The Ninety-third Minnesota Legislature was the meeting of the legislative branch of the state of Minnesota, composed of the Minnesota Senate and the Minnesota House of Representatives between 2023 and 2024. It convened in Saint Paul on January 3, 2023 and adjourned sine die on May 20, 2024.
Background This was the first legislature to be fully DFL-controlled since the 88th Minnesota Legislature in 2013–15. During the first session (2023), the body passed a number of major reforms to Minnesota law, including requiring paid leave, banning noncompete agreements, cannabis legalization, increased spending on infrastructure and environmental protection, modernizing the state's tax code, codifying abortion rights, universal free school meals, and universal gun background checks, among others. The Star Tribune called it "one of the most consequential" ever in Minnesota, while Governor Tim Walz stated that it was the "most productive session in Minnesota history." Some journalists compared the session to the 67th Minnesota Legislature, which from 1971–1973 enacted major changes to school finance known as the "Minnesota Miracle".
At the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce's session priorities gathering in St. Paul in early 2024, the state's four legislative leaders expressed opposition to changing the law to allow strong beer in grocery stores and a constitutional amendment for a full-time Legislature.
The second legislative session (2024) began in February. Given the $72 billion two-year budget adopted in the previous session, the primary agenda for the second session was the passage of new policy initiatives. There was legislative success in refining the state's newly legalized adult-use cannabis market to streamline the licensing process and to provide clarity to businesses regarding employee drug testing. Other significant changes made involved the role and responsibilities of school resource officers, banning shadow noncompetes, establishing unemployment benefits for striking workers, and requiring companies to post salary ranges for jobs. Another central task for the session was the assembly of a public construction bill to finance infrastructure projects. However, lawmakers did not pass it before the end of session deadline. A sanctuary state bill to limit state cooperation with ICE was introduced, but was not considered. An Equal Rights Amendment ballot measure passed the House, but was not voted on in the Senate.
Major events January 3, 2023: On the first day of the 93rd Minnesota Legislature, new legislators were sworn in in person for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. April 19, 2023: Governor Tim Walz delivers his 2023 State of the State address to a joint sitting of the Legislature. March 26, 2024: Governor Walz delivered his 2024 State of the State address at Owatonna High School. May 20, 2024: The 2024 session concluded with the passage of a 1,430-page "mega-omnibus bill" (HF 5247), barely meeting a midnight constitutional deadline for legislative business. The bill's text faced vocal opposition and significant amounts of attempted amendments from Republicans throughout the session. It passed both chambers along party lines only a few minutes before the end of session.
Major legislation
2023 session
Enacted in 2023 January 31, 2023: Prohibiting discrimination based on hair texture (CROWN Act) (Laws 2023, Chapter 3 – H.F. 37 / S.F. 44) January 31, 2023: Protect Reproductive Options Act (Laws 2023, chapter 4 – H.F. 1 / S.F. 1 ) February 3, 2023: Recognizing Juneteenth as a State Holiday Act (Laws 2023, chapter 5 – H.F. 48 / S.F. 44) February 7, 2023: Renewable and carbon free electricity standards act (Laws 2023, chapter 7 – H.F. 7 / S.F. 4) March 3, 2023: Voting rights restoration for felons on parole act (Laws 2023, chapter 12 – H.F. 28 / S.F. 26) March 7, 2023: Driver's Licenses for All Act (Laws 2023, chapter 13 – H.F. 