Follow the progress of the Minnesota Council on Disability’s (MCD) legislative initiatives at the State Capitol through updates from Public Policy Director Trevor Turner.
If you have public policy questions, contact Trevor at Trevor.Turner@state.mn.us or 651-350-8642.
On this page:
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.