'Everything is at risk': Tensions flare as Minnesota lawmakers race to get their work done by deadline

As midnight on Thursday approached, Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman had heard enough.

The Brooklyn Park DFLer unexpectedly called for final votes on a bill making changes to the state's paid leave program after it had already been the subject of at least eight hours of debate, most of it criticism from Republicans. GOP legislators shouted into their microphones, accusing her of silencing the minority party.

"This is not how democracy is supposed to function. Debate is essential to the legislative process," said Minority Leader Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring. "Yet here we are, watching the majority say that thorough debate is unnecessary."

Likewise, Democrats have accused Republicans of spending hours filibustering multiple bills during the final week of the legislative session to try to obstruct the process, specifically hoping to block debate on an expansive Equal Rights Amendment that DFLers want to put on the ballot in 2026.

"They have talked about it casually with our members — 'Operation: Talk 'til Midnight' is well underway, high-fiving after midnight," Hortman said. "This pattern of debate is out of the norm for them. It is pursuant to a stated strategy to prevent a vote on the Equal Rights Amendment."

It was the latest flare-up between the two parties with days left until their deadline to adjourn, with no agreement in sight to pass major legislation still outstanding — including legislation to keep rideshare companies in the metro and a bonding bill to tackle infrastructure projects across the state.

Demuth said "everything is at risk right now: bonding, sports betting, Uber/Lyft, everything where Republican votes are needed."

Tempers flared in the Senate as well, where DFL Senate President Bobby Joe Champion said a Republican member threw a rules book at him during a marathon debate on bills that stretched from Wednesday into early Thursday morning.

"There are rules around decorum and the way you behave in the exchanges," he said on the floor. "We can even have a difference of opinion — that's OK, but I do not have the right to be disrespected."

A Senate GOP spokeswoman said Sen. John Jasinski, R-Faribault, presented copies of the Senate's rules to Champion after a vote and he "intends to discuss his concerns with Senator Champion directly."

Lawmakers have a May 20 deadline to wrap up work during the regular legislative session, but they can't pass bills on the final day of the biennium so their last votes can't go past midnight Sunday. Democrats in the majority want to move a handful of proposals across the finish line before then, including several budget bills and others making fixes to legislation passed last year.

The bonding bill requires Republican votes in both chambers to pass. While top leaders have met several times over the past week and traded offers on a deal, Republicans accused Democrats of making few movements in their direction on the overall price tag of the bill.

Democrats want to pass a $930 million package of borrowing projects, while Republicans have proposed a smaller number. The two sides are also negotiating how to address a funding shortfall facing rural ambulance providers.

"The Democrats haven't moved at all on money," Demuth said. "We are fairly close, but they have not moved, and that's not a serious offer."

Hortman said Republicans have conditioned their vote for a bonding package on not moving ahead with the Equal Rights Amendment this year. She said they now have enough votes to pass the bill in the Senate and expects it to come up for a vote on the House floor on Friday.

"Democrats are just not going to negotiate away Minnesotans' civil rights for a few construction projects," she said.

The amendment would enshrine protections for sex, race and gender identity and abortion rights in the state Constitution. There's pressure on Democrats to pass the amendment while they still have full control of both the House and Senate. House members are on the ballot this fall, meaning control of the chamber could flip. Constitutional amendments must pass both chambers in order to go on the ballot.

Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, said in a Senate Finance Committee meeting Thursday that discussions about a broad deal to end the session have been happening without resolution.

"What we've had a hard time reaching is an agreement with the Republican leaders, particularly in the Senate," Murphy said before mentioning Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks.

DFL Gov. Tim Walz said "any deliberative body in late May" has its disagreements, but offers are still being exchanged between the parties and he's confident they'll be able to wrap the session with a bonding bill and some fixes to laws before the deadline.

"Not a lot of good happens after midnight," Walz said. "I would just encourage folks: let's finish before those times."

Staff writers Rochelle Olson and Ryan Faircloth contributed to this report.