March 17, 2026
This last week, the legislature had their first controversial floor debate in the Senate, taking up SF3596, emergency rental assistance aid and protections during the Wednesday floor session. This is bill would provide $40 million in emergency assistance to the Department of Revenue who would provide this funding to Counties and Tribal governments to administer. Funding for this bill comes from part of an unused tax-forted settlement appropriation. This bill passed the Senate but its companion, HF3403, did not pass out of the tied Housing Committee this week.
We also saw a bill that prohibits NDAs for all political subdivisions HF4077 (Greenman) pass out of the House Committee and get sent to the House General Register. See more in the notes below. The Senate is scheduled to consider this bill in the State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday.
Significant Happenings Last Week
Monday 3/9/26
Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy
Heard an update from Tim O’Malley who was appointed by Governor Walz as the Director of Program Integrity. The Roadmap to Program Integrity was shared with the Committee as a series of recommendations to prevent fraud and strengthen program oversight. Committee members had a series of questions about the recommendations. One of the recommendations in the report that was shared, was the prohibition of direct appropriations by lawmakers to organizations. This has been a controversial proposal that has divided many lawmakers.
Tuesday 3/10/26
House Housing Finance and Policy Committee
- HF3403 (Kozlowski) - Onetime emergency rental assistance aid for counties established, and money appropriated. This bill failed to move out of committee on a party-line vote.
House Workforce, Labor and Economic Development Committee – Heard a presentation from the state Chamber of Commerce about the Paid Leave user experience.
Wednesday 3/11/26
House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee
- HF4077 (Greenman) - Prohibiting municipalities from entering into nondisclosure agreements. Multiple testifiers spoke about data centers as the motivating factor behind this bill and shared their frustrations around confidential data center negotiations. Multiple members spoke up in frustration about confidential negotiations when local political subdivisions negotiated with data centers without informing the public until years later. The Committee adopted the A1 amendment. The Committee adopted the A2 amendment. The bill was sent to the general register. With the amendments, this bill now prevents any local political subdivision from signing NDAs.
- H4077A1.pdf
- H4077A2.pdf
House Workforce, Labor and Economic Development Committee – Heard a number of updates about the economy. The Labor Market Information office at DEED presented an economic update. The Minnesota Chamber also provided an overview of their benchmarks report, second part.
Significant Upcoming Hearings
Monday 3/16/2026
Senate Jobs and Economic Development Committee - 12:20 – 2:30 pm
SF3664 (Champion) Department of Employment and Economic Development unfunded programs repealer and conforming changes provision.
Tuesday 3/17/2026
Senate State and Local Government Committee - 12:30 – 2:30 pm
SF4379 (Maye Quade) Municipalities prohibition from entering into nondisclosure agreements.
Additional hearings are likely to be posted throughout the week.
Key Bills We’re Watching
-
SF3695 (Port) Federal immigration enforcement operation economic impact study requirement provision and appropriation.
- SF3608 (Rest) Requirements modification for return of excess tax increments
- HF3663
(Jones) State Building Code; funding provided for competitive grants to
assist municipalities with streamlining State Energy Code compliance
report required, and money appropriated.
- SF3664 (Champion) – Agency policy bill
- HF3843/SF4427 (Baker/Housley) Requires a sub-committee of the Workforce Development Board to make recommendations for appropriations from the Workforce Development Fund.
- SF3839 (Port) Housing infrastructure bond issue and appropriation
- HF3600 (Perryman) – Competitive selection processes modified for certain housing development programs.
- SF4123/HF3895 (Port/Igo) Zoning authority of local governments over certain housing types limited.
- SF4158 (Jasinski) BDPI bond issue and appropriation
- SF4379 (Maye Quade) Municipalities prohibition from entering into nondisclosure agreements.