DFL Priorities in Recent Years

---

In recent legislative sessions under DFL Control, Minnesota enacted major changes affecting taxes and fees, state spending, schools, government oversight, immigration-related benefits, public safety, and other issues. Here are several of the most significant actions taken at the Capitol.

Higher Taxes, Fees & Everyday Costs

Transportation Taxes and Fees -  HF 2887

The 2023 transportation bill made several changes affecting Minnesota families and drivers:

• Changed the vehicle registration-tax formula and depreciation schedule in a way to significantly increase registration-tax revenue.  In 2025, Minnesota collected over $1 Billion in personal vehicle registration fees - up 33% annually from before the legislation.  In 2026, GOP legislators were able to negotiate a 1 year reprieve in last minute negotiations to set fees back to pre-2024 levels - saving Minnesotans a projected $257 Million in 2027.  The DFL has publicly stated they want the increase back in effect for 2028.  (Pioneer Press)
• Increased the motor vehicle sales tax from 6.5% to 6.875%, among the highest in the nation. 
• Indexed Minnesota’s gasoline tax to the Minnesota Highway Construction Cost Index, allowing the tax to increase automatically in future years, subject to an annual cap.
• Created a new 0.75% sales tax throughout the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• Created a 50-cent retail delivery fee on qualifying deliveries of purchases totaling $100 or more, subject to exemptions. (Minnesota House of Representatives)

                                                  Higher Outdoor Recreation Fees — HF 2310

The 2023 environment and natural resources legislation substantially increased a number of licenses and watercraft fees. Among the changes:

• Registration for watercraft 40 feet or longer increased from $90 to $209.
• Watercraft between 26 and 40 feet increased from $67.50 to $164.
• Watercraft between 19 and 26 feet increased from $45 to $113.
• A standard resident fishing license increased from $25 to $30 — a 20% increase.
• Numerous other fishing, sporting, watercraft and recreation fees also increased. (Revisor MN)

                                                                A Much Larger State Budget

Minnesota’s enacted General Fund budget for the 2022-23 biennium was approximately $52.4 billion. State spending grew to roughly $69 billion for the 2024-25 biennium, representing a major increase in the size of the state budget. (Legislature of Minnesota)

                                                                  "Palace for Politicians"

The then DFL controlled Legislature also moved forward with the renovation and expansion of the State Office Building. Minnesota Management and Budget financing information cited by legislators put the total cost of financing the project at approximately $730 million, including roughly $275 million in interest. (Minnesota House of Representatives)

                                                     Fraud Prevention & Government Oversight

Fraud prevention became an increasingly prominent issue at the Capitol.

In 2025, nearly all House DFL members opposed suspending House rules to immediately consider SF 856, legislation establishing an independent Office of the Inspector General. That procedural motion failed. Debate over the proposal continued into 2026. (Minnesota House of Representatives)

The Legislature ultimately reached bipartisan agreement in 2026. SF 856 passed the House under Speaker Demuth's leadership 127-5 and became law, creating a statewide Office of the Inspector General with authority to investigate fraud and misuse of public funds, a huge step in the right direction towards identifying and eliminating fraud - despite continued DFL opposition and delay tactics. (Minnesota House of Representatives)

                                                     Immigration-Related State Benefits

Minnesota enacted several significant changes involving residents without lawful immigration status.

Driver’s Licenses — HF 4 "Drivers Licenses for All"

HF 4 eliminated the requirement that an applicant demonstrate lawful presence in the United States in order to obtain a Minnesota driver’s license or state identification card. (Minnesota House of Representatives)

MinnesotaCare

Legislation enacted in 2023 expanded MinnesotaCare eligibility to undocumented residents who otherwise met the program’s requirements. (Minnesota House of Representatives)

That policy was subsequently changed. Under legislation enacted in 2025, undocumented adults were removed from MinnesotaCare eligibility after December 31, 2025, while eligibility rules for children differed. (Minnesota House of Representatives)

North Star Promise / College Tuition

The 2023 Legislature created the North Star Promise program, which covers remaining tuition and fees at Minnesota public colleges and universities for qualifying students from households earning less than $80,000. Minnesota’s eligibility laws also allowed certain undocumented Minnesota students who qualify for resident tuition under state law to participate in the program. (Minnesota House of Representatives)

                                                     New Requirements on Minnesota Schools

The 2023 education finance law — HF 2497 — increased state education funding while also making dozens of policy changes affecting Minnesota school districts. (Minnesota House of Representatives).  While money was spent, results in Minnesota schools have continued to decline in nearly every measurable category.  

Republican legislators and school mandate-relief proposals subsequently pointed out that the 2023-24 biennium as imposing more than 65 new mandates or requirements on schools, including many that increased administrative obligations and costs for local districts. (Minnesota House of Representatives)

Girls’ and Women’s Sports

The Legislature considered the Preserving Girls’ Sports Act — HF 12, which would have limited participation on elementary and secondary school teams designated for girls and women to students meeting the bill’s definition of female.

The proposal failed to receive the votes necessary for passage due to DFL opposition. (Minnesota House of Representatives)

Changes to Minnesota’s Human Rights Act

During consideration of the 2023 judiciary and public safety legislation, lawmakers debated language in Minnesota’s statutory definition of sexual orientation.

Previous state law expressly stated that the definition of sexual orientation “does not include a physical or sexual attachment to children by an adult.” Legislation removed that sentence as part of a broader rewrite of the definition. (Minnesota House of Representatives)

During House debate, an amendment was adopted 126-0 adding separate language stating that an adult’s physical or sexual attachment to children is not a protected class under the Minnesota Human Rights Act. That language was later omitted from the conference committee agreement. (Minnesota House of Representatives)

                                                  Prosecutor-Initiated Sentence Adjustments

The 2023 public safety legislation, SF 2909, also created a procedure allowing the attorney general, county attorneys and city attorneys responsible for a prosecution to petition a court for a reduction or other adjustment to an individual’s sentence after the original sentencing. (Revisor MN)