Sponsor: Government & Community Relations
Title
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2027 Ramsey County State and Federal Legislative Platforms
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Recommendation
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1. Approve the 2027 Ramsey County State Legislative Platform and the 2027 Ramsey County Federal Legislative Platform and recommend their submittal to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners.
2. Authorize Ramsey County representatives to work with members of the Minnesota State Legislature, United State Congress, and other interested parties to promote legislation reflective of the positions contained in the platform.
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Background and Rationale
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On October 27, 2026, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners held a workshop on the 2027 state and federal legislative platform drafts. Government Relations staff presented an analysis of the upcoming state legislative session as well as proposed state and federal draft platform items for discussion by the members of the board.
The 2027 State Legislative Platform draft includes Ramsey County policy and funding priorities, a bonding proposal and a statement of support for the platforms of named organizations. The 2027 Federal Legislative Platform draft includes both specific policy and funding priorities as well as broad policy goals at the federal level. Both platforms include items that support all of Ramsey County’s 2026-2027 Strategic Priorities, particularly Resident-Centered Holistic Supports, Operational Excellence, and Justice Transformation.
The Legislative Committee of the Whole reviews the draft 2027 Ramsey County State Legislative Platform and the draft 2027 Ramsey County Federal Legislative Platform and recommends their submittal to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners is
scheduled to vote on final approval on both platforms on November 24, 2026.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Most of the proposed items have direct impacts on racial equity, particularly those items related to services or benefits specifically targeted to low-income individuals, families or communities, which disproportionately include more people of color and American Indians. These include measures to improve access to affordable housing, improve homelessness prevention efforts and wraparound services for families experiencing homelessness, and improvements to public safety. Priorities also include measures to facilitate timely implementation of Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act. Additionally, Ramsey County would seek to make it easier for home-owners to remove discriminatory restrictive covenants from their property deeds.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Government Relations staff will meet with Ramsey County community advisory committees and collaboratives to share the platform development process. Additionally, Government Relations continually engages with key stakeholder organizations and advocacy groups in the community. Staff have been meeting with the Ramsey County legislative delegation to hear from legislators
regarding issues of importance to Ramsey County communities.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
2027 will be a state budget year. Several positions in the state platform favor increased funding to the county for specific programs and services. Other positions may have financial implications that
would require state and/or county appropriations if legislation were enacted. When there are implications for the current budget, necessary budget adjustments can be processed in accordance with administrative code and relevant board authorities; or through changes to the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), depending on the specifics of the funding change.
Last Previous Action
None.
Attachments
1. Presentation
2. Draft 2027 State Legislative Platform
3. Draft 2027 Federal Legislative Platform