Weekly legislative update – Feb. 19

Our MAPE Legislative and Political staff had another busy week testifying and tracking bills through committees. After reaching a short- and long-term power sharing agreement, the MN House kicked off their official start to the 2025 legislative session with the new Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight committee. Other committees spent a bulk of their agendas making up for lost time by moving through agency overviews and the governor's 2026-2027 budget recommendations.  

MAPE testified on a proposal in House State Government Finance committee to expand whistleblower protections, highlighting improvements that could be made to cover public employees at all levels of government. While the committee did not entertain changes to the bill, we will continue to work with the author to incorporate these changes.  

MAPE also testified on artificial intelligence (AI) usage in employment in Senate Labor committee, acknowledging that while there are benefits to employee productivity, public and private sectors have done little to regulate AI usage. The House GOP also heard proposals on eliminating the EDI Center at Minnesota Department of Education and implementing a one year delay for the paid leave program, both of which MAPE opposes. 

Senate State Government Finance committee considered the expansion of Minnesota Whistleblower Act and a proposal by Sen. Heather Gustafson to create an independent Office Inspector General. We have been working closely with her on concerns regarding transfer of employees and contracting issues, to which she has been very receptive. We'll continue to monitor the issue closely.  

Impacts from federal cuts and program closures are continuing to trickle down to the state. Massive layoffs of federal employees, particularly probationary employees, continue. On Wednesday and Thursday, Congress passed similar budget resolutions in hopes of passing a budget and raising the debt ceiling without democratic votes. In order to afford potential tax cuts and increases to border spending, the Energy and Commerce committee was tasked with cutting $880 billion over 10 years. Notably, these cuts would likely require some reforms or reductions to the Medicaid program, significantly impacting the state's budget. 

We are about two weeks away from Lobby Day. For the first time ever, we have reached capacity on the full-day Lobby Day with over 750 participants. There is still room for several hundred more to attend the rally. Come join us in the Rotunda at the Minnesota Capitol on March 6 at 1:30 p.m.