Legislative Update: Progress on Supplemental Budget Packages and Important Bills in Session

Minnesota lawmakers have been hard at work in recent weeks, with late-night floor sessions and conference committees working to pass supplemental budget packages to build on last year’s progress. One key focus has been on reconciling House and Senate bills, including the creation of new protections and oversight for residential facilities with shared-meter utility billing.

Rep. Athena Hollins and Sen. Scott Dibble have been leading the charge on a bill that aims to address inflated utility bills for renters in shared-meter facilities. The bill, SF 4579, includes applying “the cold weather rule” protections to shared-meter utility billing, ensuring that residents are not taken advantage of through mysterious charges.

In addition to this important legislation, lawmakers have also been working on funding last year’s tax forfeiture settlement in response to the Tyler v. Hennepin County case. The bill, HF5246, aims to address violations of the Takings Clause and requires counties to make a good-faith effort to sell remaining properties that were forfeited prior to 2024.

Furthermore, a number of bipartisan bills have been passed in the House, including investments in outdoors, clean water, parks, and trails, improvements in K-12 education, environmental protections, child and family support, transportation, labor, housing, workforce and economic development, taxes, elections, pensions, and retirement security.

Overall, lawmakers are working diligently to address a wide range of issues and make meaningful progress for the people of Minnesota. Stay tuned for more updates as the legislative session continues.