4 / S.F. 27) March 16, 2023: ICWA Codification Act (Laws 2023, chapter 16 – H.F. 1071 / S.F. 667) March 17, 2023: Universal Free School Meals Act (Laws 2023, chapter 18 – H.F. 5 / S.F. 123) April 27, 2023: Conversion Therapy Ban Act (Laws 2023, chapter 28 – H.F. 16 / S.F. 23) April 27, 2023: Trans Refuge Act (Laws 2023, chapter 29 – H.F. 146 / S.F. 63) April 27, 2023: Reproductive Freedom Defense Act (Laws 2023, chapter 31 – H.F. 366 / S.F. 165) May 5, 2023: Democracy for the People Act (Laws 2023, chapter 34 – H.F. 3 / S.F. 3) Omnibus appropriations acts May 15, 2023: Omnibus housing act (Laws 2023, chapter 37 – H.F. 2335 / S.F. 2566) May 15, 2023: Omnibus veterans and military affairs act (Laws 2023, chapter 38 – H.F. 1937 / S.F. 2247) May 16, 2023: Omnibus agriculture and rural broadband act (Laws 2023, chapter 43 – S.F. 1955 / H.F. 2278) May 19, 2023: Omnibus legacy act (Laws 2023, chapter 40 – H.F. 1999 / S.F. 1682) May 19, 2023: Omnibus judiciary and public safety act (Laws 2023, chapter 52 – S.F. 2909 / H.F. 2890) May 24, 2023: Omnibus higher education act (Laws 2023, chapter 41- H.F. 2073/S.F. 2075) May 24, 2023: Omnibus jobs and economic development act (Laws 2023, chapter 53 – S.F. 3035/H.F. 3028) May 24, 2023: Omnibus early education act (Laws 2023, chapter 54 – H.F. 2292 / S.F. 2373) May 24, 2023: Omnibus K-12 education act (Laws 2023, chapter 55 – H.F. 2497 / S.F. 2684) May 24, 2023: Omnibus commerce act (Laws 2023, chapter 57 – S.F. 2744 / H.F. 2680) May 24, 2023: Omnibus environment, climate, and energy act (Laws 2023, chapter 60 – H.F. 2310 / S.F. 2348) May 24, 2023: Omnibus human services act (Laws 2023, chapter 61 – S.F. 2934 / H.F. 2847) May 24, 2023: Omnibus state government act (Laws 2023, chapter 62 H.F. 1830 / S.F. 1426) May 24, 2023: Omnibus transportation act (Laws 2023, chapter 68 – H.F. 2887 / S.F. 3157) May 24, 2023: Omnibus health and human services act (Laws 2023, chapter 70 – S.F. 2995 / H.F. 2930) May 16, 2023: Lead pipe replacement funding act (Laws 2023, chapter 39 – H.F. 24 / S.F. 30) May 24, 2023: Deepfake regulation act (Laws 2023, chapter 58 – H.F. 1370 / S.F. 1394) May 24, 2023: Paid Family and Medical Leave (Laws 2023, chapter 59 – H.F. 2 / S.F. 2) May 24, 2023: Omnibus tax act (Laws 2023, chapter 64 – H.F. 1938 / S.F. 1811) May 24, 2023: Nursing home emergency aid act (Laws 2023, chapter 74 – H.F. 3342 / S.F. 3363) May 24, 2023: Nurse and Patient Safety Act (Laws 2023, chapter 75 – S.F. 1384 / H.F. 1522) May 24, 2023: Omnibus State government finance bill (Laws 2023, chapter 62 -- HF 1830 / SF 1426) May 30, 2023: Legalizing Adult-Use Cannabis (Laws 2023, chapter 63 – H.F. 100 / S.F. 73) June 1, 2023: Omnibus capital investment cash appropriations act (Laws 2023, chapter 71 – H.F. 670 / S.F. 676) June 1, 2023: Omnibus capital investment borrowing act (Laws 2023, chapter 72 – H.F. 669/S.F. 676)
Proposed in 2023 Boldface indicates the bill was passed by its house of origin. Legalizing Affordable Housing Act (H.F. 3256 / S.F. 3259) Sports betting legalization (H.F. 2000 / S.F. 1949) Proposed constitutional amendment guaranteeing equality under law (S.F. 37 / H.F. 173) Ranked Choice Voting (H.F. 2486 / S.F. 2270) Great Start Child Care Credit (H.F. 9 / S.F. 9) Social security tax; total elimination (H.F. 300 / S.F. 15) Supermajority vote needed to raise revenue (H.F. 2221 / S.F. 1838) Vetoed in 2023 May 25, 2023: Protections for rideshare workers bill (H.F. 2369 / S.F. 2319)
2024 session Enacted in 2024
