Latest news with #statebudget
CBS News
01-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Boat permits, state constellation, anti-fraud measures: New Minnesota laws that take effect July 1
The Minnesota Legislature had a one-day June special session to complete the next $66 billion two-year state budget funding the state government and its programs and services. That spending kicks in July 1, along with a slate of new policies. The political makeup of the capitol is unique with a tied House for only the second time in state history. It's as closely divided as a Legislature can be in Minnesota — with 100 Republicans and 101 Democrats — which forced compromise. Here's a list of some of the new laws that take effect Tuesday: Boat permit requirements A bill approved two years ago takes effect Tuesday, requiring Minnesotans 21 and younger to have an operator's permit in order to drive a motorboat. That will expand to more age groups over the next several years. Anyone who rents a boat — regardless of their age — will need a permit, too. Anti-fraud measures In wake of high profile scandals like the Feeding Our Future scheme, the Legislature approved changes to increase oversight of public programs and prevent fraud. Under a new law, state agencies are allowed to withhold funding to organizations receiving state dollars for up to 60 days if there is significant evidence to suggest they have committed fraud. There is new training required for certain employees administering state grants and there are increased protections for whistleblowers who report wrongdoing. Lawmakers stopped short of passing an Office of Inspector General, an independent government watchdog agency, despite bipartisan support. Cannabis tax increase The gross receipts tax on cannabis sales increases from 10% to 15% before the legal adult-use market launches, despite pushback from the industry and advocates. It also applies to sales of hemp-derived THC edibles and beverages, which are already available on store shelves. New state symbols Minnesota has a state bird, drink, fish, flower and more. Now the giant beaver joins the list of state symbols as the state fossil, which got the most support when the Science Museum of Minnesota conducted a poll four years ago, according to the Legislative Reference Library. The Legislature also approved Ursa Minor, the "Little Dipper," as the state constellation. One of its stars is Polaris, "the North Star." Lane splitting for motorcycles Motorcyclists in Minnesota will be able to get through traffic jams a little quicker under a new law. Both "lane splitting" and "lane filtering" are legal starting Tuesday under certain circumstances. When there are two or more lanes of traffic going in the same direction, a motorcyclist can pass a vehicle in the same lane but no more than 25 miles per hour. Panel to find savings in special education Lawmakers are trying to pump the brakes on growing special education transportation costs, one of the largest drivers of a gap between spending and revenues that could lead to a deficit in future years. They trimmed how much districts are reimbursed by the state for those services — from 100% to 95% — and established a Blue Ribbon Commission on Special Education to find more savings in the next budget. Its charge is to "develop and present to the legislature and the governor an action plan for transforming special education services while maintaining a free appropriate public education for students with disabilities" by Oct. 1 of next year. Expanding access to opioid overdose-reversal drug Following a recent law requiring doses of opioid overdose-reversal drug naloxone in K-12 school buildings, the Minnesota Legislature authorized high school students to administer naloxone to other students as needed. Schools that are part of the Minnesota State system are required to keep a supply of at least two doses of the opiate antagonist in residential buildings. The Board of Regents governing the University of Minnesota are requested to implement the same policy.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Buyout offers, hiring freeze coming for state government amid budget crunch
Gov. Wes Moore hands a pen used to sign the state's $67 billion fiscal 2026 budget to House Appropriations Chair Ben Barnes. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters) The Moore administration plans to slash about $121 million from the state's personnel budget through a combination of buyouts to state employees, a hiring freeze and elimination of at least 150 vacant positions, officials said Tuesday. The measures were announced in a 'Dear colleagues' letter from Gov. Wes Moore (D) to state employees that was sent at noon Tuesday. 'We are moving with care and intentionality to minimize impact on current employees and be transparent throughout the process,' Moore wrote in the letter. Moore Chief of Staff Fagan Harris said in an interview with Maryland Matters that state officials have been trying for weeks to come up with a plan to get the savings from the state's general fund, in accordance with the fiscal 2026 budget that the governor signed in May. 