Minn. House passes human services budget (House File 3) after tense debate over $1.1 billion in cuts

The Minnesota House of Representatives passed House File 3, the omnibus human services budget bill, late May 28 after members suspended the rules to allow expedited consideration. The bill passed on a roll call of 96 yeas and 37 nays.

House File 3 combines new investments — including funding tied to a SEIU contract and a $20 million construction appropriation for a 50‑bed facility referenced as the Miller Building — with roughly $1.1 billion in targeted reductions over the next two bienniums, lawmakers said. Sponsors described the measure as the product of a bipartisan, bicameral working group and framed it as a compromise to address a structural budget shortfall.

Supporters said the bill balances program integrity reforms and investments in workforce and treatment capacity against difficult spending reductions. Dissenting members said the cuts fall disproportionately on people with disabilities and other vulnerable Minnesotans.

Representative Nisga'a moved to suspend the rules under the Constitution of the State of Minnesota so House File 3 could receive second and third readings and a final passage vote the same day; that motion prevailed by voice vote. Representative Noor, the bill author on the floor, described the measure as the bipartisan outcome of the working group and summarized both the new spending and the reductions.

Noor told colleagues…