Legislature — with budget incomplete — gavels out, prepares for special session

Some years, state legislative sessions surge to a climax on their final day, a flurry of activity providing a sustained adrenaline rush, culminating in smiles of satisfaction as a midnight deadline is met for completing the people’s business.

Such could be said of 2025’s constitutionally prescribed final day of Minnesota’s legislative session. On Monday, some completed conference committee reports were passed by the House and sent to the Senate, but several more lay dormant, the committee co-chairs from the two chambers unable to reach agreement.

So it’s on to a special session, but how soon Gov. Tim Walz will call one remains to be seen. The timing is likely to hinge upon how far apart the various unconcluded conference committees are in crafting their final reports.

“We’ll continue to do the work, and when the work’s ready, I’ll bring them back for a one-day special session and we’ll button things up,” Walz said Monday afternoon before meeting with legislative leaders.