NW Twin Cities

After nearly a month of legislative gridlock, the Minnesota House has reached an agreement that will allow lawmakers to resume their work. According to State Representative Joe McDonald (R-Delano), the deal comes after weeks in which House Democrats did not attend sessions, leaving the chamber without enough members present to conduct official business.

Rep. McDonald stated, "After nearly four weeks of the House Democrats boycotting and not showing up at the Capitol, it’s a relief to finally have clarity and a path forward. This agreement means we can focus on passing the state budget and tackling the issues that matter most to Minnesotans across our great state!"

He emphasized that Republicans maintained their position during negotiations: "First and foremost, we Republicans did not cave. As you’ve probably heard, the legislative session hit a roadblock due to the absence of a quorum. In simple terms, we couldn’t get anything done because we didn’t have enough members present to conduct official business. However, we firmly believe that we were working within the bounds of the Minnesota State Constitution, and that 67 was indeed a quorum out of the 133 members elected. That said, we did not cave, despite claims to the contrary, we stood our ground and secured a great deal for Minnesota Republicans. The Democrats caved and we prevailed!"

The new agreement provides several key elements:

- Rep. Lisa Demuth will remain Speaker of the House for the full 2025-26 biennium.

- For five weeks following this agreement, Republican lawmakers will chair all committees and hold a one-vote majority.

- If an upcoming special election results in an evenly split House (67-67), committee leadership will shift to co-chairs from both parties with rotating control.

- A new House Fraud and Agency Oversight Committee will be established with a permanent Republican chair and majority for its duration. This committee is tasked with investigating fraud and ensuring oversight in state government programs.

Rep. McDonald described the significance of these developments: "Let’s be honest—this deal was crucial. With the state budget on the line and so much work left to do, we couldn’t afford to keep spinning our wheels while Democrats, once again, held Minnesota hostage, preventing progress in balancing our state budget. Now, we're in a position to make real progress. While we may not achieve everything we hoped for, we'll get important work done and continue advancing our conservative principles and values."

Looking ahead, Rep. McDonald expressed optimism about returning to legislative duties: "Although there’s still plenty of work ahead, I am feeling optimistic about the future. This agreement sets us up to make real progress on the issues that matter most to all of us! It’s time to get back to work, and I’m ready to make Minnesota great again!"

He also thanked his constituents for their support as he resumes his responsibilities at the Capitol.