The first special session adjourned sine die on July 7 after Minnesota lawmakers finalized the budget and passed several omnibus bills.

The omnibus tax bill passed during the special session included a lobbying ban for legislators.

House File 9 prohibits a sitting member of the Legislature from accepting employment with or otherwise receiving compensation from lobbying firms and government affairs businesses if the member’s job duties include lobbying or providing direct or indirect consulting, advice, or administrative support for lobbying efforts.

The bill is effective January 3, 2023.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed House File 1952 amending campaign finance disclosure laws by requiring reporting of contributions, campaign expenditures and independent expenditures made to certain local candidates or ballot issues.

The bill defines local candidate as an individual who seeks any county office in Hennepin County; any city office in any home rule charter city or statutory city located wholly within Hennepin County and having a population of 75,000 or more; or the school board in Special School District No. 1.

Cities included within the definition of local candidate include Minneapolis, Bloomington, and Brooklyn Park.

The bill also amends the definition of public official to include a chancellor or member of the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

The bill also amends the requirements for filing and contents of statements of economic interest.

These amendments will be effective January 1, 2022 and apply to reports and disclosures required to be filed with the state Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board on or after that date.

On June 14, the Minnesota Legislature returned to the capitol for a special session.

In this session, lawmakers will be finalizing a two-year, $52 billion budget before the start of the next fiscal period July 1.

If the legislature fails to pass a budget before July 1, there will be a government shutdown.

The Minnesota Legislature adjourned sine die on May 17, although work is not finished.

Lawmakers reached a bipartisan budget agreement on numbers only, with details to be worked out at a special session in June.

Both chambers expect to be back in a special session on June 14 when Gov. Walz’s current declaration of a Peacetime Emergency ends.

If Walz wants to extend the emergency declaration again, he is obligated by law to call a special session to give both chambers the right to rescind his declaration by a majority vote.

If the budget bills are not passed and signed into law by July 1, there will be a government shutdown, which has happened twice before.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the seventh special session of the Legislature beginning December 14.

This session will focus on extending the COVID-19 peacetime emergency by 30 days.

Additionally, Walz will urge lawmakers to pass a COVID-19 relief package for small businesses, workers, and families.

Walz is obligated by law to call a special session for the Legislature to approve the extension of his emergency rule-making powers in response to the pandemic.

The Legislature will, then, determine the length of the session.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the sixth special session of the Legislature beginning November 12.

Walz plans to extend the COVID-19 peacetime emergency by 30 days to continue to respond to the pandemic.

The governor is obligated by law to call a special session for the Legislature to approve the emergency declaration.

The length of the session will be determined by the Legislature.

Lawmakers adjourned the fifth special session of the Legislature on October 15 after passing four bills.

This included the bonding bill, which requires a three-fifths supermajority in each house to pass.

Gov. Tim Walz called the session to extend the COVID-19 peacetime emergency by 30 days.

Walz is obligated by law to call a special session for lawmakers to approve the emergency declaration.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called a special session beginning September 11 to extend the COVID-19 peacetime emergency.

The emergency will be extended by 30 days to continue to respond to the pandemic.

Walz is obligated by law to call a special session for the Legislature to approve the emergency declaration.

The length of the session will be determined by the Legislature.

Gov. Tim Walz issued a proclamation on August 7 for a third special session of the Legislature to begin Wednesday, August 12 at 12:00 p.m.

The main purpose will be to extend the COVID-19 peacetime emergency originally declared on March 13, and ending on August 12.

Minnesota statutes require that if the governor extends a peacetime emergency beyond the original 30 days and the Legislature is not in session, the governor must call a special session for lawmakers to approve the emergency declaration.

Additionally, the Legislature will determine the length of the session.

Gov. Tim Walz announced on July 7, he intends to call lawmakers back for an open-ended session beginning July 13.

Walz stated the session will coincide with the 30-day extension of the peacetime emergency ending July 12, and added that other issues should get top billing.

Walz is obligated by law to call a special session for the Legislature to approve the emergency declaration.

The Senate tried to revoke the governor’s executive power during the first special session ending June 19.

However, the attempt failed because it requires the vote of both chambers.

In the first special session, no deals were reached on legislation both parties said was necessary and everything will be on the agenda again.

The Legislature will determine the length of the session.

Gov. Tim Walz called a special session which will begin June 12.

The primary purpose of the session will be to extend the COVID-19 peacetime emergency by 30 days, making sure the state can quickly respond to the pandemic.

The House and Senate adjourned sine die on May 18, marking the end of the 2020 legislative session.

However, unfinished business and recent protests have added to the agenda.

Walz is obligated by law to call a special session for the Legislature to approve the emergency declaration.

Although, the length of the session will be determined by the Legislature.

The Minnesota Legislature left much unfinished when it adjourned sine die on May 18 as required by the constitution.

Both chambers expect to be back in a special session on June 12 when Gov. Walz’s current declaration of a Peacetime Emergency ends.

If Walz wants to extend the emergency declaration again, he is obligated by law to call a special session to give both chambers the right to rescind his declaration by a majority vote.

Although Walz calls the session, the legislative branch decides when it ends.

This also takes away the governor’s power to set the agenda for the special session.

Most of the bills passed were in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, a Select Committee on Minnesota’s Pandemic Response and Rebuilding was formed to allow the House to continue conversations about the pandemic after wrapping up its regular legislative session.

On March 26, Minnesota lawmakers are scheduled to convene to act on legislation to help the state combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Legislators were last in session on March 17, when members passed a $200 million relief package to help health care providers battle the pandemic.

That bill was signed by Gov. Tim Walz the same day.

House Speaker Melissa Hortman said the new proposed legislation will provide further relief than the governor is able to deliver via executive order.

Lawmakers had agreed to recess until April 14, with the understanding they would return as needed.

Arrangements are being made to ensure the legislature follows the Minnesota Department of Health guidelines.

Specifically they look to keep members, staff and the public safe, Hortman and Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka said in a joint statement late Tuesday.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

On February 4, 2020, special elections will be held to fill vacancies in Minnesota House Districts 30A and 60A.

Rep. Diane Loeffler, a Democrat from Minneapolis, died in November creating the vacancy in District 60A.

Rep. Nick Zerwas, a Republican from Elk River, resigned from District 30A on December 6 to focus on spending time with his family.

The special primary for District 30A will be held January 14, while the special primary for District 60A will be held January 21.

The later date for District 60A accommodates college students living in the district who return that day to the University of Minnesota for spring semester.