Minnesota Legislature passes tax bill to finish $52B budget

The Minnesota Legislature worked into the early hours Thursday in an effort to finish off a $52 billion, two-year budget. The final remaining legislation was a tax bill that needed approval first in the House, then the Senate. The Senate on Wednesday evening passed the K-12 education funding bill 65-0 and sent it to Gov. Tim Walz.

Senate Education Chair Roger Chamberlain described the plan as one focused on money…not mandates.

The House debate on the tax bill bogged down amid a partisan fight over the details of unwinding the governor’s emergency powers.  The bill didn’t need to pass before the old budget ran out. The House passed the tax bill 69-55 around 1:15 a.m.   The Republican-led Senate approved it 54-11 a few hours later, completing a special session that became necessary after time ran out on the regular session last month. session.