HUMP DAY
Wild win. Wolves lose to the Lakers.
What’s buzzing? Bam Adebayo scored 83-points for Miami last night.
GBB State Tourney Today. Big 10 Basketball tourneys start today.
The new exchange at Hwys 15 and 10 in St. Cloud is better than the previous configuration. The presence of the legacy Minnesota flag continues outside the metro area. Thanks to CentraSota Coop for having me.
Fluence client the Long-Term Care Imperative has the Happy Hour for seniors got a hearing yesterday and moved forward. AXIOS: https://fluence-media.co/4sCDDkQ
Government and political leadership remained Americans’ top concern in February, when asked to identify the “most important problem facing this country today.” GALLUP: https://fluence-media.co/4sFLs9z
There was a protest and press conference outside Gov. Walz office yesterday calling for “Sanctuary State Now” by immigration activists.
Healthgrades ranked four Minnesota hospitals in the national top 10% for patient safety. LIST: https://fluence-media.co/3OTOFUv
Today is “Promposal Day” for those with high schoolers.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
Sunday Take discussed the state of Minnesota’s workforce with MN Chamber’s Sean O’Neil and Doug Loon, UMN Pres. Rebecca Cunningham, MSU Chancellor Scott Olson and UST Pres. Rob Vischer. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4bxGdmo
Follow the 2026 Minnesota elections up close with the Fluence Election Tracker. https://fluence-media.co/electiontracker
Want to manage your subscription to TheDailyAgenda.com ? HERE: https://fluence-media.co/managesubscription
The latest insight from Fluence Advisory on the loss of institutional knowledge from the Minnesota Legislature. READ: https://fluence-advisory.com/insights/
MNGOV: via news release out later this morning, VERBATIM: “LIUNA Minnesota, representing more than 14,000 skilled construction and general Laborers across the state, today announced its endorsement of Amy Klobuchar for governor. SMITH: “Amy Klobuchar has spent her career delivering for working people. Minnesotans can count on Amy to bring that strong work ethic to the governor’s office, stand up for what’s right and fix what’s wrong,” said Joel Smith, President and Business Manager of LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota.
WALZ FUTURE
WALZ: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “As he enters his final stretch as Minnesota governor, Tim Walz is sketching out a plan to remain involved in Democratic politics beyond his departure from office. … The second-term Democrat said he intends to play an active role in the 2026 midterms, particularly in governors’ races, while also hinting at longer-term interest in grassroots political work. For now, Walz’s activity will run mainly through the Democratic Governors Association, where he serves as finance chair. … Walz said he expects to travel the country after Minnesota’s legislative session ends in May, raising money and campaigning for Democratic candidates.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4s49dIk
MORE: Gov. Tim Walz was asked by the Star Tribune if he planned to endorse candidates in statewide races this year. Walz said he does not intend to make an endorsement in the DFL primary for U.S. Senate, and an endorsement of Amy Klobuchar is “kind of up to her,” although he thinks she’ll be a “fantastic governor.” QUOTE: “Let’s be candid: [Klobuchar] does not bug the Republicans to the same level that I do. I think it gives a chance for a restart.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4s49dIk
MEDICAID: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday rolled out a plan to remake the way Minnesota provides Medicaid services that includes centralizing much of the work handled now by counties and the state’s managed health care organizations. The Minnesota Department of Human Services would take over determining eligibility for Medicaid programs. … The changes Walz proposed Tuesday would need lawmaker approval, which could be difficult in a narrowly split Legislature. Walz’s approach drew quick criticism, [even] from members of his own party.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NwSfDs
MORE: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The governor also proposed reforming waiver case management provided to people with disabilities and older adults and dedicating roughly $77 million in funding over four years for a study on recommendations for administering human services programs across all levels of government. DHS Commissioner Shireen Gandhi said Monday that before human services does a ‘wholesale transformation,’ they need to study it.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uCj5uO
CONTEXT: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Tim Walz’s [DHS] plan would add hundreds of state government jobs, while leading to untold job losses in counties and among nonprofit health insurers. The proposal would also shift the day-to-day lives of people enrolled in Medicaid and health care providers. … But the Legislature may ignore Walz here. ‘This proposal as described by the governor has no future as far as I can tell in the Minnesota state legislature,’ said Paul Torkelson, R-Haska. … As of Tuesday afternoon, no DFL lawmaker had gone on record to defend the governor’s proposal.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4seLSni
WALZQUOTE: “These are things that were brought to me before I was event Governor, you’re going to have to do something to fix DHS…” So why now ?
