The Minnesota Legislature completed its fifth week on March 27, 2026, following a push to meet committee deadlines. Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) lobbyist Megan Verdeja provides an update on key legislative developments.
Week in Review
The legislature completed a high-volume week leading up to the first and second committee deadlines. Numerous bills were heard ahead of the 5:00 p.m. cutoff, and lawmakers are now in recess until Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
A noticeable sense of fatigue has set in among elected officials, staff and stakeholders. The session has moved quickly but produced limited substantive outcomes. Leadership across all four caucuses, along with Governor Walz, continues to prioritize a bonding bill, addressing financial challenges at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) and strengthening anti-fraud efforts.
When lawmakers reconvene, they will have approximately two weeks to develop finance packages. Activity typically slows after the first and second deadlines, as committee omnibus bills are negotiated and later debated on the floor. Given current budget constraints, proposals are expected to be limited in scope.
The legislature remains structurally divided, with Democrats holding the Senate majority and the House evenly split. The Senate may advance more comprehensive proposals, though those face an uphill path to House agreement.
The week offered a notable signal about legislative sentiment: Representative Ron Kresha (Republican-Little Falls) made a motion to adjourn Sine Die, a procedural move typically reserved for the final day of session.
MAFP Testimony at the Capitol
Last week, MAFP members testified at the Capitol on two bills:
- Direct Primary Care: MAFP member Najaha Musse, DO, testified in both the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee and the House Health Finance and Policy Committee in support of a bill (HF 1724) to exclude direct primary care from insurance classification. Authored by Representative Dawn Gillman (Republican-Central Minnesota), the bill passed both committees on bipartisan votes and now awaits a House floor vote. Efforts are underway to have the bill heard in the Senate.
- Gun Violence Prevention: MAFP Legislative Committee Chair Kate Schreck, MD, testified in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee in support of a bill (SF 0513) to create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the Minnesota Department of Health. The bill was authored by Senator Alice Mann, MD, MPH (Democrat-Edina/Bloomington), and laid over for possible inclusion in the committee’s omnibus budget bill.
Legislative Retirements
Several notable retirements have been announced since session began. The 2027 legislative session is expected to see many new faces, with a competitive November election ahead and more than 20 announced retirements.
Bonding Bill Outlook Remains Uncertain
The outlook for a bonding bill remains uncertain as lawmakers are in recess, while Governor Walz launches a statewide infrastructure tour to promote his $907 million proposal. The plan targets improvements to public safety, clean water, transportation and housing.
Neither the House nor Senate Capital Investment Committees have released initial project lists, signaling a lack of alignment among lawmakers. A bonding bill also requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers, a high threshold in the current political climate.
Senate Passes Rule to Allow Children on the Floor
On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, senators voted 41-25 to pass a new Senate rule allowing children on the chamber floor. The vote came after Senator Clare Oumou Verbeten (Democrat-St. Paul) was asked to leave the chamber while carrying her sick baby. The rule passed with bipartisan support.
Supporters argued that parenthood should not be a barrier to public service. Opponents contended that the seriousness of legislative work requires a child-free environment.
Helpful Resources
Questions? Ready to plug into our advocacy efforts? Reach out to MAFP staff at office@mafp.org.
