Session Wrap-Up

Legislative Deadline Passes With Work Unfinished, Special Session Unclear
The Legislature could not come to agreement on a variety of spending bills prior to last night’s midnight deadline and will adjourn today. There are ongoing discussions regarding the potential of a short special session if agreement can be reached quickly. Unfortunately, several of our key objectives were caught in the crossfire because larger bills they were attached to did not get passed. The following measures would require a special session in order to pass omnibus bills related to taxes, jobs and environment:

• Restaurant Revitalization Fund Grants Tax-Free
• Online Hospitality Training Grant
• Property and Other Tax Relief
• Explore Minnesota Tourism Funding Expansion

What Did Pass? 
Several of our legislative priorities were passed into law this session:

• Unemployment Insurance The State agreed to pay $2.7B from the general fund to pay back the federal government and replenish the UI Trust Fund, rather than raising payroll taxes on hospitality (and other businesses). ​
• Coleman Act Fix—Open Wholesale on Liquor The State will now allow open wholesale on liquor, a reaction to the federal court striking down Minnesota’s Coleman Act as unconstitutional. Had the Legislature not acted, large out-of-state producers would have been allowed to use exclusive contracts, likely driving up price for any purchasers of liquor across all three sectors.

Read Our Coalition Brief

• Broadband Expansion The Legislature authorized the state to seek an additional $60M in American Rescue Plan dollars to expand broadband and allocated an additional $50M from the general fund over the next two years. This significant investment, in addition to other large investments we supported in recent years will continue to improve statewide connectivity, a long-term priority of our association. 

Read Our Issue Brief

Stay tuned for additional updates on a potential special session.

Reference Our Legislative Agenda