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Winona

Welcome

Welcome to Model Legislature legislative session, sponsored by Winona State University, our College of Education & Political Science Department, Rep. Gene Pelowski, and his remarkable class of Political Science Students POLS 305 Model Legislature. Professor Darrell Downs is the Political Science Department Advisor whose excellent recruiting of students was essential in POLS 305 Model Legislature’s success. Each spring the students of the POLS 305 facilitate an in-person, simulated legislative session, engaging area high school students as legislators.

 

2026 Legislative Session March 5-6, 2026

This year’s Model Legislature session will be held in person at Winona State University’s Education Village on the Winona Campus. The event will begin at 9:00 am Thursday morning in the Helble Hall Atrium at the Education Village on the WSU’s main campus.

Budget Restrictions

For the 2026 Model Legislature Session, which would be for the 2026-27 fiscal years budget, the projected surplus is $2.465 billion. The Ways & Means and Taxes Committee will have a target of $2.465 billion in one time spending. Once that amount is reached there can be no more spending. There will be no long term spending unless the Model Legislature raises revenue to support it. Each bill with spending will add this text in the Ways & Means & Taxes Committee. “This is a one time appropriation. It is not a base adjustment or an ongoing appropriation.”


 


 

Directions

The event will begin on WSU’s main campus at 9:00 am Thursday in Helble Hall’s Atrium on the WSU Education Village. Helble Hall is located at 108 East 8th Street, Winona Minnesota. Parking is available in the lot next to Helble Hall and on the street. 

Committee Rooms

You will receive directions to your committee rooms when you arrive. Aside from the joint sessions to open and close the event, the remainder of your time will be spent on our Education Village campus. The following rooms will be used:

  • Cathedral School 016 – Senate
  • Cathedral School 101 – Governor’s Office
  • Helble Hall Atrium – House of Representatives
  • Helble Hall 244 – Commerce Committee
  • Helble Hall 251 – Environment and Agriculture Committee
  • Helble Hall 264 – Education Committee
  • Helble Hall 320 – Rules Committee
  • Helble Hall 320A – Judiciary Committee
  • Helble Hall 327 – Transportation Committee
  • Helble Hall 328 – Ways & Means/Taxes Committee
  • Helble Hall 329 – General Legislation Committee
  • Helble Hall 341 – Health and Human Services Committee