By the time of publication of this newsletter, the 2026 MN legislature will have less than a month remaining before their constitutionally mandated adjournment date of May 18th. If the last month of this session is anything like the first two, it will be filled with hectic advocacy against a backdrop of significant uncertainty about what – if anything – will pass this session.
Looking Back: A Brief Recap
The 2026 session started back up in mid-February under the same unusual dynamic of the prior year – an exact tie in the MN House with neither party having majority control and the slimmest majority possible in the MN Senate with Democrats having just a one seat advantage. Therefore, just as was the case last year, anything the legislature hopes to pass by the end of this session will need bipartisan support. Since a two-year budget for the state was passed last year, legislators technically don’t have to pass anything this year. However, there has been no shortage of lawmakers and stakeholders making their case this session for spillover or urgent issues needing attention. One of the key issues demanding attention this session is measures to better address fraud in our state’s social service programs. As MOHR members are aware, there have been a variety of proposals introduced as legislators try to determine the best way for the state to get a better handle on this issue.
We’ve had several significant developments of interest to MOHR so far this session. In early April, Governor Walz and his state agencies released their proposals for this session. These unfortunately included multiple proposals that would have reduced access to disability services. This has required MOHR members to engage in legislative advocacy with their local lawmakers, to ensure these proposals don’t end up in a final budget package. On a more positive note, MOHR was able to have our two priority bills introduced relatively early in session, serving as good conversation-starters for communications with lawmakers. The MOHR legislation proposing a transition to an annual cadence for DWRS inflationary adjustments – likely a multiyear advocacy effort – has been a helpful tool for educating lawmakers about current funding deficiencies and the impacts of potential additional cuts to funds for worker wages. The MOHR legislation to allow individuals who are eligible for DHS waivered services to have access to Extended Employment has resulted in constructive negotiations between MOHR and DEED, and a hopeful legislative solution.
Looking Forward: What’s To Come
There is one word echoing in capital hallway conversations about what these final weeks of session might look like, and that is “unknown”. Many of the unique dynamics and factors described above do not lend themselves to a productive end of session. Additionally, every legislative seat is up for reelection this fall, which can make it challenging to find the compromise necessary to get things across the finish line. That said, there are many legislators who would like to return to their districts this summer touting productive work accomplished. There are some areas where there has been bipartisan support so far. Support for additional school safety funding, the establishment of a statewide office of Inspector General, and necessary compliance with new federal Medicaid eligibility requirements, are all topics that have been pointed to by both parties as needing to pass this session. The question remains of whether bipartisan support for the details of those proposals can remain intact, as well as what else might pass.
All these unknows about how things will shake out this session and the possible resulting impacts on Minnesotans’ access to MOHR services reinforce the importance of every conversation that takes place between a lawmaker and a local contact regarding the value of disability employment and day support services. Please be prepared to respond to any potential MOHR targeted or general action alerts that are shared in the coming weeks, and thanks for the very strong MOHR grassroots engagement so far this session.
