Session Outcome Highlights

Overall, this session delivered targeted but limited wins for Saint Paul. While key projects received partial funding—particularly within the bonding bill—larger transformational requests and policy changes largely stalled. The consistent theme is incremental progress rather than sweeping investment, leaving several major priorities unresolved and likely to resurface in the next session.
 
The Star Tribune published a helpful recap of the legislative session. Below are highlights from the priorities we’d been tracking: 

• Grand Casino Arena, RiverCentre, and Roy Wilkins Auditorium investments
  • The City of Saint Paul requested $200M for needed renovations. The legislature approved $40M for Roy Wilkins and $10M for Grand Casino Arena (well short of the $200M Mayor Her requested).
  • The City also sought an extension of its half-cent sales tax to help cover project costs; that extension was not approved.
  • Catalyzing Underutilized Buildings (CUB) Tax Credit: Intended to support the conversion of downtown commercial space to housing, this proposal did not pass for the third straight year.
• Small Business Economic Relief (post Metro Surge): a proposed $100M relief fund was not passed.
• Paid Family Medical Leave modifications: no changes were passed.
• HCMC emergency funding: $205M in direct funding + $500M hospital reserve account for HCMC and other eligible hospitals.
• Banning local governments from signing nondisclosure agreements: failed to pass.
• Property tax relief: A $125 million property tax refund, that will go to some 600,000 homeowners who qualify for the homestead tax credit, passed. 
• $1.2B bonding bill investments included:
  • $40M - Roy Wilkins Auditorium renovations
  • $10M - Grand Casino Arena 
  • $1M - CHS predesign
  • $3.6M - Latino Museum
  • $630K - Saint Paul Port Authority, Capitol Area economic development grants
  • $1M - Saint Paul Port Authority, The Heights Redevelopment Site
  • $13M - City of Saint Paul, West 7th St improvement project (utilities)
  • $250M – Reduction of car-tab fees for one year 

 
See you in the trenches,
B

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