Minnesota Democrats staged a sit-in protest in the chamber overnight and into this morning to urge action on a proposal to restrict firearms and boost funding for school safety measures. A gun measure package passed in the Senate without Republican support May 4, but hasn’t come up for a floor vote. An effort to suspend the rules to bring the bill up for debate failed to secure the two-thirds majority needed. The Senate bill bans ghost guns, or guns without serial numbers, and secures money for school safety and mental health programs. It also limits the sale of certain guns with high-capacity magazines and requires owners of those guns to register them with the state. Yesterday, advocates wheeled a foot-high stack of letters signed by thousands of Minnesotans into the House chamber demanding Houe Speaker Lisa Demuth allow a vote. “This past year has felt like a breaking point for Minnesotans,” University of Minnesota student and school shooting survivor Timberlyn Mazeikis said at a news conference before delivering the letters. “We saw our leader, former Speaker Melissa Hortman, being slain at her home. We witnessed the horrific shooting at the Annunciation School that stole the lives of babies,” Mazeikis went on to say. “Despite all of this, House leadership continues to stand in the way.” Demuth said Thursday that a bill hasn’t been heard on the floor because individual DFL-backed gun bills didn’t make it through the House committee process — they failed without Republican support. “We have absolutely taken votes. They just haven't turned out the way that we're hearing some people want,” Demuth said. The sit-in is expected to continue today. Representatives aren’t scheduled to come in for floor votes.

Minnesotans could find two things a little more affordable (or at least less expensive) in the deal struck by legislative leaders. The deal includes a one-time increase in the homestead property tax credit. Under the language, the credit will increase by 12 percent. Property owners who qualify for that credit should see that show up when second half property taxes come due in October. At the same time, lawmakers struck a deal to bring vehicle tab fees back to 2022 pricing for one year. Fees were raised in 2023 to help pay for road projects. Republicans say that increase made Minnesota a state with one of the highest tab fee charges in the country. Sen. John Jasinksi, R-Faribault, says the lower fees will kick in for one year starting in January 2027. In all, he says it should save Minnesotans around $250 million in tab fee costs.

Counties will get a much-needed update on the computer systems used run several human services programs, as part of the deal made by legislative leaders.  All this session, counties have been comparing the computer systems to the early computer game The Oregon Trail — a DOS-based game with a green screen, rudimentary graphics and a low-tech soundtrack. That reference seemed to work. The state will put $75 million to upgrade those computer systems next year. "We're just truly, absolutely thrilled that this is prioritized by all members of leadership and the Governor as part of the final deal," said Julie Ring with the Association of Minnesota Counties. During a conference committee hearing, the funding was celebrated by several lawmakers, including Rep. Peggy Scott, R-Andover, who said the aging computers will soon be a thing of the past. "To the social workers, the case workers that have put up with these green screens for so long, I want them to know that help is on the way," she said. But lawmakers and the governor say this isn't a one time fix because upgrades will be needed in the coming years to fully modernize those systems.

All four legislative leaders will join Brian on Politics Friday today for an update ahead of the final sprint of the legislative session. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, Minority Leader Mark Johnson, House Speaker Lisa Demuth and House DFL Leader Zack Stephenson will chart out their proposed path to the finish line late Sunday night. They’ll come in after having announceda global deal to close the session with a public construction projects bill, new funding for county information technology systems and relief funding aimed at keeping a Minneapolis safety net hospital open. Committee chairs have been working behind those scenes to fill in the details so that bills can pass both chambers and reach the governor’s desk in time. You can listen live at noon or  via this webstream.

DFL House Leader Zack Stephenson’s profane text exchange with the Anoka mayor was made public in a court case over funding for a bridge there. According to a story in the Star Tribune , the texts are evidence in a court case brought by Anoka County, which accuses Stephenson of punishing the county for a controversial proposal to build a larger jail in the city of Anoka. In the texts with the Anoka mayor, Stephenson reportedly texted “I consider it revenge for the jail f%$&ery.” (symbols added for censorship). The lawsuit accuses Stephenson of seeking “political revenge” by redirecting some county transportation funds toward a pedestrian bridge in the city of Anoka. Stephenson told reporters that the comment was made in jest and that he’d keep working for his district. “It was a joke that was taken out of context in a filing. I'm sure everyone in the room has sent a joke to a friend that they would not really want published in a newspaper article,” Stephenson said. “I'm not going to apologize for fighting for my district, and you know, it's an ongoing legal matter. I'm not a party to it.”

