News

Minnesota lawmakers have deadlines to make ahead of special session

Minnesota legislators are up against some self-imposed deadlines as preparations for June’s special session continue.

Legislative leaders and Governor Walz agreed following the end of the regular session to have specific budget proposals completed ahead of the Memorial Day Weekend and to have bill language agreed upon by June 4^th.

Minnesota Corn Growers senior public policy director Amanda Bilek tells Brownfield biofuels infrastructure funding is included in both the House and Senate ag budgets.

“The House had appropriated $2 million per year within the AGRI program, and that would be ongoing so it would be on into later years as well to kind of establish that recurring $2 million per year available for biofuel infrastructure funding assistance.”

She says the bill that passed off the Senate Floor provided $3.5 million per year for the next two years.

“So in a sense kind of one time funding. But really good funding amounts that were in both budgets as they headed into conference committee.”

Lawmakers are expected to return to St. Paul in mid-June for the special session.  The legislature has another deadline, June 30^th, to agree on a state budget before the current budget expires.