Minnesota Legislature set to reconvene for 4th special session of 2020

The fourth special session of the Minnesota Legislature is set to begin Friday.

Gov. Tim Walz’s emergency declaration and powers are expected to be extended another 30 days, as lawmakers reconvene.

Walz calls 4th special session of Minnesota Legislature, is expected to extend peacetime emergency

Walz said the declaration gives his administration the ability to quickly respond to changes in the pandemic.

Some Republican lawmakers have been critical of the declaration though, saying such broad decisions—like the statewide mask mandate—should be made by legislators.

The governor says GOP lawmakers have made no promises that they’ll spare his commissioners.

During last month’s special session, the GOP-controlled Senate ousted Nancy Leppink, the governor’s commissioner of labor and industry.

DFL leaders in the Minnesota House are expected to talk later this morning ahead of the start of the session.

The session begins Friday at noon.