INSURANCE: Via Rochester Post Bulletin, Senate DFLers discussed their own bill to reform Medicaid administration yesterday, separate from the governor’s proposal. VERBATIM: “Members of the Minnesota Senate’s Health and Human Services committee heard testimony on a bill to remove insurance companies from Minnesota’s Medicaid and MinnesotaCare programs. … The bill — carried in the state House by Rochester DFL Rep. Tina Liebling — would replace the MCO system with the Patient-Centered Care program, through which the Minnesota Department of Human Services contracts with one administrative services organization to provide the care benefits without taking on the financial risk. … The bill was laid over.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ukmvlC
ICYMI: Yesterday’s health take featured additional coverage and reactions for Gov. Tim Walz’s DHS announcement. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4b1CYDM
A new level of insight and information….
SESSION
DENTISTS: via Fox 9, VERBATIM: “The University of Minnesota is working to tackle a growing shortage of dentists in the state, particularly in rural areas, and it’s requesting a substantial investment into its dental school from Minnesota lawmakers to help meet the demand… HASTINGS: “In Minnesota, 160 dentists are retiring annually, and we’re graduating about 120 dentists. Not all of them stay in Minnesota,” said Dr. Angela Hastings, the school’s director of community outreach and engagement. READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4dcDm3y
PRICING: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “Lawmakers in Minnesota are proposing restrictions on a specific AI tool known as ‘surveillance pricing’ that sets prices based on consumer information. DFL Rep. Emma Greenman sponsors a bill in the Minnesota House that would ban the practice of surveillance pricing. A Democratic colleague, Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, is carrying a bill that would specifically ban surveillance pricing in retail and grocery settings. … The fate of these specific bills in Minnesota’s divided legislature remains murky, [but] Republicans were not outright against the idea of banning surveillance pricing.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4sAYIw8
AI: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Minnesota senators weighed a variety of new guardrails on artificial intelligence companies on Monday, including one that would create a new penalty for firms that allow their chatbot technologies to be used by minors. … Sen. Erin Maye Quade, DFL-Apple Valley, [introduced] five bills during a Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee hearing that were held for additional workshopping later. Some had bipartisan backing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dcnuhy
ELECTRONIC ID: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “Sponsored by Rep. Brad Tabke (DFL-Shakopee), HF1335 would authorize electronic versions of driver’s licenses and Minnesota identification cards. On Monday, the panel that Tabke co-chairs – the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee – discussed the bill, as amended and amended again, before it ultimately failed on a voice vote.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4riuz3x
APPEALS COURT REJECTS PHRMA’S ATTACK ON MINNESOTA’S CONTRACT PHARMACY PROTECTIONS: A recent Minnesota Court of Appeals decision upheld the state’s 340B contract pharmacy law — a win for rural and underserved communities. The 340B program allows eligible hospitals to purchase outpatient drugs at reduced prices so they can reinvest in 24/7 access to local health care. Still, many drug companies are not complying with Minnesota law, denying these essential savings to hospitals and the communities that rely on them. Legislators have an opportunity to protect access to affordable health care across Minnesota by supporting SF 3769 and HF 3609, which ensure that 340B is protected and enforced. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4bwC3v9 (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
TABS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Sen. John Jasinski (R-Faribault) [has] authored a bill this session to revert license tab fees to pre-2023 levels. … Democrats say the higher fees are necessary to raise revenue for roads and bridges because gas tax revenue is declining. … So far, Jasinski’s bill hasn’t been scheduled for a hearing.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Ntbyxu
TAXES: via MPR, VERBATIM: “A key state leader dealing with Minnesota taxes says she’s not onboard with efforts to exempt state tax on tips or offering state subsidies for professional sports teams’ stadium upgrades. House Taxes Committee Co-chair Aisha Gomez, DFL-Minneapolis, [said] she views the effort to exempt taxes on worker tips as an ‘expensive gimmick’ that wouldn’t impact many Minnesota workers. … Gomez also suggested that she would not be supportive of efforts to get state money to help with improvements for Minnesota’s pro sports team stadiums.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ddJ6tT
