Draheim: Minnesotans deserve better budgeting and a more transparent process

The Minnesota Legislature reconvened yesterday for a one-day Special Session to complete the state budget for the 2026–2027 biennium. The final budget totals approximately $66 billion over two years. A Special Session became necessary after the regular session ended May 19 without a completed agreement.

Senator Rich Draheim (R–Madison Lake) issued the following statement:

“Minnesotans need to remember why we’re here—the Democrat Trifecta spent us into a $6 billion deficit. Now we’re forced to make cuts, and they’re painful because this problem was self-inflicted. Life is too expensive. Healthcare costs are rising, taxes are too high, and our schools and nursing homes are stretched thin. But instead of tightening up, Democrats decided to grow state agency budgets and ask hardworking Minnesotans to do more with less.”

Sen. Draheim, Lead Republican on the Jobs and Economic Development Committee, had this statement on the budget bill:

“We need a better process for Conference Committees. This one was done behind closed doors, with little input from members. I am proud that we secured $500,000 for the Rural Cancer Institute to expand cancer care access in rural communities. That’s a real win for Greater Minnesota. But overall, the Jobs bill spends too much on programs that don’t help create high-paying, high-demand jobs. We should be investing in workforce growth, not government growth.”

The Jobs and Labor bill passed on a 40–27 vote and will be sent to Governor Walz for his signature.

Budget areas passed during the Special Session included:

  • Capital Investment
  • Commerce & Energy
  • Environment & Natural Resources
  • Health & Human Services / Children & Families
  • Higher Education
  • Human Services Finance
  • K-12 Education
  • Taxes
  • Transportation
  • Workforce, Labor & Economic Development

Two additional bills were part of the final agreement: one that improves data center regulations and extends a tax exemption, and another that ends taxpayer-funded health insurance for illegal immigrants.

The 2026 legislative session begins February 17, 2026.