[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan today highlighted accomplishments of the first 100 days of their second term. Since their inauguration, Governor Walz signed bills that codify reproductive rights, provide breakfast and lunch to all students, commit Minnesota to 100 percent renewable energy by 2040, make Juneteenth a state holiday, ban natural hair discrimination, cut taxes by $100 million, make driver’s licenses available for all, and invest over $315 million in infrastructure. Governor Walz also signed an Executive Order to protect access to gender affirming health care.

“In the first 100 days of our second term we’re showing Minnesotans that the era of gridlock is over,” said Governor Walz. “We’re wasting no time getting to work making Minnesota the best state in the nation for kids, cutting taxes, and investing in our economic future. It’s no coincidence that we are already making history and immense progress this session: We have the most diverse legislature in our state’s history, with leaders who are committed to getting things done for Minnesotans. I look forward to the next 100 days and continuing to fight to make Minnesota the best state to raise a family.”

“We have made historic strides in the first 100 days to improve the lives of so many Minnesotans, but we’re not done yet,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “The progress we have made thus far has granted freedom and rights to Minnesotans who have been forgotten for far too long. From restoring voting rights, increasing access to driver’s licenses for undocumented Minnesotans, protecting reproductive freedom and gender-affirming health care to providing free breakfast and lunch in schools, this has been a historic 100 days. We want Minnesotans to know that the Capitol is the people’s house, and in the people’s house, we fight to improve the life of every Minnesotan.”

First 100 Days Accomplishments

Providing $100 Million in Tax Cuts

On January 12, Governor Tim Walz signed bipartisan legislation providing $100 million in tax cuts to Minnesota individuals and businesses. It was the fastest a tax conformity bill has ever been enacted in Minnesota.

Extending Unemployment Insurance for Workers on the Iron Range

On January 25, Governor Walz signed a bill into law extending Unemployment Insurance benefits for workers on the Iron Range. The bill provides an additional 26 weeks of benefits for over 400 workers who were laid off due to the idling of Northshore Mining last May.

Protecting Reproductive Freedom

On January 31, Governor Walz signed the Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act into law, establishing reproductive freedom as a fundamental right for every Minnesotan. The PRO Act establishes that every Minnesotan has a fundamental right to make decisions about their own reproductive health, including the right to use or refuse reproductive health care, to continue a pregnancy and give birth, and to obtain an abortion.

Banning Hair Discrimination

On February 1, Governor Tim Walz signed the CROWN Act into law, explicitly prohibiting racial discrimination based on natural hair texture and hair styles such as braids, locs, and twists.

Providing Emergency Food Shelf Funding

On February 2, Governor Tim Walz signed into law $5 million in emergency funding to food shelves.

Establishing Juneteenth as a State Holiday

On February 3, Governor Tim Walz signed into law legislation establishing Juneteenth as a state holiday. The law commemorates June 19 as the official end of slavery in the United States.

Providing Over $315 Million for Infrastructure Improvements

On February 7, Governor Tim Walz signed into law legislation to unlock $315.5 million in federally appropriated funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to improve Minnesota’s roads.

Moving Minnesota to 100 Percent Clean Energy by 2040

On February 7, Governor Tim Walz signed into law legislation establishing a Minnesota carbon-free electricity standard. The law ensures Minnesota will take steps to lower greenhouse gas emissions, combat the climate crisis, and create new clean energy jobs. Governor Walz signed the bill alongside legislators, labor, and environmental advocates at the St. Paul Regional Labor Center.

Expanding Voting Rights to 55,000 Minnesotans

On March 3, Governor Tim Walz signed into law the largest expansion of voting rights in Minnesota in the last half century. The law restores voting rights for over 55,000 formerly incarcerated people in Minnesota. Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan were joined by legislators, faith, labor, and community advocates to celebrate the bill signing.

Expanding Access to Driver’s Licenses

On March 7, Governor Tim Walz signed a bill into law expanding eligibility for a standard Minnesota driver’s license by allowing Minnesotans, regardless of immigration status, to obtain a license. With an estimated 81,000 undocumented immigrants in Minnesota, the law will increase safety across Minnesota by ensuring that all drivers are licensed, insured, and have taken driver’s education courses. Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan were joined by legislators, community, faith, labor, law enforcement, and immigrant advocates to celebrate the bill signing.

Protecting Access to Gender Affirming Health Care

On March 8, Governor Tim Walz took executive action to protect access to gender affirming health care in Minnesota. Gender affirming health care services refers to all medical, surgical, counseling, or referral services, including telehealth services, that an individual may receive to support and affirm that individual’s gender identity or gender expression.

Protecting Minnesotans from Catalytic Converter Theft

On March 16, Governor Tim Walz signed legislation into law that will crack down on catalytic converter theft. The law allows only registered scrap metal dealers to purchase catalytic converters, increasing criminal penalties for the illegal possession or sale of catalytic converters, and requires catalytic converters to carry the vehicle identification number of the car it originated from.

Strengthening Protections for Native American Children and Families

On March 16, Governor Tim Walz also signed a bill into law strengthening child welfare protections for Native American children and families. The bill affirms the authority of all federally recognized Indian tribes to handle cases of Indian child custody and child placement proceedings and requires social workers to make active efforts to preserve family unity.

Providing Free School Meals for Students

On March 17, Governor Tim Walz signed into law a bill providing free school breakfast and lunch for all Minnesota students at participating schools. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor were joined by legislators, students, and advocates at Webster Elementary in Northeast Minneapolis to celebrate the bill signing.

Providing $50 Million in Homelessness Prevention and Assistance

On March 31, Governor Tim Walz signed into law a bill providing $50 million for the Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance program, which provides financial assistance and support services to people and households that are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The law also allows for qualified households to receive more than 24 months of direct rental assistance.

In addition to these bills, Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan unveiled the One Minnesota Budget in January which aims to make Minnesota the best state to raise a family. The budget includes historic investments in education, child care, health and safety, and Minnesota’s economic future. If passed, the One Minnesota Budget will lower costs for families, reduce childhood poverty by 25 percent, cut taxes, invest in local communities and projects, reduce gun violence, combat the opioid crisis, increase home affordability and ownership, and more.

Additionally, Governor Walz has made over 200 appointments to state boards, commissions, councils, and task forces, appointed 8 judges, hired the state’s first Chief Equity Officer , and came to the earliest budget targets agreement with legislative leaders in the state’s recent history.