PROPTAXES: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Should voters have final say on whether their property taxes increase? There’s an effort at the Capitol to make that happen. KREUN: “I do believe in local control, but we’re at a crisis mode here when it comes to property taxes,” Senator Mike Kreun (R-Blaine) said about his proposal. “I’ve been hearing a lot about it from my constituents,” Sen. Kreun said…He wants local governments to make their pitch to voters for any property tax increase higher than the rate of inflation, and a bit more for growing cities and counties.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4syKxaN
MINNESOTA’S ATV RIDERS ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS: Last September, hundreds of riders joined the ATV Minnesota President’s Ride — families, veterans, small business owners, and volunteers from across the state. They represent thousands of Minnesotans who responsibly use and maintain Minnesota’s ATV trail system. As decision makers evaluate trail policy, funding, and land-use decisions this session, we invite you to hear directly from the people they represent. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4u4dGw9 (SPONSORED: ATV Minnesota)
SESSION
FRAUD: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Attorney General Keith Ellison, Representative Matt Norris, and Senator Ann Johnson Stewart’s legislation to combat Medicaid fraud passed the Minnesota House Judiciary Committee. The legislation, known as the Medical Assistance Protection Act or MAP Act, will expand Attorney General Ellison’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), give them new investigative authority, and strengthen state Medicaid fraud laws to make it easier to prosecute those who steal from Medicaid.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4deyrz6
NONCITIZENS: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “More than 75,000 students received approximately $222 million in Minnesota State Grants in Fiscal Year 2025, including 617 students who received nearly $5 million combined under the Dream Act. Rep. Isaac Schultz (R–Elmdale Township) believes the state’s limited financial resources should be directed to ‘citizens and those here legally.’ … A proposal to change who may receive state-funded higher education aid prompted contentious debate Tuesday before HF1323 was laid over.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4b1SM9A
TERM LIMITS: via MPR, VERBATIM: “A bill that would allow Minnesota voters to decide whether to limit the governor and lieutenant governor to two terms in office cleared a state House committee Monday. If the constitutional amendment were passed by voters, the change would go into effect in 2030. The bill has support from members of both parties, but some legislators said the amendment seems pointless, since no governor has been elected to a third term. They also wondered why the language does not also include legislators. Representative Jimmy Gordon, a Republican from Isanti, is the bill’s sponsor.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4s2TPvT
IMMIGRATION: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “Rep. Sandra Feist (DFL-New Brighton) believes the Fourth Amendment right to be free from unwarranted searches and seizures is under attack by [federal] agents. … She sponsors HF3483, which would create misdemeanor trespass penalties for individuals entering a private residence, school, or school bus for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement without a warrant issued by a judge and probable cause. … A roll-call, 7-7 party-line vote prevented the bill from moving forward.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47F1qbM
PAID LEAVE: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce presented survey findings to a House committee [as] businesses report challenges with the new Paid Family and Medical Leave Act. … The Chamber highlighted several concerns, including the program’s complexity, slow execution, and disruption for small or seasonal businesses. There are also worries about potential misuse and long-term financial sustainability.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4lk1xPD
BOTTLE TAX: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “A bill to add a to-be-determined excise tax to the distributor of plastic beverage bottles was held over Tuesday by the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee. Rep. Mary Franson (R-Alexandria) sponsors HF3322, noting it’s highly unusual for a Republican to sponsor a bill proposing a new tax. She is doing so because the revenue raised would help municipalities replace or upgrade current water facilities to address pollutants.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4s41wSr
CLEAN | RELIABLE | AFFORDABLE: via Xcel Energy, VERBATIM: “We’re powering the Upper Midwest with clean, reliable, and affordable nuclear energy. For more than 50 years, our Prairie Island Nuclear Plant, located near Red Wing, MN, has been a workhorse of reliable, carbon-free energy. With two pressurized water reactors producing about 1,100 megawatts, Prairie Island generates enough electricity to power 1.5 million homes across the Upper Midwest. Unlike sources that depend on weather, nuclear energy delivers 24/7 reliability — providing the power we need today while protecting the environment for tomorrow.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4oCHdK9 (SPONSORED: Xcel Energy)
