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Legislative Updates
Post-election turmoil complicates outlook for legislative session
In November, the election results suggested that the two major parties were tied and would share power in the Minnesota House while the DFL would maintain their majority in the Senate. After a lawsuit challenging a House candidate’s residency and the untimely passing of Senator Kari Dziedzic (DFL-Minneapolis), the balance of power at the Capitol has shifted.
The losing candidate in House District 40B challenged the winning candidate, Curtis Johnson, in court, claiming that Johnson did not live in the district he was elected to represent. On December 20, a court agreed and ruled that Johnson was ineligible for the job, and the DFL candidate announced on December 28 that he would resign that seat prospectively. Governor Walz called for a special election to fill that vacancy on January 28, and it is widely anticipated that the DFL will win the seat. However, the seat will remain empty until that election, giving the GOP the majority in the House, at least temporarily.
This means that rather than sharing power, GOP Rep. Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) will likely be Speaker of the House when the Legislature convenes on January 14. Before this decision, the leaders of both parties had announced that all committees would be co-chaired by a member of each party. No announcement has been made on whether that arrangement will change.
Another pending lawsuit could also impact the House’s balance of power. Incumbent DFL legislator Brad Tabke won the race by 14 votes, but it was later discovered that election officials inadvertently discarded 20 absentee ballots. The losing candidate challenged the results and a Scott County judge is expected to rule on that race within the next week.
On Friday, December 28, Minneapolis Senator (and former majority leader) Kari Dziedzic passed away after battling cancer. A special election will be held on January 28, and the seat is expected to remain in DFL hands. Nonetheless, neither party will have a majority when the Legislative Session opens, and it is unclear how that legislative body will proceed for the first two weeks. Adding to that challenge, Senator Nicole Mitchell (DFL-Woodbury) will be facing a criminal trial on January 27 for allegedly burglarizing her stepmother’s home in Detroit Lakes.
Despite these complications, it is a budget year, so the Legislature must meet and pass a state budget by May 19. How both parties respond to these developments now will set the tone for the entire session.
New leadership for Legacy and Environment Committees in House
In December, DFL and GOP leaders came together and announced the leadership and makeup of legislative committees for the 2025-2026 biennium. Reflecting the bipartisan split in control of that body, a co-chair from each party and equal numbers from both parties were named to each committee. It is still unknown whether the recent lawsuits and upcoming special election will change that arrangement.
Assuming these arrangements do not change, the committees with the greatest impact on our issues will all have at least one co-chair from Greater Minnesota. Representatives Joe MacDonald (R-Delano) and Samantha Vang (DFL -Brooklyn Center) will serve as co-chairs of the Legacy Committee. Representatives Josh Heintzeman (R-Nisswa) and Peter Fischer (DFL-Maplewood) will serve as co-chairs of the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee. Representatives Mary Franson (R-Alexandria) and Fue Lee (DFL-Minneapolis) will serve as co-chairs of the Capital Investment Committee. You can find a complete list of the new co-chairs and committee members here. If these arrangements change, we will update you.
The Senate has not announced whether or how the makeup of committees will change. We do not expect significant changes, but with two new members and a vacancy for the Chair of State and Local Government, there will be some shifts.
LCCMR reaffirms its commitment to funding outdoor recreation
The Legislative Citizens Committee on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) is responsible for making recommendations on how funds from the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) should be made, and the Legislature typically adopts those recommendations. The LCCMR process has been a vital source of funding for multiple GMPT members as well as for the DNR local and regional grant programs.
GMPT regularly engages in this process to advocate for outdoor recreation and parks and trail funding, and we support the passage of those recommendations at the Legislature.
Throughout 2024, an LCCMR subcommittee developed a strategic plan setting spending priorities for the next 6 years. The draft was released in the fall for public comment, and GMPT submitted comments supporting several aspects of the plan, including efforts to remove barriers to natural resource-based outdoor recreation. The plan was adopted in December. You can view the plan here and read the GMPT comments on page 3 of this document.
Register now! Join us for GMPT’s 2025 Legislative Action Day
The Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails Leadership Team invites you to participate in our 2025 Legislative Action Day in St. Paul on Tuesday, February 25, starting at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Offices of Flaherty & Hood, P.A., 525 Park Street, St. Paul, 3rd Floor (one block north of State Capitol)
Agenda:
- GMPT’s Legislative Agenda
- Learn more about our goals at the Legislature this session.
- Legislative Tips & Tricks
- Learn how to approach your own legislators and help GMPT to achieve our legislative goals as well as your individual goals.
- Special Guests including legislators and leaders from the Department of Natural Resources.
- Optional networking lunch ($20 for lunch – to be paid that day). Meet other parks professionals, local government staff, and other GMPT members over lunch.
Why I should attend?
One of the key reasons that Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails was formed was to advocate for recreational opportunities in Greater Minnesota at the Minnesota Legislature. Achieving that goal is a team sport – it involves the efforts of our lobbying team (Elizabeth Wefel and her colleagues from Flaherty & Hood) and our members, such as you. Legislative Action Day provides a great opportunity to do that. We’ll teach you more about how to lobby your legislators, the issues that we’re working on at the Legislature, and provide you the materials you need to take the next step.
But that’s not all… We know it’s a drive to St. Paul for you so we’re also featuring speakers to talk about legislative activity that may impact parks and trails. We’re inviting the Commissioner of the DNR – who almost always attends when asked – plus legislators who work on these issues. Renee Mattson, the Executive Director of the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC), will also be there to talk about the Commission’s work. Finally, we know that connecting with and learning from others involved in parks and trails is something you value, so we’ll have a networking lunch as well.
What if I can’t make it to St. Paul?
There will be a virtual option if you can’t make it to St. Paul that day. Please select that option on the registration form.
How do I sign up?
Just fill out the registration form using the button below.
If you have any questions on these developments or our legislative work, you can reach out to GMPT Lobbyist Elizabeth Wefel at eawefel@flaherty-hood.com.
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