Senate majority leader touts $1.2 billion jobs package and HCMC stabilization; says gun bill stalled in House

Sen. Erin Murphy, the majority leader of the Minnesota Senate, on the last day of the 2026 legislative session highlighted a sweeping set of measures the Senate advanced — including roughly $1.2 billion in job-creating funding, expanded housing investments and a plan to stabilize Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) with $30 million for uncompensated care.

Murphy, speaking at a press event, said the session produced "important rental and housing investments and property tax reductions" and that stabilizing hospitals was a top priority. "Using the budget reserve ... we can back that up," she said, referring to statutory language that would allow funds intended for certain transit projects to fall into a health-care stabilization reserve if federal approvals are not granted.

The leader described the Senate's approach to fraud as "muscular," pointing to creation of an independent office of inspector general and investments in the attorney general's Medicaid fraud unit. She said lawmakers negotiated withholding language in human-services bills while adding due-process protections to reduce harm to clients receiving services.

On public safety, Murphy said the Senate passed a comprehensive gun-violence package but "it was rejected in the House." "I am deeply disappointed," she said, invoking families affected by recent shootings and urging continued work on prevention, intervention and harm reduction.

Murphy also credited senators for a statewide small-business relief package and described paid family medical leave as one of the session's signature achievements. She said some Republican negotiators demanded concessions that shifted costs to small businesses, a move she called "really frustrating."

Asked about transportation funding and a tab-fee holiday intended to ease fuel costs, Murphy said the plan did not cut transit funding and described the relief as aimed at immediate pocketbook pressure. She repeated that the state needs dedicated transportation revenue to maintain roads, bridges and transit in the long term.

Murphy criticized late-session closed-door negotiations and said she will push next session to restore more of the conference work to visible committee rooms so members and the public can see the deliberations. She also named competitive seats the Senate will defend in the coming campaign season, noting retirements and candidates being recruited in several districts.

The session included bipartisan and contentious moments, Murphy said, and she urged continued oversight of human-services systems, citing prior audit findings and the need to invest further in information-technology systems to prevent fraud and protect services.

The press event closed with Murphy saying she would go upstairs to the chamber to hear colleagues' retirement speeches; she did not announce new legislation or immediate votes at the event.