DC
DEPORTATIONS: via Axios, VERBATIM: “White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair privately urged House Republicans on Tuesday to stop emphasizing ‘mass deportations’ and instead focus their messaging on removing violent criminals. … The advice signals a recalibration by the White House — and reflects growing concern among some Republicans that Democrats are successfully framing [Donald] Trump’s immigration policy as overly sweeping and indiscriminate. … The administration has leaned heavily into aggressive enforcement actions in its first year. But the killing of two U.S. citizens this year in Minneapolis and reports of U.S. citizens being detained have complicated the politics.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40pw5pB
TOURISM: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Weeks of aggressive federal immigration enforcement, tensions between the U.S. and Canada and broader economic uncertainty weighed on Minnesota’s winter tourism season, according to the state’s tourism office. … The state draws about 80 million visitors each year and generated more than $14 billion in visitor spending in 2023. … A new Explore Minnesota survey of more than 246 tourism businesses and local tourism offices found 42% said business was down compared with last winter. Another 43% said business was flat. … Roughly 20% of businesses report cancellations or reduced bookings.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bGeGOT
TSA: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “There’s still a relative calm before the annual spring break travel storm descends on MSP airport, [but] TSA agent Neal Gosman [said] TSA agents are now facing a different kind of risk. ‘This is the third shutdown in six months,’ he said. ‘People have to pay childcare, people have to pay rent, a lot of the landlords are saying, ‘We forgave rent for being late last time, we’re not going to do it again.’’ That’s why Gosman, a treasurer for AFGE Local 899, the local TSA union, says they’ve partnered yet again with the VEAP mobile food pantry to provide emergency food boxes to TSA agents this week.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3N8QDzN
LAW ENFORCEMENT
DWIs: via Fox 9, VERBATIM: “A defense attorney is challenging the reliability of blood alcohol test results from a Minnesota crime lab… Roseville-based attorney Chuck Ramsay argues that the lab admitted to using an expired solution for testing blood alcohol samples in July 2023, potentially affecting the accuracy of the results. According to a letter, the lab said nine cases were impacted.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sDZaK2
US ATTY: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Minnesota is citing a recent exodus of top prosecutors in that office in a motion to delay the trial of a defendant in the sprawling fraud investigation of Feeding Our Future. The motion for a continuance, filed Monday afternoon, seeks to push back the trial of Abdirahman Ahmed. … The motion cites another upcoming trial of seven other defendants in April as well as ‘significant staffing changes’ at the U.S. Attorney’s Office earlier this year.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4rmWTlm
ICE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “A federal judge in Minnesota has denied a request to order [ICE] to stop using practices alleged to be racially biased, while a lawsuit against the agency continues. The lawsuit includes U.S. citizens and immigrants who say federal agents stopped and arrested them without warrants or probable cause, and disproportionately targeted Somali and Latino residents. … District Judge Eric Tostrud wrote that ICE likely used ‘unconstitutional policies.’ However, he said the plaintiffs failed to show they faced future harm, largely due to the reduction in ICE agents’ presence in the state.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bcN5EA
INVESTIGATIONS: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office is investigating 17 possible criminal incidents involving federal agents during the surge, including two civilian deaths and allegations of excessive force. County Attorney Mary Moriarty has not set a timeline for completing the investigation. On Tuesday afternoon, local and national activists gathered for a People’s Hearing on Immigration Enforcement designed to document what occurred during the operation.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4lpxQwI
PRISONS: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “While community groups say Minnesota officials have been sluggish in rolling out a plan that allows incarcerated people to earn reduced prison sentences, the state’s corrections department says it’s taking an intentional approach focused on public safety. … As of Dec. 31, the DOC had reviewed 25 people for early release and nine were granted release. None of the people reviewed or released were Black or Hispanic. … The DOC said in a Tuesday statement [that] ‘the small number of early reviews reflects the program’s limited implementation, not the exclusion of any group.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3N8OEvl
