Mayo Clinic Needs The Staffing Bill It Wants To Kill

The Mayo Clinic issued an ultimatum to Gov. Tim Walz and state lawmakers last week: Gut the bill or lose billions in planned investments.

New Quarter-Cent Metro Sales Tax For Housing Assistance Likely To Pass Legislature

It would be would be the state’s first ongoing funding stream dedicated to housing.

Reformer: The Child Tax Credit Would Help People Who Are In Helping Jobs

"We work full-time taking care of Minnesota’s kids, but we don’t make enough money doing it to truly afford to take care of our own kids."

Reformer: A Prescription Drug Affordability Board Is Our Best Shot To Lower Drug Costs

The board would "serve as a watchdog and check the monopoly power of drug companies."

Walz Signs Democracy For The People Act Elections Bill

Plus, Minnesota Reformer's weekly legislative roundup.

Megatrends: 10 Trends That Will Shape Minnesota's Future

Slowing population growth, aging residents, rural depopulation and more make the list.

Is The Fragile Geology Of St. Anthony Falls Imperiled?

Geologists, emergency managers plead with Legislature to fund a study of the key infrastructure under the falls.

Reformer: Minnesota House Has A Casual Vibe When It Comes To Voting

"Psst – I’m taking off – cover for me, wouldya?"

Federal Labor Board Settles With FirstService Residential Minnesota Over Anti-Union Tactics

"We flexed our muscles, and we showed them we can stand up to them. And we won,” said Kevin Borowske, a former FirstService caretaker.

Reformer: DFL House And Senate Leadership Are Right To Be United For Fairer Corporate Taxes

"Complex tax avoidance maneuvers have no basis in economic substance."

University Of Minnesota Graduate Students Unionize After Decades-Long Push

The new union will represent roughly 4,100 graduate students at the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses.

Star Tribune Lobbies Against Children's Online Safety Bill, Saying It Could Bankrupt Them

With nearly a million Minnesotans between ages 5 and 18, one violation of the bill's provisions would cost the news outlet $2.4 billion.

State Labor Regulators Recover Unpaid Wages For 137 Personal Care Assistants

DLI’s Labor Standards unit found the personal care assistance agencies did not correctly pay workers all they were owed.

Supreme Court Seems To Favor Minneapolis Woman Who Got $0 For Condo

A dozen states and the District of Columbia allow local jurisdictions to keep the excess money after a property is sold for back taxes.

Bitter Pill Slipped Into The Prescription Price Gouging Bill

State senators gutted a drug price gouging bill last week in a gift to Big Pharma, advocates for the bill say.

Ex-Police Officer Kim Potter Released From Prison

Former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter is out of prison. She will remain on probation until Dec. 21.

House Passes Massive K-12 Education Funding, Policy Package

The bill would increase education spending by 10 percent to $23 billion.

Senate Poised To Pass Three DFL Social Issue Bills

The bills have become pillars of the Minnesota DFL’s social issue agenda this session.

House Passes Bill Cracking Down On Chemicals Invented By Minnesota's 3M

The budget bill includes a ban on products that contain common but toxic chemicals that 3M invented in Minnesota in the 1940s.

MN Recreational Marijuana Bill Will Get Vote On House Floor

The Ways and Means Committee approved House File 100, setting up a grand showdown between advocates and opponents of legalizing cannabis.

DFL Proposes Rehabilitating Prisoners; GOP Calls It 'Get Out Of Jail Free' Bill

Minnesota Senate Republicans accused Democrats of being too soft on crime with their approach to public safety and prisons.

Long Wait Time But Little Fraud In Pandemic Rental Assistance Program, Legislative Auditor Says

Applicants had to wait an average of 87 days for RentHelpMN to process their applications.

Conservatives Target Swing-District Lawmakers Over Bill To Control Drug Costs

Democrats say the ads amount to misinformation meant to provide cover for the pharmaceutical industry and its gargantuan price increases.