Former state Sen. Justin Eichorn pleaded guilty to child solicitation. Eichorn, a Grand Rapids Republican, was arrested in March 2025 after an online sting operation in Bloomington. He allegedly texted and arranged to meet with a girl he believed was 17 years old who was actually a police detective. He was charged in federal court with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. As part of a plea deal , Eichorn is expected to receive a 15 to 21 month prison sentence. He had initially entered a non guilty plea. He resigned from the Legislature shortly after his arrest — amid calls from both parties to step down. The plea deal means he’ll avoid trial, which was supposed to begin next month. 

Schools are beginning to implement statewide health education standards, part of a bill approved by the Legislature in 2024. MPR News reporter Elizabeth Shockman reports that the new standards will phase in over the next three years. Those standards set out things like how human development, nutrition, sex, child abuse prevention and other issues are taught. Previously, those standards were set by local school boards. The standards are expected to be phased in over the next three years. By the 2028-29 school year, if they get judicial approval, they’ll be fully rolled out to schools. Some worry the state standards will mean ideological issues will be raised, including discussions around gender identity and sexual orientation. But others say this will give students clear, factual information about things like consent and abuse prevention, as well as media literacy - helping kids spot what is real and what isn’t online — especially when it comes to health. 

A Republican senator with 16 years experience in the chamber is hanging it up after this year. Sen. Carla Nelson, of Rochester, announced yesterday that she plans to retire. Nelson has represented parts of Olmsted and Dodge County since she first won her seat in 2010. During that time, Nelson has advanced issues relating to education and taxes. She was co-sponsor of a bill that created a massive public-private partnership to remake Rochester's downtown and boost Mayo Clinic's presence. Nelson's district has become increasingly purple in recent years as Rochester and the surrounding areas have grown demographically and become more progressive. She's the last Republican representing the city, and her departure opens a seat the DFL has been eyeing for years. Nelson is among 14 state senators retiring this year.  “Serving the people of Rochester and southeastern Minnesota has been a great privilege and responsibility,” Nelson said in a news release. “Every constituent call, every heartbreaking story, every town hall, every conversation at a local event reminded me of my purpose and who I was there to serve. For many years, the people of this district have given me their trust, and that is a gift I will carry with me. I look forward to new ways to serve.”

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is fighting for meatier meat raffle prizes. Meat raffles have long been a way for Minnesotans to donate to charities while earning a chance to win high quality, local meats. But the law governing these raffles hasn’t been updated in decades while the cost of meat, labor and operating expenses. Advocates of the bill say organizations are struggling to offer prizes that generate enough excitement. The bill would increase the limitation on raffle ticket prices from $2 to $5. It would also increase the value of the meat prizes from $70 to $200 dollars. Rep. Jim Nash, R-Waconia, said these raffles raise money for important causes like youth sports teams. He said a raffle in his hometown raised money for an honor flight to Washington, D.C. Nash said the bill is about letting “the charities in the state of Minnesota do what they have been doing for years, but make it more interesting for the people who participate and make it more beneficial for the communities that they are serving.” The bill has bipartisan support in both chambers but has yet to face floor votes.

Remember when we invited you to come to our Politics Friday happy hour events during the GOP and DFL conventions? We meant it. Our politics team will be in Duluth for the Republican state convention and Rochester for the DFL state convention. They’re both the same weekend and we’ll have a special two-hour Politics Friday on May 29. But wait … there’s more! In Duluth, politics editor Brian Bakst will be at a happy hour at Bent Paddle Brewing at 5 p.m. Tickets are free but registration is requested . Same goes for a companion happy hour that All Things Considered host Clay Masters will be at Old Abe Coffee Shop. Sign up for your spot at that event here.