MN Government Updates 07.07

Special Session Anticipated for Monday

Last night, House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) sent an email to House members and staff saying, “We anticipate the Governor will issue a proclamation on Friday, July 10th, calling the Legislature into special session on Monday, July 13th.”

This morning, Governor Tim Walz said, “It’s pretty evident that we will be going into a special session, probably next Monday.”

When the legislature convenes for a second special session, the House and Senate will vote on whether to allow the governor’s peacetime emergency powers to continue, which are set to expire on that day. Every time the governor seeks to extend his emergency powers by 30 days, he is required to call the legislature back into special session.

It is expected that the Republican-controlled Senate will vote to end the powers, while the DFL-controlled House will allow them to continue. Both chambers would need to vote to end the powers for them to cease.

In addition to voting on the governor’s peacetime emergency powers, legislators are also working on finding agreement on police reform and accountability measures as well as a bonding bill. Passing a bonding bill requires a three-fifths (60%) vote in support in each chamber:

  • With Republicans holding 35 of 67 Senate seats, at least six votes are needed from DFL members to pass a bonding bill in the Senate.
  • With the DFL holding 75 of 134 House seats, at least six votes are needed from Republican members to pass a bonding bill in the House.

People of Color and Indigenous Caucus Emphasize Need for Criminal Justice Reform

Today, members of the Minnesota People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus joined U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar to highlight work being done and led by BIPOC leaders, at the state and federal level, to address structural racism. They highlighted legislation to address racism in policing and criminal justice reform in Minnesota and nationwide.

“We must remember the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police officers because it was not an isolated incident, but instead, a reflection of the inherent structural issues in our criminal justice system. It has been forty-three days since George Floyd was murdered at the hands of police and we have yet to pass meaningful, transformative criminal justice legislation at the state legislature. Every day we wait is another day that Black lives are at risk,” said Assistant DFL Leader Senator Jeff Hayden. “I am proud to stand with my colleagues, and state leaders, and continue our collective fight for justice. It is our shared responsibility to pass legislation that holds institutions accountable, addresses racism in policing, and brings justice to the Black community.”

Amos A. Briggs | Government Relations
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