News – Page 6 – Minnesota Senate Republicans

May 2, 2025

Farnsworth: An update on permitting reform and veterans

Friends and neighbors, One of my top priorities has been fixing Minnesota’s broken permitting process. This is one of the fastest ways we can attract new job-creating projects to Minnesota. Unfortunately, permitting reform was stripped…

May 2, 2025

Farnsworth: Education policy bill provides no mandate relief for schools

Friends and neighbors, The Senate Majority recently passed an education policy bill that, unfortunately, ignores what school leaders and teachers have been asking for: relief from the long list of unfunded mandates passed in the…

May 2, 2025

Farnsworth: Extended UI benefits for miners added to Senate Jobs and Labor bill

Friends and neighbors, This week I successfully added an amendment to the Senate’s Jobs and Labor bill to extend unemployment benefits for miners who are about to be laid off from the Minorca and HibTac…

May 2, 2025

Senate approves Democrat transportation budget proposal that siphons more money away from roads and bridges

Minnesota Senate on Thursday approved a Democrat-written transportation budget (HF2438) proposal that diverts millions in dedicated road funding to transit and green initiatives, despite ongoing concerns about crumbling infrastructure across the state. “This bill moves…

May 2, 2025

Senator Bruce Anderson: Protecting our most vulnerable Minnesotans

Friends and neighbors, The Senate floor was buzzing with activity this week as we took up six major policy and budget packages, along with several single-issue bills. Many of these measures have now passed the…

May 2, 2025

Senator Dornink: Misplaced priorities at the Capitol

Friends and neighbors, It has been a busy week on the Senate floor, with lawmakers hearing six omnibus budget bills along with several single-issue proposals. Many of these measures have now passed the Senate and…

May 1, 2025

Senate passes Higher Education Bill that shores up state grant shortfall but fails to address record tuition increases

The Senate today passed the Higher Education omnibus bill on a 37-28 vote. The legislation appropriates $4.1 billion for higher education over the upcoming and following biennium. While this represents a slight decrease from the…

May 1, 2025

Jobs and Labor bill prioritizes government, not Minnesotans

Democrats this week brought forward a Jobs and Labor budget and policy package that expands government, increases regulations and funnels millions to private organizations. As a result, Minnesotans are left with fewer opportunities and higher costs. The Jobs…

May 1, 2025

Senator Dahms votes for Senate Agriculture budget bill

On Wednesday, April 30, the Minnesota Senate passed the Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development policy and appropriations package, Senate File 2458. The legislation includes some welcome updates and reforms while investing in key agricultural programs.…

May 1, 2025

Senator Karin Housley Stands with Minnesota’s Building Trades: “When We Support the Trades, Everyone Wins”

Senator Karin Housley (R–Stillwater) rallied with building trades workers yesterday, voicing strong support for robust investments in Minnesota’s infrastructure, workforce development, and economy. “Trade union members are the ones building Minnesota’s future—literally,” Housley told the…

May 1, 2025

Senate adopts Lang amendment to boost rural meat and dairy processing

The Minnesota Senate today adopted an amendment from Senator Andrew Lang (R-Olivia) to increase funding for rural meat, poultry, egg, and milk processing facilities as part of the Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development omnibus…

April 30, 2025

Senate Republicans deliver win for cottage food entrepreneurs, push back on new fees in Agriculture budget

The Minnesota Senate today passed the Agriculture, Broadband and Rural Development policy and appropriations package, SF 2458, on a vote of 43 to 23. While the legislation includes some welcome updates, particularly for Minnesota’s cottage…

April 30, 2025

Kreun rejects Judiciary bill that releases more convicted felons from prison early

Senate Democrats today brought forward a controversial Judiciary bill that continues the trend of making Minnesota less safe. The $3.84 billion judiciary and public safety package increases state spending by over $106 million. The bill…

April 30, 2025

Senate Republicans secure additional funding for law enforcement, nonprofit accountability in Democrat public safety bill

Bill also releases more convicted felons from prison early Minnesota Senate Republicans today successfully added three amendments to a judiciary and public safety proposal (HF2432) that secured additional funding for law enforcement officers and strengthened…

April 30, 2025

Senator Dahms: Local pastor provides prayer for Minnesota Senate session

During the Minnesota Senate’s floor session on Monday, April 28, Pastor Regina Garrett of the First United Methodist Church in Redwood Falls provided the Prayer of the Day as the guest chaplain. Each biennium, the…

April 30, 2025

Housley condemns Jobs and Labor bill for prioritizing government, not Minnesotans

Democrats yesterday brought forward a Jobs and Labor budget and policy package that expands government, increases regulations and funnels millions to private organizations. As a result, Minnesotans are left with fewer opportunities and higher costs. …

April 30, 2025

Environment bill fails to rein in DNR over-spending, increases fees, neglects concerns over permitting reform

Senate Democrats today passed an environment bill that empowers the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to continue over-spending and fails to ask for any meaningful cuts to the DNR budget. A core theme of this…

April 29, 2025

Jobs and Labor budget prioritizes government, not Minnesotans

The majority’s Jobs and Labor budget and policy package, SF 1832, today passed out of the Senate on a vote of 35-30. Instead of focusing on creating higher-wage, in-demand jobs and supporting economic growth, the bill…

April 29, 2025

Farnsworth adds miner unemployment protections to Senate Jobs and Labor bill

Senator Rob Farnsworth (R-Hibbing) today successfully advanced a bipartisan amendment that would provide additional unemployment benefits for miners affected by recent planned mine closures on the Iron Range. The Farnsworth amendment, which was added to…

April 29, 2025

Senator Johnson capitol update — the first batch of budget bills

Greetings from the Capitol Friends and Neighbors, As we dive into the latter part of the legislative session, we’re heading into longer floor sessions and a busier pace here in St. Paul. From the Governor’s…