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 David Dively at david.dively@state.mn.us or 651-361-7801.
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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.