October 26–November 1, 2026
A quiet week for passed legislation, with five federal bills cleared committee and headed toward a House floor vote.
Nothing crossed the finish line locally, at the county, or in St. Paul this week, so the action is all at the federal level, and most of it lands pretty far from Bloomington's doorstep.
Coming up next week:
Digital skills passport for job seekers. HR 8183 cleared committee and is headed to a House floor vote, though no firm date is set yet. The bill would let states use federal grants to build a digital record, controlled by you, that stores your education, work history, and skills in one place employers can search. Minnesota could tap that funding to build or connect its own system, which would matter if you're between jobs or changing careers.
Rural water studies in the region. HR 9785 also cleared committee and awaits a House floor vote. It funds up to $10 million each in studies for three rural water systems serving South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska, drawing from the Missouri River. The Minnesota connection is real, though the studies themselves focus on rural and agricultural areas outside the metro.
Several other federal bills cleared committee this week, but they deal with matters well outside Bloomington: a California tribal land transfer, cormorant hunting rules, and water settlement payments to three New Mexico tribes. No floor dates have been set on any of the five federal bills moving forward.
See what's up for a vote now · Find your representatives