A delay was caused by the late submission of a series of negotiating requests from Gov. Mark Dayton, who sought the inclusion of several provisions that had not yet been funded in the bill.

Rep. Lyndon Carlson, who chairs the House Ways & Means Committee, said a few provisions in the agriculture and jobs portions of the budget were the most significant hang-ups left.

The recommendations call for the acquisition of almost 2,000 acres of native prairie and would pay for restoration and enhancement projects on another 7,000 acres of such lands.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk says proposed amendments to the state constitution should need backing from 60 percent of both the Senate and the House.

In some ways, the modern era of film and television production started in Minnesota. In 1997, the Legislature passed an incentive program hoping to lure producers to film in the North Star State. Prior to that, the Minnesota Film and Television Board had used the state’s homegrown charms, such as scenery and a competent workforce, to romance the makers of Hollywood films such as “The Mighty Ducks,” “Grumpy Old Men” and “Fargo,” which, despite its title, was filmed in Minnesota.

Even though Minnesota faces a $1.1 billion budget deficit, there are still some much-coveted pots of money up for grabs in 2013, thanks to the Legacy amendment’s provisions for spending on outdoors and cultural projects.

In their first joint action of the 2013 session, the newly elected Democratic leaders of the Minnesota Legislature held a news conference to show they were on the same page regarding broad goals for the biennium. First and foremost, House Speaker Paul Thissen and Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk promised to balance a projected $1.1 billion budget deficit without gimmicks and without heading into a government shutdown.

Negotiations in Washington over the fiscal cliff were supposed to bring clarity to how much money Minnesota could expect to receive from the federal government in the next biennium.

With DFLers back in control of the House and Senate, many familiar faces will be wielding key gavels when the Legislature convenes on January 8.

The Senate DFL has formalized its committee structure and appointed the chairs who will direct the flow of legislation in 2013.