'It's going to be all of these things that help us get to the number, ultimately,' Harris said. As recently as two weeks ago, the administration was looking at layoffs of current workers as part of the budget-cutting mix, an administration official said at the time. But Harris said Tuesday that they were ultimately able to stop short of actual layoffs. Even so, the measures will hamper Moore's goal of growing the state workforce. When he took office in 2023, Moore pledged to rebuild state government, including by filling 5,000 positions left vacant by his predecessor, Gov. Larry Hogan (R). And Moore has recently pushed state agencies to hire former federal workers in search of new jobs amid the Trump administration's cost-cutting measures. Federal layoffs drag down state employment gains for second month, new numbers show As of the end of May, there were about 4,800 vacancies in all state agencies, a 9.3% vacancy rate, according to Raquel Coombs, a spokesperson for the Department of Budget and Management. The administration's plan excludes the University System of Maryland, which previously announced cuts. Also excluded from the hiring freeze are the state's '24/7' facilities, such as prisons, hospitals and juvenile facilities, as well as sworn state troopers, Harris said. Administration officials said they're still crafting the buy-out plan and choosing which vacant positions to eliminate, but those same positions are likely to be excluded. As part of Tuesday's announcement, the administration is also pushing state agencies to come up with 'creative' cost-cutting solutions, Harris said. That includes 'in-sourcing' contracted jobs and consolidating physical facilities, to the extent possible, he said. Harris said that non-union employees, including those in the governor's office, will not receive planned salary increases, such as merit raises and step increases. But they will receive a 1% cost-of-living increase in July. Patrick Moran, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 3 — which represents more than 26,000 state employees — said the state's ongoing issues with 'chronic understaffing, dangerous working conditions, and unsustainable workloads' must be taken into account as the final decisions are made on cuts. 'While it's clear our state must navigate tough and volatile times, any solutions cannot come at the cost of providing quality state services,' Moran said in a statement Tuesday. He said the union will push for cost-saving measures that 'prioritize our state services and the workers who make them happen.' 'That includes eliminating costly contracts, in-sourcing services where needed, addressing other inefficiencies, and closing corporate tax loopholes to raise much-needed state revenue,' Moran wrote. Del. Ben Barnes (D- Anne Arundel and Prince George's), chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said he was pleased to see the governor take a path that did not include cuts of current staff. 'I'm very happy to see that there will not be furloughs or layoffs, as they're not warranted or necessary given our current fiscal picture,' Barnes said. Sen. Guy Guzzone (D- Howard), chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, hailed the governor's move as 'very reasonable and logical.' It should achieve the $121 million in needed cuts, but Guzzone warned that further cuts at the federal level could force state officials back to the drawing board. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE 'We don't know what else may come along — what other shoe might drop,' Guzzone said. 'But I think it's important to keep a level head and make reasonable decisions along the way. And I think this was a reasonable decision by the governor.' Barnes said that, based on data from the Department of Legislative Services, he believes the $121 million in savings could be achieved solely by slashing vacant positions. 'Anything beyond that would be additional actions the governor was taking,' Barnes said. Barnes said the state has reached a solid fiscal position, citing the state's triple-A bond ratings this year from Fitch and Standard & Poor's. Critically, though, Maryland lost its treasured triple-A bond rating this year from Moody's, the third major bond rating agency, which also downgraded half a dozen other state borrowing programs. Republican legislative leaders criticized the Moore administration for not enacting the hiring freeze sooner, even as the state's financial woes became clear. 'Back in February, I questioned the wisdom of expanding state government while facing a $2.8 billion deficit. I said then, and I repeat now: when you're in a hole, you need to stop digging,' wrote Sen. J.B. Jennings (Baltimore and Harford) in a statement. 'The decision to finally enact a hiring freeze and reduce vacant positions is the right one — but it should have happened months ago, before the situation became more urgent.' Jennings and other Republicans called for the freeze as early as February, in response to Moore's budget proposal. But Moore administration officials had balked at taking such a step. 'Let's be honest: this is the Moore Administration quietly admitting that Senate Republicans were right,' said Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready (R-Frederick and Carroll) in a statement. Moore's 'Dear colleagues' letter said the hiring freeze will begin July 1. Harris said it is likely to last at least through the fiscal year. The precise terms for voluntary separation agreements are likely to be released in the coming weeks, Harris said, adding that the administration does not yet have a goal for a number of buyouts. 'We want to drive as much adoption as we can, but there's no specific target,' Harris said. The administration is planning to bring a list of vacant positions to the Board of Public Works for elimination around September. 'We want to make it so that the public does not feel these changes,' Harris said. 'We certainly are aware of a large universe of savings there, but we're going to be really careful and intentional this summer, as we work through this to achieve as many savings as we can responsibly.'
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Current events in Florida: From Middle East tensions to local immigration issues
Recent developments regarding the conflict between Iran and Israel, the impact on Florida, ongoing immigration discussions, and the state budget delays highlight the emotions and sentiments of the public.
