Ramsey County Legislative Workshop on 2026 Platform Priorities - October 21, 2025

The board workshop focused on finalizing the proposed 2026 legislative platform priorities, with government relations staff presenting a streamlined set of items reduced from 131 to 30. County Manager Becker highlighted the urgency of addressing federal SNAP/Medicaid changes and persistent property tax pressure, calling for bold and flexible approaches. The discussion centered on bonding requests, pursue items, lead advocate items, and support items, with commissioners providing feedback on coalition-building, timing, and county-specific impacts.

Overview and Strategy

• Chief of Staff Maria Sarabia introduced the goal of presenting a focused platform of five high-impact policy areas, with dozens of supporting items.
• County Manager Ryan Becker noted that traditional technical fixes may not suffice given unprecedented fiscal shifts; he announced the creation of a Human Services Advocacy Team to improve coordination.
• Government Relations Director Jennifer Rurk outlined the advocacy strategy: prioritizing the most critical, urgent, and realistically achievable items for a non-budget (bonding and policy) year.
• The platform was developed through an LPAT process, reducing from 131 to 30 items, with clear roles for staff leading (pursue), co-leading (lead advocate), and supporting (support) each priority.

Proposed Legislative Priorities

• Bonding Requests (approved by board on Oct 7): Park at River's Edge ($20M) and Aldrich Arena ($17M total; state request $8.5M). Both have been submitted to MMB and site visits are scheduled.
• Pursue Items (county takes the lead):
  • Capital Complex County Host Program (alternative to PILT) – conversations ongoing with Representative Gomez.
  • Amendments to Chapter 383A: clean up HR language, increase small contract threshold to $500,000, extend environmental response fund sunset (currently 2028).
  • Extension of funding for the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (early implementer funding).
  • Establishment of a statewide homelessness funding program with a separate county pot (3rd year of bill; hearings held last session).
  • Adjust adult protection funding allocation formula (75/25 split; exploring 50/50 with other counties).
• Lead Advocate Items (county supports but not primary lead):
  • Modernize state human services systems (led by AMC/MACA).
  • Preserve formula-based transportation funding for Ramsey County (defensive position).
• Support Items (county provides active advocacy as needed):
  • Increased access to secure mental health treatment in the East Metro (no lead agency yet; staff to explore alignment with East Metro Mental Health Roundtable).
  • Public safety and reducing gun violence.
  • Catalyzing underutilized buildings tax credit (led by Rethos).
  • Protect counties from increased costs related to SNAP and MA.
  • Move case review responsibility for Child Welfare from counties to state (part of AMC platform).
• County Attorney’s Office Priorities:
  • Replace automatic cost-of-living adjustments in child support with individual reviews to increase fairness and compliance.
  • Increase the state auto theft fund fee (currently $0.50 per policy) to support anti-theft efforts.

Key Discussion Points

• Commissioners stressed the importance of building coalitions with the City of St. Paul, suburban cities, and community advocacy groups to strengthen advocacy. Commissioner McMurtry noted suburban cities’ interest in the Capital Complex Host Program, as it could relieve property tax burdens on their residents.
• Commissioner Jevne Singh raised the need for clear county-specific impact analysis for each support item, citing transportation funding formulas that disadvantage Ramsey County.
• On the County Attorney’s proposals, commissioners requested clarification on the administrative costs and feasibility of shifting child support reviews from automatic to individualized processes.
• Commissioner Miller requested an update on the status of the African American Family Preservation Act early implementer funding, including dollars spent.
• Staff noted that the sheriff’s office did not submit a separate platform for inclusion, though Sheriff Fletcher was active at the Capitol in 2025.
• The federal platform will be prepared separately; no immediate adoption needed before the session.

Key Outcomes

• The workshop provided direction for finalizing the 2026 platform; remaining questions will be addressed through written follow-ups (e.g., adult protection formula, child support cost analysis).
• Next steps: Legislative committee of the whole on November 4 for further discussion; final vote on the platform scheduled for November 18.
• Commissioners will attend the District 10 Metro Counties meeting on November 3 to vote on AMC’s proposed 12-item agenda; staff will recommend a human services–focused slate.
• The board emphasized the need for ongoing legislative updates at each board meeting during the session.