MN Cable Mourns the Loss of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman
We are devastated by the assassination of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. This senseless act is a profound loss for Minnesota and for all of us who had the privilege of working with Melissa and witnessing her extraordinary leadership. There is no place for political violence in our democracy, and we stand united in condemning this horrific attack.
Speaker Hortman was deeply respected, widely loved, and known for her remarkable ability to bring people together and find common ground. Melissa’s legacy of service and leadership will not be forgotten. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Hortman family and to all who mourn this tragic loss.
We also join in hoping for the full recovery of Senator Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, as they navigate this unimaginable tragedy.
Minnesota Cable and Communications Association Legislative Wrap Up
The Minnesota Legislature officially adjourned on June 9, following a one-day special session that closed the book on one of the most unpredictable sessions in recent memory. What began with a tied House, a DFL boycott, the loss of DFL Senator Kari Dziedzic that temporarily tied the Senate, and the arrest of a GOP senator ultimately ended with lawmakers inching their way across the finish line.
But even with all the chaos this year, there were some big wins for broadband. Our association worked hard over the session to build strong coalitions, lock in bipartisan consensus, and bring experts from our industry to the table to guide lawmakers on policy that moves us closer to closing the digital divide and ensures every Minnesotan has access to fast, reliable broadband.
What Passed?
After several years of surplus, lawmakers faced a growing deficit this year and were forced to adopt a leaner $66 billion budget. The result: difficult decisions and a compromise.
Republicans pushed hard to roll back some Democrat policies enacted over the past two years. While they claimed a win in scaling back free health coverage for undocumented adults, they were unsuccessful in changing the upcoming paid family and medical leave program—something that continues to concern the business community.
For the cable and broadband sectors, notable outcomes included:
- Fixes to the Underground Telecommunications Installer Certification Program – (SF 908 / HF 47) The law makes key improvements to the state’s Underground Telecommunications Installer Certification Program, resolving compliance challenges and streamlining processes for contractors. This will ensure broadband infrastructure deployment goes uninterrupted and helps unlock the full potential of Minnesota’s $652 million in federal broadband funding—supporting communities, contractors, and consumers statewide. Most importantly, the compromise pushed back the law’s enactment date, giving us more time to train workers in the field, which was a big win for industry advocates and contractors.
- Proposed Franchise Fees Bill Stalls Again – (SF 2045 / HF 974) Thanks in part to strong advocacy from industry, consumers, and community voices, legislation that would have allowed local governments to impose up to 8% in new fees on internet and broadband-enabled services did not advance this session. MN Cable stood firm in opposing this measure, which would have disproportionately impacted low-income and underserved communities, undermined bipartisan efforts to close the digital divide, and raised costs on families, students, small businesses, and telehealth users across the state.
Looking Ahead
For Minnesota’s cable and broadband community, we will remain focused on engaging lawmakers on policies that promote reliable infrastructure, fair regulation, and opportunities for continued investment in our state’s digital future.