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2018 Minnesota legislative session

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2018 legislative sessions coverage
Minnesota State Legislature

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General information
Type:   State legislature
Term limits:   None
Session start:   February 20, 2018
Session end:   May 21, 2018
Website:   Official Legislature Website
Leadership
Senate President:   Vacant
House Speaker:  Kurt Daudt (R)
Majority Leader:   Senate: Paul Gazelka (R)
House: Joyce Peppin (R)
Minority Leader:   Senate: Thomas Bakk (D)
House: Melissa Hortman (D)
Structure
Members:  67 (Senate), 134 (House)
Length of term:   4 years (Senate), 2 years (House)
Authority:   Art IV, Minnesota Constitution
Salary:   $31,141/year + per diem
Elections
Redistricting:  Minnesota Legislature subcommittee has control

This page provides an overview of the 2018 Minnesota State Legislature and its general and special sessions. The timelines below contain noteworthy events from the sessions curated by Ballotpedia throughout the year.

If you know of any additional events that should be added to this page, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Overview

In 2018, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from February 20, 2018, through May 21, 2018.

Partisan control

Minnesota was one of 16 states under a divided government in 2018, meaning it did not have a state government trifecta. A state government trifecta occurs when one political party holds the governor's office, a majority in the state Senate, and a majority in the state House. For more information about divided governments and state government trifectas, click here.

The following tables show the partisan breakdown of the Minnesota State Legislature in the 2018 legislative session.

Senate

Party As of July 2018
     Democratic Party 33
     Republican Party 33
     Vacancies 1
Total 67

House

Party As of July 2018
     Democratic Party 56
     Republican Party 77
     Vacancies 1
Total 134

Leadership in 2018

Senate

House

Regular session

Status of legislation at the end of the regular session

This table details the status of legislation covered on this page at the end of the regular session.

Status of legislation at the end of the 2018 regular session
Legislation Subject area Actions during the regular session Status at the end of the regular session
SF 2620 Changing state pension system Passed Senate
Passed House 		Governor signed
HF 4385 Aligning state and federal tax codes Passed House
Passed Senate 		Governor vetoed
SF 730 Opioid stewardship bill Passed Senate Did not see further action
HF 947 Tax bill Passed legislature Governor vetoed
SF 3656 Budget bill Passed legislature Governor vetoed

March 26, 2018

State Senate unanimously approves bill adjusting state pension system
The Minnesota State Senate unanimously voted on a bill addressing the state pension system, which faced a $17 billion gap. The bill aimed to reduce the unfunded liability (projected debt that exceeds a fund's current capital and projected income and investment returns) by half. It would increase employer and employee pension contributions, reduce cost-of-living adjustments, lower expectations on returns, and provide lower early retirement benefits and pension cash withdrawals.[1][2]

A statement from the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus projected the bill would save the state $6.1 billion over 30 years.[2] Read more here.

Update: The House approved the legislation on May 20, 2018, and the governor signed it on May 31, 2018.

April 30, 2018

State House passes bill aligning state tax code with federal tax code
The Minnesota House of Representatives advanced a bill that would align the state tax code with the new federal tax code that President Donald Trump signed on December 22, 2017. The bill would cut income tax rates for more than two million residents, increase the standard deduction, and reduce taxes for businesses. It would also result in tax increases for 148,000 residents, according to ABC 5.[3][4] The Minnesota House approved the bill 90 to 38.

Update: The state Senate approved the legislation on May 3, 2018. The governor vetoed the legislation on May 17, 2018.

May 10, 2018

Senate approves bill to impose fees on pharmaceutical companies to fund opioid treatment programs
The Minnesota State Senate passed legislation that would impose $20 million in annual fees on pharmaceutical companies to fund opioid treatment and prevention programs as well as county social services. The vote was largely bipartisan with six senators voting in opposition.[5]

Update: The legislation was sent to the state House, where it did not see further action.

May 17, 2018

Governor vetoes bill GOP-backed tax bill, asks for funds for school districts
Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed a bill (HF 4385/SF 3982) that would have aligned the state and federal tax codes. The governor said the bill gave too much to "the rich and big corporations and crumbs to people who need it." He refused to sign the bill because it did not contain $138 million in one-time funds for school districts.

In response, Republican lawmakers sent a letter to the governor asking to negotiate. House Speaker Kurt Daudt (R) said the bill would have "put money in low- and middle-income Minnesotans pockets." He also said the current budget included enough funding for districts. The governor said he would be willing to compromise.[6]

May 22, 2018

Governor vetoes tax and budget bills
Gov. Mark Dayton (D) vetoed tax and budget bills that were the biggest pieces of legislation passed by the GOP-led legislature, according to The Associated Press and Minnesota Public Radio. Legislators sent the tax bill, HF 947, after Dayton vetoed an omnibus tax bill on May 17. Dayton wanted more funding for school districts, and Republicans said HF 947 contained $225 million for schools. In his veto message, Dayton rejected the claim, calling for new funding for schools and arguing that 80 percent of the proposed $225 million came from already-allocated sources and the other $50 million was from the budget reserve.

