The 2026 Minnesota legislative session is underway. "The House will come to order," and with that, Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth started the session that includes razor thin margins in both the House and Senate.
While passing a bonding bill is the most important item on lawmakers' to-do list this year, in the wake of "Operation Metro Surge," there are at least a half-dozen bills ready to go focused on limiting where ICE agents can go and the tactics they can use.
Meanwhile, there was also a very emotional start to the session, which is the first since the assassination of former Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark.
After both the House and Senate convened, members returned to the House chamber for a remembrance, with members from each party reading a resolution offering details of her life.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who was very close to Hortman, provided some remarks as well,
"For all of us, for me, first time being back in this space, since I have had the privilege of serving in state government, it's the first time without Melissa, the Speaker," said Governor Walz speaking in the House Chambers. "I miss my friend every day. I miss the wisdom that she brought, the humor, the decency, And I just hope the work that we do here does her proud because she cared so deeply about this institution that it's all of our responsibilities to continue to carry that out.
There was also a standing ovation for DFL State Senator John Hoffman as he returned after being critically injured in the same shooting spree.
Hoffman is still recovering after he and his wife were shot several times in June. His daughter was instrumental in getting them the help they needed to survive.
Hoffman walked up the steps to the Senate chambers with some of the first responders who helped him in his journey. On the floor, he called for a change in demeanor.
"Let's rise above the noise and let us govern with humility," Hoffman said. "And let us prove through our actions, not just words, that democracy is stronger than fear."
The legislature is divided again this year, same as in 2025 which saw a 67-67 tie in the House make compromise on a budget bill difficult. It's nearly as equally divided in the Senate, where the DFL has a one-seat advantage.
Republicans are planning to focus on three of the key issues - fraud, holding criminals accountable in a public safety bill, and making schools safer from gun violence.
Democrats propose restrictions on ICE
House Democrats are calling on their Republican counterparts to support bills that would keep federal agents out of schools and day cares, bar any law enforcement officers from wearing masks, and require any vehicles used to detain people to be clearly marked.
Democratic Gov. Tim Walz last week proposed a $10 million package of relief for small businesses that lost customers and workers during the surge, and more aid proposals could be coming.
Just ahead of the session, House and Senate Democrats unveiled 11 bills to counter what they consider some of the worst excesses by federal immigration officers during the surge.
They're meant to keep federal officers away from schools, childcare centers, hospitals and colleges. They would also ban federal agents from wearing face masks, while requiring them to display visible identification. They would also require that federal authorities allow state investigators to participate in investigations of shootings by federal agents, such as the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. The state remains frozen out of those cases. The FBI officially notified the state Monday that it won't share information or evidence from its investigation into Pretti's death.
The top House Democrat, Zack Stephenson, said they don't expect support from Republican leaders, but they're hoping some GOP lawmakers will break with their party.
“What we’ve seen these last six weeks has been so exceptional, so damaging, that I don’t know how you can be human and not respond to it,” Stephenson said. "But even if it’s not that, we also know it’s an election year and voters are watching, and voters will hold people accountable if they don’t stand up to this administration."
Stephenson also acknowledged that any restrictions the state tries to impose on federal law enforcement are likely to be challenged in court.
“But some things are worth fighting for,” Stephenson added. “And if we’re not going to fight for this, what are we doing here?”
Republicans seek to shift focus to fighting fraud
Republican have expressed little enthusiasm for taking on federal authorities and hope to shift the focus to fighting fraud.
“Minnesotans want our state and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement,” said Rep. Harry Niska, the No. 2 House Republican.
One of the top GOP anti-fraud priorities is legislation to create an independent Office of Inspector General to investigate and prevent the misuse of public funds. The Senate passed a similar proposal last year on a bipartisan 60-7 vote. House Democratic leaders blocked a vote at the end of the session, but the proposal remains alive this year.
Republicans also want to require more accountability for agencies and officials who let fraud happen on their watch.
Close divisions will require compromise
It's unclear whether any significant changes can pass the closely divided Legislature. The House is tied with a Republican speaker, while Democrats hold only a one-vote majority in the Senate. So nothing can pass without bipartisan support. And it's an election year, with all 201 legislative seats on the ballot. House Speaker Lisa Demuth is among the GOP candidates running for governor and has expressed hope she will win Trump's endorsement. All of that could make compromise difficult.
“There are definitely going to be priorities on both sides of the aisle. ... But when it comes right down to it, we need to have bipartisan votes to move bills through the committees and get the work done for Minnesotans,” Demuth told reporters Monday.
Capitol security is tighter this session as well. All visitors now undergo weapons screening.