Follow the progress of the Minnesota Council on Disability’s (MCD) legislative initiatives at the State Capitol through updates from our public policy team.
If you have public policy questions, contact Joel Runnels at joel.runnels@state.mn.us or 651-350-8642.
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May 2025
The 2025 legislative session ended with many budget and policy decisions still unresolved. As we are writing this, the legislature is in discussions with the Governor’s Office to work through the remaining issues. Once they are settled, Governor Walz is expected to call a special session.
Although the Human Services budget is not finalized, current proposals would cut approximately $300 million from the budget that funds many of Minnesota’s disability services and Medicaid (known here as Medical Assistance). Most of these reductions come from lowering annual payment increases for waivered service providers from 6% to 4%, and from limiting how often exceptions to standard rates are granted in those programs.
Lawmakers anticipate one special session soon to complete this year’s state budget. If Congress later approves deep Medicaid cuts, the Governor could call a second session to rebalance Minnesota’s finances. This could require deeper cuts or new revenue to replace the lost federal dollars. Only the Governor can call a special session. Because the regular session has adjourned, lawmakers must wait until he sets the date to finish the budget.
Elected officials will be making important decisions in the days ahead. It is vital that they hear from their constituents about the value of these programs and the impact of funding decisions on our communities.
April 2025
Where We Are Now
We’ve entered the final thirty days of the 2025 legislative session. Committee deadlines are behind us, and each committee is packaging its bills into larger omnibus bills—think of them as big buckets that gather proposals on the same topic, such as education or human services. The House and Senate will soon vote on their own omnibus versions, each shaped by the budget targets released in March.
What Happens Next
After floor votes, every omnibus bill heads to a conference committee. These committees work out the differences between the House and Senate versions. They must agree on one compromise bill, called a conference committee report, and send it back for final “yes” or “no” votes in both chambers before the session adjourns on May 19.
Because Minnesota must pass a balanced budget, any gap left unsolved in these negotiations will require cutting spending, raising revenue, or both. And with federal discussions about Medicaid and other programs still unresolved, the governor could call a special session later this year to adjust the state budget if Washington, DC reduces funding.
Why It Matters
The choices lawmakers make in the next few weeks will shape services Minnesotans with disabilities rely on. These decisions will affect everything from personal care assistance to accessible transportation. Closed-door negotiations move quickly, so now is the moment to remind elected officials what is at stake.
MCD’s Priorities
As conference committees finalize decisions, MCD’s focus remains clear:
- Support funding for essential disability services that allow Minnesotans to live, work, and participate fully in their communities.
- Uphold and advance the human and civil rights of people with disabilities in every bill that could affect their lives.
Take Action
Your story is powerful. Let legislators know which programs matter to you and how their decisions will affect your life: Contact your lawmakers online.
March 2025
The legislative session is moving quickly. Since our last update, the makeup of the legislature is clearer, and lawmakers have the final budget forecast numbers they need to create a balanced state budget. With one special election still to be held, the House is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans and Democrats hold a narrow majority in the Senate.
We are approaching a key deadline this Friday, April 4. Most bills need to be heard in their committees by the end of Friday if they want a chance to become law by the end of the session. At the same time, the House and Senate reached “targets”—spending limits for how much each committee can allocate to their priorities (House targets [PDF], Senate targets [PDF viewer]). These targets are shaped by the February Forecast, released on March 6, which projected a $456 million surplus for the 2026–2027 budget but a $6 billion deficit for 2028–2029. This means our legislators face the difficult task of deciding what to keep, increase, or cut to meet their targets. Now is the time to contact your legislators and urge them to support issues like disability services and special education.
Minnesota law requires a balanced budget, so it’s less likely new or optional funding requests will pass this year. Over the next few months, we’ll focus on protecting funding for disability programs and services vital to our communities.
While lawmakers continue to introduce bills, we’ve been busy updating our disability bill tracker. We’re currently following 194 of the 4,459 bills introduced this year. Another helpful resource for the 2025 session is our collection of public policy letters, which explain MCD’s positions on bills heard in committee. For example, we oppose HF 514, a proposal that would allow schools to suspend students in grades K–3. These suspensions disproportionately affect students with disabilities and are linked to poorer educational and health outcomes.
Finally, we’d like to share a staffing update. Trevor Turner, our Public Policy Director, has accepted a new position. We will soon post the opening for the renamed Legislative Affairs Director role through our communication channels and on Minnesota State Government Careers.
February 2025
After an uncertain start to the 2025 Minnesota legislative session, House leaders have agreed to a power-sharing structure for the next two sessions. This agreement allows lawmakers to begin working on critical budget bills that will fund Minnesota’s government for the next biennium.
These budget bills are especially significant this session. Last November, the Minnesota Office of Management & Budget (OMB) released a budget forecast warning that while the state currently has a budget surplus, a structural deficit expected in the next biennium. To comply with the Minnesota Constitution’s requirement for a balanced budget, the legislature and governor must either reduce spending or increase revenue.
In its forecast, OMB specifically cited disability services—such as waivers and special education—as major contributors to the projected shortfall. These programs are receiving more attention from the governor and legislators, who are exploring potential reforms and funding reductions. While MCD supports efforts to make disability services more efficient and responsive, we strongly believe that any cost-savings from program reforms should be reinvested in services for Minnesotans with disabilities rather than used to balance the state budget.
Both Minnesota Public Radio and the Star Tribune have reported on the concerns regarding potential cuts disability services. You can read their coverage:
MPR: “Proposed trims to Minnesota’s disability waiver program concern people reliant on services”
Star Tribune: “Minnesotans with disabilities say proposed budget cuts would ‘bring us backward’”
Disability services are not entitlements—they are rights guaranteed by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Olmstead Decision, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Minnesota Human Rights Act, and numerous other federal and state laws. These services are essential for many individuals, ensuring a basic quality of life that would be severely impacted by funding cuts.
The Minnesota Council on Disability remains committed to working with state legislators and the governor to find reasonable, creative solutions for reducing costs. This includes cutting bureaucratic red tape and addressing waste, fraud, and abuse among service providers. However, across-the-board cuts to disability services will disproportionately harm those who rely on them the most. We look forward to working with policymakers to find ways to save money without balancing the budget on the backs of Minnesotans with disabilities.