April 14, 2026
Last week legislature returned from their legislative break on Tuesday morning and then launched into hearing appropriation bills. Committees now face the April 17th deadline to approve any bills that involve spending money. Expect Omnibus bills to move through committees this week to meet this deadline. Capital Investment Committees (bonding) and the Tax Committee are not required to meet this deadline.
Key Hearings This Week
Tuesday 4/7/26
House Tax Committee
HF4621 (Rehm) Minnesota child tax credit amount increased. This is a piece of the Governor’s budget recommendations. Two testifiers shared their support for the bill, and it was laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Tax bill.
Wednesday 4/8/26
House Workforce, Labor and Economic Development Committee - Heard HF4477 (Frazier) Minnesota business recovery loan program established, report required, and money appropriated. There was a significant group of testifiers who shared their stories about the impact that recent federal enforcement surge has had on small businesses.
Rep. Wayne Johnson expressed his opinion that businesses should have multiple months of reserves in case of a downturn and that state mandates and costs have caused businesses to not have sufficient reserves.
Rep. Schultz expressed his concern that this program is similar to the PROMISE Act program and does not have sufficient fraud protections. Chair Baker echoed other opinions that the state needs to reduce mandates and costs for small businesses so they are fiscally healthier. The bill was tabled for possible inclusion in an Omnibus bill.
Thursday 4/9/26
House Workforce, Labor and Economic Development Committee - Heard a presentation from DEED on the PROMISE Act report.
Members had detailed questions about the program, and Commissioner Varilek shared detailed responses about internal processes and his willingness to work with lawmakers to continue to improve the program. Rep. Baker closed the hearing reiterating the importance to the Committee to stop fraud.
House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law - Heard HF4077 (Greenman): Municipalities prohibited from entering into nondisclosure agreements or contracts that restrict the municipality from disclosing information about projects using public funding. Rep. Greenman and Rep. Roach presented the bill emphasizing that her goal is transparency and that Chapter 13 is the appropriate section of statute to protect private information.
The bill had a number of testifiers who shared their concerns about data center proposals and an interest in transparency. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Minnesota Business Partnership testified with concerns about the bill.
Rep. Bliss shared concerns about the broadness of the bill and this concern was echoed by the Republican members of the Committee.
The bill failed to pass out of committee on a 7-7 vote.
Significant Upcoming Hearings
Monday 4/13/26
House Ways and Means
Presentations on the Economic Impact of Operation Metro Surge
Tuesday 4/14/26
House Workforce, Labor and Economic Development Committee
- HF4598 (Baker) Building code administration modified
- HF4884 (Pinto) DEED and DLI Supplemental Budget Bill (Informational Hearing Only)
- HF3732 (Pinto) Different unfunded programs of the Department of Employment and Economic Development repealed, and conforming changes made - As Amended by DE1 Author's Amendment
Energy Finance and Policy
HF3179 (Jones) - Certain buildings required to meet energy performance standards, reports required, and money appropriated. *This meeting was rescheduled to this date.
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/SF4212
(Jones/McEwen) State Building Code; funding provided for competitive grants to
assist municipalities with streamlining State Energy Code compliance
report required, and money appropriated.
- SF3664/HF3732 (Champion/Pinto) – 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/HF3806 (Port/Howard) 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/HF4602 (Jasinski/Skraba) BDPI bond issue and appropriation
- HF4077/SF4379 (Greenman/Maye Quade) Municipalities prohibition from entering into nondisclosure agreements. This bill was sent to the General Register in the House and Judiciary Committee in the Senate.
- HF4097/SF4272 (Frazier/Pha) Adds $2 million in additional funding for the Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program.
- HF4342/SF4527 (Frazier/Pha) Relief program for small businesses negatively impacted by federal enforcement activity established, report required, and money appropriated.
- SF4535/HF4477 (Champion/Xiong) Minnesota business recovery loan program establishment and appropriation
- SF4690 (Rest) Various individual income and corporate franchise taxes and property taxes policy and technical changes provisions modifications, obsolete JOBZ provisions removal provision, and other miscellaneous tax provisions modifications
- HF3179/SF3429 (Jones/McEwen) Building energy performance standards establishment and appropriation