Governor Walz signs first bills of 2026, focusing on school bus safety, cannabis testing, and housing
Mar 31, 2026 10:52AM ● By Content Editor
Photo: Bao Chau
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - March 31, 2026
Governor Tim Walz signed the first set of bills of the 2026 legislative session and issued a new proclamation last week. According to a release from the office of Governor Walz, these laws passed the legislature with bipartisan support and address a range of state priorities.
School Bus Safety
One bill (SF 3623) focuses on school bus safety protocols and amends existing statutes to require all vehicles to stop at least 20 feet from a school bus when it is displaying flashing red lights. Specifically, the bill states that the legal requirement to stop now applies regardless of whether the bus’s stop-signal arm is extended.
Additionally, the law says that a bus’s yellow/amber "prewarning" lights serve as a formal alert that the bus will be stopping.
According to the bill text, drivers are prohibited from moving their vehicles until the red lights have ceased flashing.
Supportive Housing
The Governor also signed a bill (HF 3425), which provides a dedicated appropriation for supportive housing programs, including $1.5 million in grants specifically for providers associated with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care program. These funds are directed toward organizations facing funding gaps due to expiring federal contracts, with the goal of maintaining essential services for those experiencing homelessness.
Updated Cannabis Testing
Minnesota is also adjusting the rules for its cannabis and hemp industry to give testing facilities more time to meet new requirements. The new bill, HF 3615, states that laboratories that test hemp-derived products now have until May 31, 2027, to obtain specific international accreditation. Originally, these labs were required to meet these certain standards by the beginning of this year. The passage of the bill ensures that testing facilities can continue their work while they transition to the state's specific safety certifications.
March 31
In addition to new legislation, Governor Walz signed a bill that made changes to state commemorations, officially repealing the prior statewide recognition of "Cesar Chavez Day," which was typically observed on March 31. This comes after allegations of sexual assault against Chavez. In its place, Governor Walz issued a proclamation designating March 31 as "Farmworkers Day" in Minnesota.
According to a proclamation, this Farmworkers Day recognizes the more than 388,000 workers, including seasonal, migrant, and immigrant laborers, who contribute over $106 billion annually to the state’s agricultural economy. The proclamation explains the state's commitment to ensuring "workplace safety, employment protections, and access to safe housing" for the laborers who "sustain the regional food system."
