St. Paul Reporter

As the 2025 legislative session ended, Representative Bidal Duran of District 2A reflected on the outcomes and the need for a special session. Duran highlighted progress in several areas while expressing concern about unresolved issues.

“This session brought serious challenges, but also some meaningful wins for the people of District 2A and all of Minnesota. I’m proud of the progress we made on veterans’ issues and public safety. These are areas I remain deeply committed to, both as a legislator and as a veteran myself. We also made important headway on pension reform, an overdue issue for our teachers and public employees.

“However, there is still a great deal of work ahead. The fact that we’re heading into a special session is disappointing and avoidable. For the first 23 days of session, DFL members failed to engage in the legislative process. That delay was a disservice to Minnesotans and contributed directly to the gridlock we’re now working to resolve.

“The special session gives us one more chance to get this right. My focus is on passing a responsible, balanced state budget that respects taxpayers and delivers real results for families, communities, and local businesses. I’ll continue fighting against wasteful spending and for common-sense solutions that put Minnesotans first.

"I encourage constituents to stay involved and share their thoughts throughout the process. I’ll keep you updated as we work to bring this session to a responsible close.”

The schedule for the upcoming special session has not yet been finalized.