Negotiators advance list of no‑cost tax fixes while flagging Fridley and Wayzata for follow‑up

A legislative tax discussion group met May 12, 2026 to review a staff‑prepared list of no‑cost and noncontroversial items that negotiators hope to fold into a 2026 omnibus tax bill, and members authorized staff to draft language on agreed items while reserving several matters for further work.

The session, convened to speed negotiations between the House and Senate, focused on technical fixes and jurisdictional clarifications rather than new spending. A Department of Revenue analyst, Megan Bursch, described a "technical" clarification to the minerals article (article 10, section 10) that staff said is not substantive and can be made clearer without changing policy. "The Department of Revenue Minerals unit identified an area...that could be a little bit clearer," Bursch said.

Why it matters: negotiators prioritized small, technical changes they consider noncontroversial so staff can draft a clean package and speed floor action. Several items discussed would affect local governments and special districts, production tax proceeds for mining communities, and tax administration rules that affect taxpayers and city reporting.

Key outcomes and items discussed

- Minerals article technical fix: Nonpartisan staff flagged a clarity issue in the minerals article; senators and representatives agreed staff should correct language and move it forward for drafting. Bursch said the change "is not a substantive change" and is intended to make the section on insufficient proceeds clearer.

- Minneap…