Senate Democrats in Minnesota have launched a new Select Subcommittee on “Federal Impacts on Minnesotans and Economic Stability,” aiming to track how federal policies are affecting families, farmers, and the state’s economy. The announcement came on Tuesday, Sept. 9, from Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, and Sen. Lindsey Port, DFL-Burnsville, who will chair the committee.
The subcommittee was created in response to the recent federal budget bill passed by Congress and broader decisions from President Donald Trump’s administration. Democratic leaders said they want to act quickly instead of waiting until the Legislature convenes in February 2026, noting that Minnesotans are already feeling the effects of federal actions.
Sen. Port emphasized that the changes are not abstract or distant but are already shaping daily life. She pointed to shifts in federal food assistance programs, known as SNAP, which are already in effect. Farmers are also experiencing the fallout from international trade tensions, including China’s decision to stop buying soybeans from the United States. “We don’t feel like we can wait until February to start trying to figure out what these impacts really look like, how Minnesotans are dealing with them,” she said.
The committee’s first meeting is scheduled for Sept. 18, and hearings will continue every other week. Port added that the group intends to travel around Minnesota to hear directly from residents about how federal decisions are affecting their lives. The subcommittee will be made up of five Democrats and four Republicans, creating space for bipartisan involvement even though the effort was initiated by the Democratic majority.
Sen. Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, will serve as the Republican lead on the committee. In a statement, she acknowledged that monitoring federal decisions is important and said she takes the responsibility seriously. However, she also argued that Minnesota’s biggest challenges come from decisions made at the state level. “We can, and should, carefully monitor federal decisions,” she said, “but we cannot lose sight of the very real and severe consequences from decisions made by the Democrats with single-party control of government right here at home.”
While subcommittees usually don’t handle formal legislation, Murphy said this one will serve as an important tool to prepare lawmakers for the next legislative session and beyond. She explained that gathering information about federal policy changes—and listening to Minnesotans who are living with the consequences—will help lawmakers write better, more informed bills when the 2026 session begins on Feb. 17.
Murphy also underscored that this work isn’t just about reacting to today’s challenges but about preparing Minnesota for the future. “In order to understand what has been put into law by the Republican trifecta, along with Donald Trump, is to make sure that we are spending time reviewing and understanding what’s there, but more importantly, talking with the people of Minnesota about the impacts that we see and what they’re going to experience, so that we’re able not just to prepare for the next session, but for the budget years ahead,” she said.
The new subcommittee reflects a growing recognition that decisions made in Washington ripple quickly across state lines and into everyday life. Whether it’s changes to food assistance, the ripple effects of international trade disputes, or shifts in federal funding priorities, Minnesota leaders say they want to stay ahead of the curve. By holding regular hearings and traveling throughout the state, the subcommittee hopes to create a clearer picture of how federal policy is landing in local communities and how state lawmakers can respond to support residents.
As Minnesotans brace for both state and federal changes in the coming years, this subcommittee represents an effort to bridge the gap between Washington’s decisions and local realities. Supporters say it will help lawmakers prepare for budget negotiations and long-term planning, while critics caution that the state should not overlook the impact of its own policies.