CBS News
10-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Minnesota Legislature during special session passes next state budget to avert government shutdown
The Minnesota Legislature approved the remaining pieces of the next state budget on Monday during a special session, after lawmakers failed to complete their work last month. The House adjourned around 10:40 p.m., and the Senate was on track to do the same around midnight or early on Tuesday. They had 14 bills on their to-do list; most of them were spending plans that made up the roughly $66 billion budget for the next two years. The political make-up of the Capitol is unique, with a tied House for only the second time in state history, and is as closely divided as a Legislature can be in Minnesota, with 100 Republicans and 101 Democrats. That made negotiations challenging and forced compromise. "The tie forced us to work together, and I think that's something that people outside of the bubble here in St. Paul are looking for people to do," said House Speaker Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring. "They want representation in the state that can work together and do the best things for our state." A delayed start in the House, after DFL lawmakers boycotted the first few weeks over a power dispute, ended in overtime. But a divided Legislature is not unique in Minnesota. Four of the last five budget-writing sessions, including this one, have ended with special sessions because they didn't finish the budget on time when Republicans and Democrats shared power. "We prevented a duly elected member of the Minnesota House from being kicked out for no reason whatsoever other than political expediency. And I think in the end, fighting for that equal shared power made this a better session," said former DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman. "And I think the way that today unfolded was about cooperation and collaboration, we could have had that from the word go. I'm really happy that we did finally get there." Finishing their work on Monday prevented nearly 30,000 state workers from getting layoff notices on Tuesday in advance of a partial government shutdown on July 1 if they failed to approve a budget. As of 11:30 p.m. Monday, the Senate had to pass a tax bill and a bonding proposal funding infrastructure projects before they adjourned, but had approved the budget bills. The legislation made significant cuts to stave off a projected $6 billion deficit in future years. Most of the day was smooth sailing after lawmakers in the House began by passing the most contentious bill of the year that will remove undocumented immigrant adults from MinnesotaCare, a state health care coverage program, by the year's end. The debate in that chamber lasted for four hours and at times was emotional. The change was a top priority for Republicans who are concerned that growing enrollment would balloon costs in an unsustainable way. Democrats in both chambers are deeply opposed to the measure, which will preserve coverage for children despite the rollback for adults. Through tears, Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, said approving it, which she agreed to in a larger budget compromise among legislative leaders, was among the most "painful" votes she ever had to take. She and three other Democrats supported it in the Senate. Hortman was the sole DFL vote alongside Republicans in the House. Hortman was similarly emotional when reflecting on that moment. "What I worry about is the people who will lose their health insurance. I know that people will be hurt by that vote," she said. "We worked very hard to try to get a budget deal that wouldn't include that provision, and we tried any other way we could to come to a budget agreement with Republicans, and they wouldn't have it. So I did what leaders do, I stepped up and I got the job done for the people of Minnesota."
CBS News
09-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Minnesota Legislature is set to begin special session on Monday. What bills are left to pass?
What bills still need to pass the Legislature? What bills still need to pass the Legislature? What bills still need to pass the Legislature? Minnesota lawmakers will return to the capitol on Monday to begin what Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders hope will be a one-day special session to pass the rest of the next two-year state budget. They are set to start at 10 a.m. and end at 7 a.m. Tuesday. The focus will be on 14 bills, mostly spending plans for state programs and services. But there is also a bonding bill funding infrastructure projects and a compromise to remove undocumented immigrant adults from MinnesotaCare, a state health coverage program for low-income people. House Speaker Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, said in an interview on WCCO Sunday Morning that most of the bills were drafted and posted for the public to see, after the provisions were largely negotiated behind closed doors. Lawmakers will begin passing bills right when they gavel in, but it will likely be a long day, she conceded. The special session will be the state's first since 2021. It comes after key negotiators and leaders worked almost around the clock the last three weeks since the regular session ended on May 19, trying to resolve sticking points in the most closely divided Legislature in state history. There is a tied state House and one-seat DFL advantage in the Senate—100 Republicans to 101 Democrats. Because of that make-up, it is as if every individual lawmaker has their own veto power, Walz described the dynamic. "It's not the state budget we would have put together, but it's a compromise, and we have to keep state government functioning," said Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, last week. All sides had to make concessions to ink a deal, refine the proposals, and find a way to ensure passage of the necessary bills to fund state government and its services. They also had to make difficult decisions on where to find savings through cuts since the state is staring down a $6 billion deficit in future years. "Right now, we have a very good state budget that is actually delivering the largest spending cut between biennium to biennium ever. really—almost $5 billion of cuts," Demuth told WCCO Sunday. Roughly 30,000 state workers were set to get a layoff notice Monday morning as part of protocol, since failure to pass a budget by July 1 means a partial government shutdown. But the governor's office said that could be delayed until Tuesday morning, which is when the special session is set to end. If lawmakers complete all their work by that time, the state can avoid sending those messages to employees. What bills still need to pass the Legislature? A majority of the bills that piece together the next two-year, roughly $66 billion budget are on lawmakers' to-do list Monday. Before the regular session ended last month, the Legislature approved funding for the court system and the agriculture and veterans affairs departments. But most of that work was unfinished. Among the provisions in the public safety and judiciary budget that passed is the deal to close the Stillwater prison by 2029. Lawmakers still need to sign off on funding for K-12 education, transportation, health and human services, and more. There is also a tax proposal, which includes increasing the cannabis tax from 10-15%, sparking pushback. They also need to debate the proposal to remove undocumented immigrant adults from MinnesotaCare.