340B HOSPITAL MARKUPS HURT PATIENTS: Minnesota’s latest 340B report shows covered entities generated $1.34 billion IN PROFIT in 2024, including an estimated $261 million from Medicaid prescriptions. Independent research finds the program raises costs for patients, taxpayers, and employers statewide. Minnesota should sunset the 340B mandate and Congress should fix the federal 340B program, so it actually helps patients. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3OLZOGG(SPONSORED: PhRMA)
STATEWIDE
SCHOOLS: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “For the first time, we’re getting a look at the financial deficit that dozens of Minnesota school districts are up against. … In a new survey, the Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD) estimates the total shortfall is about $223 million for the 2026-2027 school year. It includes 47 K-12 school districts and six intermediate/cooperative districts in the seven-county [metro] area [plus] Rochester, Duluth and Mankato. AMSD Executive Director Scott Croonquist says the last time the combined shortfall was under $100 million was the 2020-2021 school year. … The deficits were first sparked by dropping enrollment and the end of federal pandemic relief funds. Now, Croonquist says that’s compounded by unfunded state mandates.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4ljOvSg
DRAINAGE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Most crops grown in Minnesota don’t do well under excessively wet conditions, [so] farmers install underground drainage pipes, also called tile, to drain excess water. … ‘We’ve been able to lengthen our cropping season a little longer because we can get started earlier in the well-drained ground that warms up in the spring,’ said Wesley Beck, president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. … Both the corn and soybean growers’ associations have asked courts to clarify who can regulate farm drainage, [but] amidst a lack of regulatory clarity, the Corn Growers Association [made] its case in front of state lawmakers at the Capitol Tuesday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ulUDgX
(DISCLOSURE: Minnesota Corn is a Fluence sponsor)
JUDGE: via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz today announced the appointment of Holli Mayer as District Court Judge in Minnesota’s Third Judicial District. Mayer will replace the Honorable Ross L. Leuning and will be chambered in Albert Lea in Freeborn County. … Mayer is senior counsel at Hormel Foods.”
WILD ABOUT READING: Join more than 800 Minnesota classrooms and 30,000 students participating in the “Wild About Reading” program, a partnership with Flint Hills Resources which encourages students to read more using Minnesota Wild-branded posters, reading logs, and bookmarks. Teachers set weekly reading goals and give certificates to students who complete the four-week program. Fun program incentives include: classroom visits from the Wild’s mascot, Nordy, and the team dog, Paulie; a pair of tickets to a Wild home game, player-signed pucks and photos; and a pizza party for a classroom. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/49AHNSE (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
AROUND MN
RAMSEY CTY: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “As Minnesota residents continue to feel the financial fallout of Operation Metro Surge, Ramsey County is offering some relief in the form of a short-term property tax extension. On Tuesday, Ramsey County Manager Ling Becker announced that the county treasurer will waive late fees for two months on the first half of 2026 property taxes for eligible taxpayers. … Applications for the tax extension are open through July 15.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4deGrQK
ST PAUL: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The St. Paul City Council has officially given its blessing to a retooled new 10-mile route for the Bronze Line, a bus rapid transit service that would connect downtown St. Paul to the Maplewood Mall. The Bronze Line, once dubbed the Purple Line, has moved forward in starts and stops over the past four years. … The proposed route, once envisioned as stretching 15 miles, has been shortened and reconfigured, and could roll out by 2032.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4138jzT
CHANHASSEN: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The brick church from 1887 is all that’s left of what was once Chanhassen’s historic downtown. … Now, the vacant 139-year-old church [is] headed for demolition — unless Chanhassen residents succeed in a push to preserve it, or at least buy more time. … But leaders of St. Hubert Catholic Church, which moved out decades ago, say the cost of restoring the old church would reach into the millions, plus annual maintenance. That money, they said, could be used elsewhere in the parish.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lm2zeb
