2022 Legislature Gavels In
The MN House and Senate convened on Monday for the second year of the 2021-2022 legislative biennium. The second year is traditionally focused on public works projects funded through a bonding bill as well as changing or updating policy in law. This year, the Governor, House and Senate will likely consider a supplemental budget to allocate tax revenues that have exceeded budget projections by seven billion since they passed the $52 billion state budget in June of 2021. Passing a supplemental budget is not a requirement as the funds can be carried over to 2023.
Several issues of note to the construction community will be discussed throughout the session. In addition to a capital investment bill to fund projects, the Legislature will likely deliberate matching funds for the recently passed infrastructure law at the federal level, repayment of the depleted Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund (over $1 billion), continued COVID responses, and worker safety initiatives. Public safety, frontline worker bonus distribution and many other issues will round out various priorities of the politically split legislature, which remains a Democratic majority in the House and a Republican-led Senate. The Minnesota House will continue to meet largely via video in 2022 while the Senate will meet in a hybrid approach with committee hearings both in-person and online.