The tax bill would have brought Minnesota's tax code into compliance with the new federal code. The governor's veto could mean possible tax increases for Minnesota residents.

The budget bill would have allocated funds for school security, responses to the opioid epidemic, and the state elder care system, among other things. Dayton said he regretted vetoing some of the bill's provisions. In his veto letter, he wrote:

“ Included in this enormous bill are workable responses to problems that I sincerely hoped would become law: school safety and HA VA funds. I was sincere in my oft-stated desire to work with you and make these provisions become law. However, you knowingly prevented their enactment by inserting them into a bill, containing policies and agency budget cuts that I had said I would not sign.[7] ”

Dayton and legislative leaders placed blame on one another. Dayton said Republicans failed to compromise, while Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R) said the governor's veto was impulsive and vindictive. Dayton said he would not call a special session to address state finances.[8][9][10]

May 31, 2018

Gov. Dayton signs last bill as governor, changing public employee pension system
Gov. Mark Dayton (D) signed legislation (HF 3053/SF 2620) passed unanimously by the state Legislature. The legislation directs the state of Minnesota to allocate $27 million in 2019 and $114 million in the 2020-2021 two-year budget to public employee pension plans, requires increased contributions from current employees, changes cost-of-living adjustments for current retirees, eliminates cost-of-living adjustments for employees who retire early until they reach normal retirement age, and, according to the governor's office, "adopts more realistic assumptions for investment rates of return."

A press release from the governor's office said the legislation "places the State of Minnesota on a path to fully fund state pensions within 30 years. In addition, the new law will immediately eliminate $3.4 billion in unfunded liabilities to ensure the security of workers’ hard-earned pensions and strengthen the state’s long-term fiscal security." Minnesota faced $16.2 billion in unfunded liabilities prior to the bill's passage.[11][12]

The legislation was the last signed by Gov. Dayton, who did not run for re-election. Minnesota held an election for governor on November 6, 2018. Democratic and Republican primaries were held on August 14, 2018. Click here for more information about the state's gubernatorial election in 2018. Read more here.

Legislatively referred constitutional amendments

In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

The methods by which the Minnesota Constitution can be amended:

See also: Article IX of the Minnesota Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in Minnesota

The Minnesota Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution— a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. Ratification of amendments proposed by a convention require a 60% supermajority of those voting on the amendment question, while an amendment proposed by the legislature requires a simple majority (50%+1) of those voting in the election.[13]

Legislature

See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the Minnesota State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 68 votes in the Minnesota House of Representatives and 34 votes in the Minnesota State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

Ratifying an amendment requires a 'Yes' vote from a simple majority of all voters casting a ballot in the election, rather than a simple majority of those voting on the question.

Convention

See also: Convention-referred constitutional amendment

According to Section 3 of Article IX of the Minnesota Constitution, a two-thirds (66.67%) vote in each chamber during one legislative session is required to send a constitutional convention question to voters. A simple majority vote by the electorate is required to call the convention. Any proposed amendments approved by the convention require a 60% vote of the electorate to be ratified.


See also

Elections Minnesota State Government State Legislatures State Politics
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External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Minnesota Public Radio, "Senate approves public workers' pension fix," March 26, 2018
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus, "Senate passes major pension reform bill," March 26, 2018
  3. ↑ ABC 5 Eyewitness News, "State House Passes Tax Bill," April 30, 2018
  4. ↑ Twin Cities Pioneer Press, "Minnesota Legislature’s tax conformity puzzle coming together," April 30, 2018
  5. ↑ MPR News, "Senate passes bill to combat opioid addiction," May 10, 2018
  6. ↑ Pioneer Press, "Mark Dayton vetoes GOP-backed MN tax bill," May 17, 2018
  7. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  8. ↑ Law360, "Minnesota Ends Acrimonious Session With No Tax Bill," May 23, 2018
  9. ↑ CBS Minnesota, "Republican Leaders Fuming After Gov. Dayton Vetoes Tax, Budget Bills," May 23, 2018
  10. ↑ State of Minnesota, "Veto message: SF 3656," May 23, 2018
  11. ↑ Office of Governor Mark Dayton, "Governor Dayton Signs Bipartisan Pension Legislation to Stabilize Benefits for 511,000 Minnesotans," May 31, 2018
  12. ↑ Twin Cities Pioneer Press, "Mark Dayton’s last bill: Stability for 511,000 state workers’ pensions," May 31, 2018
  13. ↑ The Pink Ballot Statute, 204D.15
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