May 7, 2024: Event ticket price transparency act (Laws 2024, chapter 94 - H.F. 1989 / S.F. 2003) May 15, 2024: Rights and compensation for minors in internet content act (Laws 2024, chapter 103 - H.F. 3488 / S.F. 3496) Omnibus policy and supplemental appropriations acts May 17, 2024: Omnibus education policy act (Laws 2024, chapter 109 - S.F. 3567 / H.F. 3782) May 17, 2024: Omnibus elections act (Laws 2024, chapter 112 - H.F. 4772 / S.F. 4729) May 18, 2024: Education supplemental budget act (Laws 2024, chapter 115 - H.F. 5237 / S.F. 5252) May 19, 2024: Environment and natural resources supplemental budget act (Laws 2024, chapter 116 - H.F. 3911 / S.F. 3887) May 19, 2024: Tax bill (Laws 2024, chapter 127 - H.F. 5247 / S.F. 5234) May 23, 2024: Emergency medical services aid act (Laws 2024, chapter 122 - H.F. 4738 / S.F. 4835) May 24, 2024: Tenant's Bill of Rights (Laws 2024, chapter 118 - S.F. 3492 / H.F. 3591) May 24, 2024: Omnibus supplemental jobs and economic development act (Laws 2024, chapter 120 - S.F. 5289 / H.F. 5205) May 24, 2024: Omnibus judiciary and public safety act (Laws 2024, chapter 123 - H.F. 5216 / S.F. 5337) May 24, 2024: Omnibus higher education act (Laws 2024, chapter 124 - H.F. 4024 / S.F. 4003) May 18, 2024: Minnesota African American Family Preservation Act (Laws 2024, chapter 117 - H.F. 912 / S.F. 716) May 20, 2024: Junk fee prohibition act (Laws 2024, chapter 111 - H.F. 3438 / S.F. 3537)
Proposed in 2024
Local Voices Local Choices Act (S.F. 3868 / H.F. 3276) Independent redistricting commission (H.F. 4593 / S.F. 4894) Ban on rainbow flag bans (H.F. 4273 / S.F. 4652) Statewide upzoning bill (H.F. 4009 / S.F. 3964) Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment (H.F. 173 / S.F. 37)
Legislative initiatives
2023 session In the 2023 legislative session in Minnesota, state lawmakers faced the task of creating a two-year state budget with a $17.5 billion surplus, significantly larger than in previous years. This led to a budget of $71.5 billion, a 40% increase over the previous period. Key financial decisions included $3 billion in tax relief measures, substantial investments in infrastructure totaling $2.6 billion, and significant expansions in social programs.
State funding for education increased by over $2.2 billion. The increase updated the per pupil funding formula and enhanced financial predictability for districts. The reform also tackled the long-standing issue of the cross subsidy for special education and English learner programs. Early childhood education received substantial attention, with $300 million allocated towards early education initiatives, managed by the newly created Department of Children, Youth and Families. This department consolidates several programs previously spread across different state agencies. Curricular changes included the addition of required courses in civics, personal finance, Holocaust and genocide studies, and ethnic studies. The Legislature also prohibited highly realistic active shooter drills, replacing them with violence prevention training. The reforms also provided for free breakfast and lunch for all students and mandates the provision of menstrual products and Naloxone in schools.
The $3 billion tax bill was one of the largest omnibus bills in the 2023 session. Components of the bill included rebate checks for 2.5 million Minnesotans, designed to return a portion of the surplus to taxpayers, but less than initially proposed by Governor Tim Walz. The legislation introduced a substantial child and working family tax credit intended to cut childhood poverty rates by a third, benefiting low-income families with phased-out credits based on income levels. Additionally, the bill made strides towards progressive taxation by eliminating state income tax on Social Security for over 75% of recipients. Other notable tax increases included a global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) tax on businesses with global earnings and regional sales tax hikes in the Twin Cities metro area for housing and transportation initiatives. Moreover, the bill increased funding for local government aid, provided a boost to property tax refunds, and revived a historic tax credit for building renovations. It also expanded a film production tax credit to attract more film and television production to Minnesota.
2024 session