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “One of the state’s four minor political parties is endorsing candidates in two local nonpartisan races, hoping to highlight their lack of majority-party connections. … The Forward Independence Party [is] endorsing Benjamin Zastrow’s run for Rochester’s mayor and Olmsted County Commissioner Bob Hopkin’s campaign for re-election.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3P3uCmv
DULUTH: via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “After a couple of hours of spirited debate Monday night, city councilors hashed out a new set of rules to govern their future meetings. Much of the discussion centered on how and when the public should be allowed to address the council. … At the suggestion of 3rd District Councilor Roz Randorf, the final resolution co-sponsor, the council decided Monday to create two separate and distinct public comment periods, as first proposed, but to place them back-to-back at the start of each regular meeting. That compromise solution passed on a 5-4 vote.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bgi9TR
ST CLOUD: via St. Cloud Live, VERBATIM: “The St. Cloud City Council voted 7-0 to rezone the former Fingerhut/CompuCredit Call Center to allow for a cannabis cultivation facility. … According to a report by the Center for Policy Research and Community Engagement at St. Cloud State University, the project will create 85 direct full-time jobs with average wages above $63,000.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bxYnVf
AUSTIN: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Over several months, Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin will expand its hospital’s progressive care unit’s capacity from three beds to nine. The expansion [will] involve converting the Austin hospital’s four intensive care unit, or ICU, beds into PCU beds. The facility will add another two PCU beds, bringing the total number of new PCU beds to six. … The service change will not result in lost jobs, Mayo Clinic said, and is expected to be complete by November.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47rthMx
NEXT
SESSION: No House floor session. Senate floor session at 11:00 a.m. HOUSE: Elections & Govt. Ops. will hear bans on municipalities entering nondisclosure agreements or federal immigration detention contracts. Health hears a new exception to the hospital construction moratorium. Transportation hears self-driving car rules, clarification on electric motorcycle regulations and a requirement that bicycles stop at yellow lights. Housing hears one-time rental assistance. SENATE: Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband & Rural Dev. hears numerous bills on veterans’ benefits. Human Services will hear an expansion to the list of services subject to electronic visit verification. CALENDAR: https://fluence-media.co/4s2J5xz
TODAY: The CD2 GOP is hosting a gubernatorial debate between Speaker Lisa Demuth, Kendall Qualls and Patrick Knight in Apple Valley at 7:00 p.m. Promotional material refers to it as the “abiding candidates debate,” likely in reference to Demuth, Qualls and Knight saying they intend to abide by the party’s endorsement this spring and drop out if they are not endorsed.
TODAY: via MDHR advisory, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero will announce a legal settlement after finding Lyft violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act by canceling rides for a person with a service animal. The settlement has nationwide impacts and requires Lyft to improve its policies, driver education, and app.” The event is at 11:30 a.m.
TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will attend the League of Minnesota Cities Day on the Hill.
TODAY: MIRAC will host a press conference at 12:30 p.m. at the governor’s office in the Capitol to demand an executive order “making Minnesota a sanctuary state,” per a release.
TODAY: The MN Homeless Coalition will host “Homeless Day on the Hill” in the State Capitol to advocate for protecting supportive housing, per a release. Sen. Lindsey Port, Rep. Mike Howard, Rep. Spencer Igo and other advocates will hold a press conference at 1:00 p.m.
TODAY: ATV Minnesota will host a “Day on the Hill” in the State Capitol on Wednesday, March 11, with a reception at 4:30 p.m.
(DISCLOSURE: ATV Minnesota is a Fluence sponsor)
TOMORROW: MN Home Care Association will host “Home Care Day at the Capitol” on Thursday, March 12 at 9:00 a.m.
MARCH 24: MN Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (MNASCA) will host its “Day at the Capitol” on Tuesday, March 24.
BDAYS: MN Pork’s Jill Resler, Heart health advocate Paul Weirtz, Rep. Issac Schultz, MSP Mag’s Steve Marsh, City of Mpls’s Margaret Anderson Keliher, Rock activist Lars Leafblad
SPEAKER: If you’re looking for a speaker about the “Signal vs. Noise” dynamic of today’s politics and the 2026 election. EMAIL: BloisOlson@gmail.com.
SPONSORS: Sponsorships are available to reach over 30,000 readers per day on Fluence’s tip sheets and website, TheDailyAgenda.com – email BloisOlson@gmail.com.
Send us your tips at BloisOlson@gmail.com
IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.