As the calendar turns to the last month of the legislative session, the final pieces are in place to find an agreement between the Governor, House of Representatives and Senate by May 17. Unless a special session is needed. Each chamber passed a set of budget bills and named conference committees to negotiate the differences between them.

The Senate passed its version of the State Government, Veterans, Military and Elections omnibus bill on Monday. The vote was 38-28. No amendments were added that changed any of the Veterans language within the bill.

Following the Senate vote, both chambers named their members of the conference committee that will work out the differences between each version of HF 1952. The House members include bill author Rep. Mike Nelson of Brooklyn Park, Rep. Tou Xiong of Maplewood, Rep. Sandra Masin of Eagan, Rep. Emma Greenman of Minneapolis, and Rep. Jim Nash of Waconia. The Senate members include the author of the Senate version, Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer of Big Lake, Sen. Andrew Lang of Olivia, Sen. Jeff Howe of Rockville, Sen. Mark Koran of North Branch, and Sen. Jim Carlson of Eagan.

The HF 1952 Conference Committee is scheduled to hold its first meeting on Monday, May 3 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. It will be a remote hearing. The agenda includes side-by-side comparisons of language and funding. If time permits, the committee will take public testimony. The committee will have two weeks to find agreement before the constitutionally mandated adjournment date of May 17.