Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton and legislative leaders are trying to come to agreement on holding a special session of the legislature right before Christmas. State Farmers Union Government Relations Director Thom Petersen says the recent budget surplus numbers, at $1.4 billion, have likely given them some impetus for calling a special session.

He says there are three major issues lawmakers will look at if a special session is called. They include: addressing the rising cost of health insurance, property tax relief and a bonding measure to help finance infrastructure needs.

Petersen says without passage of bonding legislation that fund will run out of money January 1. He also says the most likely issue to get addressed during the special session will be health insurance.

Petersen says if lawmakers pass a tax relief measure during the special session, it may not get implemented until well into 2018.