House repasses legacy conference report; human services conference report and calendar motion end in ties

The Minnesota House on the floor adopted the conference committee report for House File 2563, the legacy omnibus, repassing the bill as amended by the conference committee after a 113-21 voice vote and the clerk's third reading, lawmakers and the clerk said.

The measure directs allocations from the state's legacy funds for outdoor heritage, clean water, parks and trails, and arts and cultural heritage. "Members, this is the legacy conference committee report agreement reached with the senate," Representative Vang said during floor debate, and asked colleagues for support.

Why it matters: The legacy funds support conservation, outdoor recreation, clean-water projects and arts and cultural programs statewide. Lawmakers presenting the measure said it includes targeted increases for several cultural institutions and competitive grant pools intended to support communities across Minnesota.

Key provisions and debate Representative Vang and Representative McDonald described the conference report as the result of bipartisan negotiation. Representative Hussain said the bill "invest[s] in Minnesota cultural heritage, natural resource, and educational programs," and cited specific program areas covered by the legacy funds, including outdoor heritage, clean water, parks and trails and arts and cultural heritage.

Floor remarks and allocations called out by members included: - An increase in the Minnesota Zoo appropriation to $3,400,000 (house position increased in conference). (Representative Vang) - An increase for the Science Museum of Minnesota to $700,000. (Representative Vang) - An increase to $1,000,000 for the Minnesota Children's Museum and an additional $1,500,000 competitive grant pool for children's museums across the state. (Representative Vang) - Continued funding for outdoor-heritage priorities; Representative Hussain said the bill funded efforts to protect "over 160,000 acres" for wildlife and nature.

Representative Scraba reminded members of the funding source for legacy dollars, saying, "The legacy money comes from 3 eighths of a cent on all the sales tax." Several members, including Scraba and others, emphasized that legacy dollars are earmarked for clean water, outdoor heritage and arts and culture.

Some members noted a smaller overall allocation pool than in prior years. Representative Scraba said there was a roughly $33,100,000 reduction in available funds this year "because of a counting error," and members said the conference report shifted and prioritized available dollars among multiple proposals and organizations.

Votes at a glance - House File 2563 (legacy omnibus): Motion to adopt conference committee report moved by Representative Vang; repassed as amended by conference; clerk recorded 113 yeas, 21 nays; title agreed to; outcome: approved. - House File 2115 (human services policy conference committee report): Motion to adopt conference committee report moved by Representative Schumacher; roll call resulted in 67 yeas, 67 nays; outcome: failed to adopt. - House File 3023 (motion to place on calendar for tomorrow) renewed by Representative Igoe: roll call resulted in 67 yeas, 67 nays; outcome: did not prevail.

Separate conference report and calendar actions After the legacy vote, the House took up a conference committee report on House File 2115, a human services policy bill. Representative Schumacher moved to adopt the conference committee report and requested a roll call; the clerk's roll call resulted in a 67-67 tie and the motion "does not prevail," the clerk announced.

Representative Igoe twice renewed a motion to place House File 3023 on the calendar for the next day; those motions also proceeded to roll calls. A roll call on one such motion closed with a 67-67 tie and the motion did not prevail.

Procedure and next steps Clerk records show the legacy bill was given third reading "as amended by conference" and its title was agreed to after the 113-21 decision. The failed 67-67 outcomes on the human services conference report and the calendar motion mean those motions did not pass; the House proceeded to recess at the call of the speaker later in the session.

Representative comments reflected bipartisan cooperation on the legacy package and continued disagreement or parity on the other questions that produced tie votes. The clerk and presiding officer handled roll calls and rulings as recorded on the House floor.