Republicans and DFLers Reach Agreement Ending Minnesota House Stand-Off

At a Glance

• On February 6, House Republicans and DFLers announced an agreement ending a three-week impasse as to how the Minnesota House of Representatives will organize and govern this biennium. The agreement makes Lisa Demuth (GOP–Cold Spring) Speaker of the House for the next two years and seats Representative Brad Tabke (DFL–Shakopee), who narrowly won a closely contested House seat.
• With this agreement, the House has convened, committees have begun meeting and legislative activity has resumed.
• Republicans will have a 67-66 organizational majority at least until a special election is held March 11. Until then, Republicans control committee chairs and membership and are able to hear and move their priorities out of committees to the House floor. However, they are not able to pass bills off the floor as 68 votes are needed. Over the next month we expect Republican floor votes on immigration, fraud and waste in government, and a rollback of various taxes and fees passed last biennium.
• Assuming, as expected, an evenly divided House after the March 11 special election, standing committees will revert to co-chairs and evenly divided membership. Bipartisan votes will be needed to move bills out of committee. The one exception is a House committee on fraud and oversight, which will continue to have a majority of Republican members.

Republicans Control the House Until March 11

• After a three-week standoff, the House has started meeting regularly.
  • Bill introductions, floor sessions and committee hearings have commenced.
  • Speaker Demuth expects additional hearings outside of the standing schedule to “catch-up” and process policy bills over the next month.
• Republicans maintain a 67-66 organizational majority.
  • Standing committees will have Republican chairs and vice chairs.
  • Republicans can move bills and act on other committee business without DFL votes.
• Republicans will still need 68 votes and DFL support to move bills off the House floor.
• During the next month, floor votes are expected on Republican priorities including immigration, state government fraud and waste, and a rollback of policy and tax incentives enacted during the DFL trifecta.

Power Sharing Agreement — When Effective

• It is effective any time the House is divided equally between Republicans and DFLers (67-67).
• Power sharing is expected to take effect shortly after March 11, 2025, the scheduled date of the House District 40B special election. This district leans heavily DFL.
• It terminates if either caucus obtains a majority of 68 members.

Power-Sharing Agreement — Key Provisions

• Representative Lisa Demuth is Speaker of the House for the 2026-27 biennium.
• DFLers and Republicans will jointly address the following:
  
  • Commission appointments
  • Conference Committee appointments
  • Nonpartisan administrative and personnel issues
• Representative Brad Tabke has been seated.

Power Sharing Agreement — Committee Structure

• Standing Committees will have DFL and Republican co-chairs and vice-chairs.
• A majority will be evenly divided between Republicans and DFLers.
• A majority vote of all appointed committee members is required to move bills out of committee or other items of committee business — bills will require bipartisan support.
• Exception — Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee:
  
  • Will consist of five Republicans and three DFLers
  • Rules regarding co-chairs and equal committee representation do not apply.

Key Upcoming Dates and What’s Next

• March 6, 2025 — Minnesota Management and Budget releases the February budget forecast.
• March 11 — House District 40B Special Election: The outcome determines whether Republicans control the House or it is evenly split 67-67.
• Mid-March — Governor Walz’ supplemental budget recommendations are released.
• Mid-March — The House negotiates budget targets: determining the size of Minnesota state government for the next biennium as well as tax and spending priorities.
• March 29-31 and April 11-21 — Legislative breaks
• May 19 — Constitutionally mandated last day of session
• July 1 — Government shuts down if the state’s biennial budget is not agreed to and enacted.