Preparation takes place under cloud

The 2024 Minnesota legislative session began on February 12 and is expected to focus more on policy than spending due to a looming structural budget deficit. Disability advocacy groups, including the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MNCCD), finalized their legislative agendas using a three-tier system to prioritize issues. Tiered items range from high-priority consortium-led initiatives to lower-priority items championed by other organizations.

While 2024 is both a policy and capital projects bonding year, financial-related items are intended to set the stage for 2025 budget discussions. Minnesota Management and Budget officials reported an additional $2.4 billion in the current two-year budget, but higher projected spending in health, human services, and education threatens a structural deficit starting in 2026. Rising costs for long-term care, home- and community-based services, and universal free school meals are driving much of the projected budget overages.

Despite these pressures, the state used a $17.5 billion surplus to pass a historic $72 billion budget for the biennium, providing expanded supports and services for people with disabilities.