Senate Media Services

The capitol tour with a twist: This spooky season, the past returns with a message for us. Learn more about the tour and reserve your tickets here: https://www.mnhs.org/events/2633

That's a wrap! After 16 hours, the legislature's first special session of 2025 has ended. Now, with a budget in the books, senators head back to their districts for the interim. In this episode of Senate Spotlight, Senate majority and minority leaders reflect on their caucus's accomplishments and difficulties during the general and special sessions and share what lies ahead for the 2026 legislative session scheduled to convene in February.

Senate Spotlight Episode 121: What does it take to balance the needs of some of Minnesota's most vulnerable with the need for the largest reduction ever to the Human Services Committee budget? According to Senator Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, the answer is collaboration. He says by giving both caucuses a seat and a voice at the conference committee table, they were able to cut $1.09 billion from the state's Human Services budget without taking money away from the people and programs who rely on it. If you were to ask Senator Foung Hawj, DFL-Saint Paul, what Minnesota's legacy is, he'd say it's our fresh air, clean water, art and cultural traditions. As chair of the Environment, Climate, and Legacy Committee, he was a lead author of the Legacy finance bill. In this episode of Senate Spotlight, he details the changes the bill will bring about, such as the new way the state will help smaller organizations to access arts and cultural heritage funding. The Omnibus State and Local Government and Elections Policy and Appropriations Bill has been signed into law. Authors say it strengthens election integrity and reduces government waste.

Senate Spotlight Episode 120: Monday, May 19th, was the final day of the 94th Legislature's regular session for the year. As of now, the Legislature is officially adjourned until February 17, 2026. During the break, senators typically return to their districts. However, without a budget signed into law, a special session will be required, and their work continues at the Capitol. Disability advocates and those receiving disability services and waivers rallied in the Capitol's rotunda, hoping to protect their programs from budget cuts. Senator Jordan Rasmusson, R-Fergus Falls, shares his ideas on how to save state money by countering fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer funds. He also explains his concerns when it comes to MinnesotaCare, and how the program's funding of health care coverage for undocumented immigrants impacts his community members. As a meteorologist, Senator Rob Kupec, DFL-Moorhead, tracks severe weather. He says investing in green initiatives can help reduce these dangerous events, and he's introduced and supported several pieces of legislation this session doing just that.

Senate Spotlight Episode 118: Minnesota's Earned Sick and Safe Time Law was initially passed in 2023. Now, with feedback from constituents across the state, including labor union members and small business owners, modifications to the law are up for debate on the Senate Floor. In this episode of Senate Spotlight, hear highlights from the discussion around Senate File 2300, and find out how a majority of the Senators voted. Plus, host Veronica Marshall is joined by two senators who know why Greater Minnesota is so great. Senator Grant Hauschild, DFL-Hermantown, reflects on his work this session, including his efforts to extend unemployment benefits for Iron Range miners. Senator Steve Green, R-Fosston, explains why he thinks Minnesota needs to return power to local governments while still holding state departments accountable. And a new senator is sworn in! Senator Keri Heintzeman, who now represents the Senate's sixth district, hits the ground running. She shares what her first day in the Senate was like, and what she wants to accomplish moving forward.