Capitol View for February 26

Good morning. Midweek puddles.

Gov. Tim Walz has officially ruled out a run for U.S. Senate. Walz had been giving it some thought since Sen. Tina Smith, a fellow Democrat, announced she wouldn't run in 2026. Walz spokesperson Teddy Tschann said this morning that the governor won't go forward with a bid. Tschann says Walz "loves his job as governor and he's exploring the possibility of another term to continue to his work to make Minnesota the best state in the country for kids." Walz's consideration had caused some possible Senate candidates to hold back on their own announcements. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is the only formal entrant; U.S. Rep. Angie Craig says she's giving it thought. Walz is not expected to endorse ahead of a potential DFL primary.

State Department of Education officials are asking for clarity from the federal government about how a demand to eliminate diversity initiatives is supposed to work. MPR’s education reporter Elizabeth Shockman says it relates to a letter from the Trump administration last week warning schools to end diversity initiatives in admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, administrative support, graduation ceremonies and all other aspects school campus life. If schools fail to comply, the letter threatens to remove federal funding. The letter, which by its own admission does not carry the force of law, has spurred several lawsuits. This week, Minnesota’s Education Commissioner told schools it is seeking legal clarification on the letter from the state attorney general. Commissioner Willie Jett also said the letter created “untenable uncertainty.” He also reminded schools of federal regulations that dictate how federal funding is disbursed and state law that prohibits discrimination or preferential treatment in public education on the basis of race, religion, disability, national origin, gender identity, and other identities.

Minnesota legislators are revisiting steps schools are taking to respond to heart emergencies on their campuses. A bill that has begun moving through the Legislature would require schools to implement cardiac emergency response plans and implement them for the 2026-27 school year. It builds off a law that required the state education agency to develop a model policy. There has been some pushback to adding another requirement on schools and whether there will be sufficient money for training and equipment. MPR’s Gracie Stockton and Cathy Wurzer have a rundown of the proposal, the case proponents are making and the hesitation it is facing.

A pair of DFL lawmakers are looking to give more power to rideshare drivers in the state. DFL Sen. Zaynab Mohamed and Rep. Samakab Hussein say they’re planning to introduce legislation that would give rideshare drivers the power to unionize in the state. Lawmakers passed a bill to give a pay raise to rideshare drivers in the final hours of last year's legislative session. Clay Masters reports the drivers are not able to unionize under federal law because they are treated like independent contractors and not employees. "That bill that we passed last session did give these drivers a lot more than what they had in the past,” Mohamed said. “I think the issue here is that right now they're not even able to negotiate with these companies on what their future pay rates are going to be like or what their future working conditions are going to look like." An Uber spokesperson said the bill isn’t a constructive move in furthering the relations between drivers and the company after collaborative work. Lyft didn’t respond.

Minnesota’s golden horses are getting a polish. A work package out for bid calls for cleaning and conservation of the Quadriga sculpture atop the Capitol. It’s the one with the golden horses, a charioteer and other symbols and known as “Progress of the State.” It’s been there for almost as long as the Capitol has been in its current location and last got considerable attention about a decade ago . The sculpture periodically undergoes repairs or touch-up, sometimes requiring its temporary removal. The current plan calls for the work on the gold-leaf sculpture, replacement of anchors as needed and some fresh bird screen. It’s no surprise, but the entity selected for the work is expected to have proven experience in metal sculpture work that includes gilding and finishing touches on historic sculptures. The refurbishment could run as much as $205,000, according to materials posted by the Department of Administration. If all goes as plan, the buff-up will be complete by late August.

A new law that could lead to reduced prison time for some offenders is a target for repeal by Senate Republicans, who would need to get at least one Democrat to join their push. The Senate GOP outlined several public safety proposals yesterday. As the minority caucus, they could face difficulty in achieving them. One plank is to revisit the Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act, which was passed by DFL majorities in 2023. It was slated to take effect this year. Eligible prisoners can reduce their incarceration by meeting individualized goals of rehabilitation plans. Certain violent crimes are excluded. Republican Sen. Michael Kreun of Blaine says the program overrides sentences already handed down by judges. “We understand that for many, rehabilitation in prison can be a life changing opportunity, but when it's retroactively applied to nearly every prisoner, you are allowing the hardened criminals to game the system and earn an early release by simply checking boxes off list.” Advocates of the program expect it to lower prison costs. They note it is similar to programs in 38 states and that most prisoners will eventually be released so the state should better prepare inmates for life outside of prison walls.