Legal Challenge to Minnesota Omnibus Law Gains Momentum

St. Paul, MN (MinnesotaNow) - The Minnesota Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling in a closely watched case that could have a significant impact on state government.

Judge Found That Lawmakers Violated the State Constitution

The ruling by a Ramsey County judge last year involved a challenge to a large omnibus bill that was approved during the final hours of the so-called "trifecta" session of the Minnesota Legislature in 2024 when the Democrats controlled both chambers of the legislature and the office of Governor. The judge found that the law violated the Single-Subject Clause of the state constitution and severed one provision of it.

Single-Subject Clause of Minnesota Constitution

That provision was a gun-control measure banning binary triggers on firearms, which cause a gun to fire both when the trigger is pulled and when it is released. A lawsuit challenging the inclusion of the ban in the omnibus bill was filed by the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, citing the Single-Subject Clause, which states, "No law shall embrace more than one subject, which shall be expressed in its title."

Struck Down Binary Triggered Ban

The Ramsey County judge's ruling was restricted to the binary trigger ban and left the rest of the omnibus bill intact, although the judge also indicated that additional challenges to provisions of the legislation would likely succeed for the same reason. The State of Minnesota responded by asking the Minnesota Court of Appeals to overturn the judge's decision, while the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus asked the appellate court to broaden the ruling by dismantling the omnibus bill.

Appeal Likely

The Court of Appeals, in its ruling, upheld the judge's decision to sever the binary trigger ban and to keep the remainder of the omnibus bill in place pending additional challenges. It is a decision that will likely be taken up by the Minnesota Supreme Court.

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Another Challenge to Omnibus Law

Meanwhile, a business lobbying group, the Minnesota Private Business Council, has brought another challenge to the omnibus bill involving Minnesota's Paid Family and Medical Leave program. The new lawsuit seeks to nullify provisions in the omnibus bill that include the payroll taxes currently funding the program, which Governor Tim Walz has listed among his top accomplishments.

That case is still pending before a lower court.