Minneapolis committee receives 2026 legislative policy recommendations including funding asks, digital signage proposal and civil-rights expansion

The Minneapolis Intergovernmental Relations Committee on Nov. 18 received and filed a presentation of proposed 2026 legislative policy positions from city staff, who recommended a slate of statutory asks and funding requests the city will consider advancing next year.

The briefing, prepared through the city’s Policy Liaison Team (PLT), identified 10 new or amended positions that staff said respond to operational needs raised by departments. "This responsibility is now ours," said Steve Fuser, senior government relations representative, referring to municipal responsibilities for candidate filing and campaign finance after a 2022 state law change shifted duties from Hennepin County to the City of Minneapolis.

Why it matters: The PLT recommendations will form part of the city’s legislative agenda for the 2026 session and include items with budgetary implications and requests for new state authority. The committee did not vote on any positions; staff said formal action will be taken early next year.

Key proposals summarized in the presentation:

- Elections and campaign finance: Staff proposed asking the state for clarifying statutory language governing municipal candidate filing and campaign finance reporting to fill gaps created when responsibilities moved to the city's Elections Office in 2022.

- Digital signage/entertai…