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Minnesota enacts omnibus elections and campaign finance bills in 2026 session

By

Andrew Bahl

The Minnesota Legislature adjourned its 2026 legislative session on May 17 after passing two election-related bills, both of which Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed into law.

HF 4240 is an omnibus bill making changes to numerous areas of election law, including:

  • Requiring clerks to use the statewide voter registration system when administering absentee voting, except in town elections.
  • Requiring election officials to maintain a printed copy of all voter certificates issued to early voters.
  • Removing a requirement that the secretary of state distribute a copy of election laws to each county auditor and municipal clerk. Instead, the secretary of state must publish election laws online each year.
  • Prohibiting elected officials and candidates from betting on elections.

The Minnesota Senate passed the final version of the bill 36-28 on May 13, with 32 Democrats and four Republicans voting in favor and 28 Republicans voting against. The Minnesota House of Representatives approved the bill 127-6 on May 14, with 67 Democrats and 60 Republicans voting in favor and six Republicans voting against. Walz signed the bill on May 18.

Walz also signed HF 4239, which makes several changes to Minnesota's campaign finance laws. Those changes include:

  • Making street addresses filed by candidates or officeholders on campaign finance reports nonpublic information.
  • Allowing a campaign finance complaint to be immediately dismissed if it is deemed to be frivolous, filed for the purpose of harassment, or duplicative.
  • Exempting spending on security services from a statutory limit on the amount of money a candidate may give to their own campaign.
  • Amending requirements for disclaimers on independent expenditures.

The Senate passed an amended version of the bill 46-21 on May 13, with 34 Democrats and 12 Republicans voting in favor and 21 Republicans voting against. The House passed the bill 118-15 on May 14, with 67 Democrats and 51 Republicans voting in favor and 15 Republicans voting against. Walz signed HF 4239 on May 18.

Minnesota enacted no election-related bills in 2025, two bills in 2024, and four bills in 2023.