Minnesota House releases 2025 legislative opinion poll covering school calendar, stadium funding, immigration and other issues

The Minnesota House of Representatives released results of its 2025 legislative opinion poll asking respondents about a range of state policy questions, including whether school districts should be allowed to start classes before Labor Day, whether state funds should be used to renovate professional sports arenas, and whether undocumented immigrants should be barred from state programs.

The poll broadcast introduced the survey and context. The program host (program host) said the results cover topics tied to the recent legislative session and possible future proposals. Poll respondents spoke briefly about the survey: “It was very interesting. A lot of issues I was not, really thinking about,” a poll respondent said. Another poll respondent said, “A lot of important issues worth putting your time in and, you know, sharing what you think.”

Why it matters: the questions mirror items debated or proposed in the 2025 legislative session and touch on budget and policy choices that could affect schools, health care, public safety and state finances.

Key topics and context covered in the broadcast

- School start dates: The poll asked whether school districts should be permanently allowed to start classes before Labor Day. Supporters argue earlier starts give districts calendar flexibility; opponents raised concerns about impacts on the state's tourism industry and families planning late-summer vacations.

- Stadium and arena funding: The broadcast noted lawmakers heard requests during the 2025 session for state funding for stadium projects, including a reported request of nearly $400,000,000 for renovations to the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul. Supporters cited economic benefits; opponents cited the state's projected long-term budget shortfall as a reason to question such funding.

- Immigration and MinnesotaCare: The program summarized recent statutory changes. A law enacted in 2023 made certain undocumented immigrants eligible for MinnesotaCare beginning January 2025; the broadcast said a law passed during the 2025 session will end eligibility for undocumented adult immigrants at the end of the year. The program also noted that over 17,000 undocumented immigrants enrolled in the state plan for low-income residents after the 2023 change.

- Unemployment for hourly school workers: The poll asked whether hourly school workers should be eligible to receive unemployment during the summer. The broadcast explained a 2023 law allows such workers (for example, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and teacher's aides) to receive unemployment with the state reimbursing districts initially, but that by 2028 districts would have to cover costs unless the law changes.

- Guns in the state capitol and public safety: The poll asked whether guns should be banned inside the Minnesota State Capitol. The broadcast framed this question against recent shootings referenced during the program and noted that 23 states have some prohibition on firearms in their capitol buildings while Minnesota does not.

- Budget priorities and taxes: The program reviewed state budget projections, noting Minnesota Management and Budget projected a $456,000,000 surplus for the 2026'027 biennium but a budget shortfall approaching $6,000,000,000 for the 2028'029 biennium. The poll also asked whether the state should adopt a higher income tax rate for its highest earners; the broadcast referenced a proposal from the 2025 session and a Department of Revenue estimate that about 16,000 tax returns would qualify for the proposed tier in tax year 2025.

- School meals and program cost: The poll asked whether free school meals should be limited to families earning $150,000 or less. The broadcast said the universal school meals program that began after 2023 was originally estimated to cost $400,000,000 in its first two years and is now projected to be about $176,000,000 over budget through 2027.

- Other questions: The poll covered whether cities and counties should be allowed to prohibit cannabis businesses, whether legislators should face a post-employment lobbying ban (two years was cited as a comparison to other states), and whether Minnesota residents age 65 and older should receive a free fishing license (the broadcast cited a state estimate that removing the fee would cost about $4,000,000 per year).

No formal votes or policy actions resulted from the broadcast itself. The program presented background figures and legislative context tied to proposals and laws referenced on the air; it did not report percentages or numerical results for each question in the transcript segments provided.

The broadcast closed by thanking listeners for taking the 2025 House of Representatives legislative opinion poll and said the program would return the following year.