Representative Krisha’s motion to adjourn sine die fails after debate over special education cuts

Representative Krisha of Morrison moved on the House floor on March 23 for the chamber to adjourn sine die, saying Minnesota faces a structural budget imbalance and urging a break unless the governor returned with a more reasonable offer.

"He proposes another 50,000,000 cut to the existing $250,000,000 special education cut that's already on the table," Representative Krisha said during her remarks, and urged options including a constitutional amendment on trust lands and opting into a federal scholarship tax credit she described as allowing taxpayers to place "$1,700 of their taxpayer dollars into an SGO" that could then benefit public and nonpublic organizations.

Krisha framed the motion as leverage: "Members, if I am the only 1 standing in the way from this governor cutting another $50,000,000 in special education, then so be it. It is time to go home, governor, and you can call us back for set special session when you're reasonable and ready to come to the table." She renewed the motion after initial discussion.

Representative Niska of Anoka supported Krisha’s motion, criticizing Democrats for opposing measures because of their association with national figures and listing policies—such as scholarship tax credits and tax treatment of tips and overtime—that he said justified adjourning until the governor presented different terms.

Opponents on the House floor urged continuing work. Representative Kern of Ramsey argued the House should not let words from another branch of government "hold the weight of a 134 of us" and pressed members to advance unfinished business, including measures to combat fraud. Representative Long of Hennepin listed policy priorities she said still needed action this session, including gun-violence prevention, affordability proposals on health care, childcare and housing, and asked members to vote against adjourning.

A roll call followed. The clerk recorded several named floor votes during the call (for example, Green voted no; Jones voted no; Rarick voted aye). The clerk then reported the final tally: 58 ayes and 72 nays, and the motion did not prevail.

After the motion failed, Representative Niska successfully moved that when the House adjourns it adjourn until 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2026, and then moved and won an immediate adjournment for the day.

The House had taken routine procedural actions earlier in the day, including second readings of multiple files, first readings of new house files and adoption of standing committee reports. The day opened with a prayer led by the chaplain and brief member announcements.