Minnesota State Legislature
FILE - In this July 23, 2020, file photo, Gov. Tim Walz signed into law a sweeping package of police accountability measures in St. Paul, Minn., making Minnesota the latest state to adopt changes to law enforcement, including a ban on neck restraints, in the wake of George Floyd's death. The bill, passed by the Legislature earlier this week, also bans chokeholds and fear-based or "warrior-style" training, which critics say promotes excessive force. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP, File)
Walz says he'll give up COVID-19 emergency powers by Aug. 1

Jun. 26, 2021 12:01 PM EDT

The first time masks were not required on the House Floor, Monday, June 14, 2021, in St. Paul, Minn. The Minnesota Legislature convenes for the first day of what's expected to be a prolonged special session to pass a two-year, $52 billion state budget. Leaders met all weekend in the lead up to special session Monday to try and finalize deals on a number of issues, including police reform and education funding. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP)
Minnesota House passes $7 billion transportation budget bill

Jun. 23, 2021 05:56 PM EDT

The first time masks were not required on the House Floor, Monday, June 14, 2021, in St. Paul, Minn. The Minnesota Legislature convenes for the first day of what's expected to be a prolonged special session to pass a two-year, $52 billion state budget. Leaders met all weekend in the lead up to special session Monday to try and finalize deals on a number of issues, including police reform and education funding. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP)
Deals on most budget bills take shape Minnesota Legislature

By Steve Karnowski Jun. 22, 2021 02:42 PM EDT

Minnesota lawmakers to hand out nearly $1B in tax cuts

By Mohamed Ibrahim Jun. 21, 2021 05:25 PM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — After a session marked early on by talk of possible tax increases, the Minnesota Legislature was on track Monday to hand out serious tax...

Landlords sue to force end to Minnesota eviction moratorium

Jun. 15, 2021 11:34 AM EDT
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A group representing Minnesota landlords announced a lawsuit Tuesday to force an end to the eviction moratorium imposed by Gov. Tim Walz...

House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, and House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley enter a press conference before the start of Monday's special session on June 14, 2021, in St. Paul, Minn. The Minnesota Legislature convened for the first day of what's expected to be a prolonged special session to pass a two-year, $52 billion state budget. Leaders met all weekend in the lead up to Monday's special session to try and finalize deals on a number of issues, including police reform and education funding. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP)
Minnesota lawmakers convene special session to finish budget

By Mohamed Ibrahim Jun. 14, 2021 04:13 PM EDT

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is maskless but wore a big smile as he arrives for a press conference Monday, May 17, 2021, in St. Paul, Minn., to announce that he and the Legislature had agreed to spend $52 billion on the next two-year budget. (David Joles/Star Tribune via AP)
Walz, leaders, seek budget breakthroughs as Capitol reopens

By Steve Karnowski Jun. 10, 2021 04:08 PM EDT

FILE - Demonstrators place signs on the fence protecting the Minnesota State Capitol Wednesday, June 17, 2020 in St. Paul, Minn. in the wake of the death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis officers. Something will be missing when the Minnesota Legislature reconvenes next month to finish its work on a new budget - the fence that has surrounded the Capitol since last summer's unrest over the death of George Floyd. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)
Fences comes down at Minnesota Capitol; layoff notes go out

Jun. 01, 2021 04:44 PM EDT

Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, right, and House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, enjoyed a light moment during a press conference Monday, May 17, 2021, in St. Paul, Minn., announcing the Legislature and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz agreed to spend $52 billion on the next two-year budget. (David Joles/Star Tribune via AP)
Capitol fence will be missing when Legislature reconvenes

By Steve Karnowski May. 18, 2021 05:02 PM EDT

Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, second from right, and House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, second from left, after a press conference Monday, May 17, 2021, in St. Paul, Minn., announcing the Legislature and Walz agreed to spend $52 billion on the next two-year budget. (David Joles/Star Tribune via AP)
Walz, legislative leaders reach $52 billion budget deal

By Steve Karnowski May. 17, 2021 11:51 AM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2021, file photo, a few legislators are sworn-in in person at the House Chamber and most were sworn in remotely in groups of nine at a time, via Zoom at the Minnesota State Capitol, in St. Paul, Minn. As the Minnesota Legislature enters the last full week of its 2021 session, lawmakers face long hours of tough negotiations as they seek to agree on a balanced budget by the Monday, May 10, 2021, mandatory adjournment date. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP, File)
Minnesota Legislature faces tough budget talks in week ahead

By Steve Karnowski May. 07, 2021 12:25 PM EDT

Minnesota House Democrats unveil package of budget bills

By Mohamed Ibrahim Apr. 05, 2021 07:13 PM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota House Democrats unveiled legislation on Monday that calls for more spending on education and recovery for those most affected by...

Minnesota Senate Republicans counter Walz budget proposal

By Mohamed Ibrahim Mar. 16, 2021 07:11 PM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Senate Republicans released a two-year budget proposal on Tuesday with no proposed tax increases to help balance the state's...

Walz urges lawmakers to pass summer education package

By Mohamed Ibrahim Mar. 11, 2021 06:48 PM EST
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday urged Minnesota lawmakers to immediately pass legislation to fund a $150 million summer education package in the...

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz answers a question from a reporter during a news conference to debut his state budget plan for the next two years Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021 at the Department of Revenue building in St. Paul, Minn. (Anthony Souffle/Star Tribune via AP)
'Now democracy starts,' Walz says as deficit becomes surplus

By Steve Karnowski Feb. 26, 2021 05:49 PM EST

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz answers a question from a reporter during a news conference to debut his state budget plan for the next two years Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021 at the Department of Revenue building in St. Paul, Minn. (Anthony Souffle/Star Tribune via AP)
Walz's $518M bonding bill includes money to rebuild cities

By Steve Karnowski Feb. 22, 2021 05:44 PM EST

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks at a news conference on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, during a visit to Parkview Center School to highlight a coronavirus testing program for educators. The Democratic governor on Friday announced the loosening of some restrictions on businesses, citing low positivity rates and increased vaccinations statewide.(Mohamed Ibrahim/AP/Report for America)
Senate vote to reopen schools lays out partisan divide

By Steve Karnowski Feb. 18, 2021 03:04 PM EST

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz takes a photo of a box containing over 2,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine delivered to the Minneapolis VA Hospital Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. (Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune via AP, Pool)
House GOP calls for lifting business restrictions by May 1

By Steve Karnowski Feb. 08, 2021 12:24 PM EST

Clinical lead Jeanne Schumache held up a VanishPoint syringe that allows them to get an extra dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as she was preparing them to be administered to people with appointments Thursday, jan. 28, 2021 at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center. (Anthony Souffle/Star Tribune via AP)
Minneapolis Fed chief: Vaccinations key to economic recovery

By Steve Karnowski Feb. 02, 2021 12:57 PM EST

Greater Minnesota cities outline top legislative priorities

By Mohamed Ibrahim Jan. 29, 2021 06:35 PM EST
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Communities across Minnesota asked state lawmakers Friday for more support for child care, housing, water infrastructure and aid to local...