Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 2725 and moved it to the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy Committee. The bill, presented by Representatives Edelson and Albright, is based on the final recommendations of the 2019 competency restoration task force and would place Rule 20.01 procedures into statute, create a process and timelines for competency restoration, establish supervision standards for people found incompetent to stand trial, create forensic navigator positions, and give judges more discretion. The authors said the bill is intended to address “gap cases” where defendants are found incompetent but do not meet civil commitment standards and therefore may not receive treatment or restoration services. Testimony was generally supportive of the need for reform, but several witnesses emphasized that the bill still needs work. Tim Carey of the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office and Robert Small of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association said the current system leaves serious gaps and that the bill is a good start, but they want changes to better protect public safety and keep some criminal cases open longer. Sue Abderholden of NAMI Minnesota, who chaired the task force, described the rise in incompetency findings, the strain on treatment beds, and the task force’s consensus recommendations. Terrell Clark of the Association of Minnesota Counties also supported the bill as a step forward, while noting concerns about pretrial supervision language and the lack of resources for people unlikely to regain competency. Members focused much of their questioning on the new forensic navigator role, asking what background and training would be required. The authors said the position is intended to be a hybrid of mental health and court-system knowledge, possibly filled by peer specialists, mental health practitioners, or people with legal or law-enforcement experience, and that the exact curriculum and staffing model are still being developed. Representative Scott raised concerns about implementation, funding, and DHS’s role, arguing the state needs an interim solution and more treatment capacity. Representative Albright responded that the bill is meant to establish responsibility and coordination now, while a separate interim bill would address immediate gaps during implementation. The authors said they are working with county attorneys on amendments and acknowledged that additional changes are likely before final passage.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee met remotely on February 17, 2022, approved the February 15 minutes, and then heard House File 2917, which Representative Hanson laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill. HF 2917 would restore the lottery-in-lieu dedication for outdoor programs from 72.43 percent back to 97 percent, which supporters said would increase funding for heritage enhancement, DNR parks and trails, zoos, metro parks, and related outdoor projects by about $13 million annually. Hanson and several testifiers described the bill as correcting a past reduction made during early-2000s budget shortfalls and emphasized the value of dedicated outdoor funding. Support for HF 2917 came from a broad coalition, including the St. Louis and Lake Counties Regional Railroad Authority, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Minnesota, The Nature Conservancy, Pheasants Forever, and Brian Rice of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Testifiers highlighted heavy use of parks and trails during the pandemic, the importance of outdoor recreation to public health and tourism, and the need for stable funding for DNR and metro park operations. Members asked about the bill’s path and effective date; Hanson said the issue would likely be handled in Ways and Means because it is ongoing base funding, and a staff member noted the effective date should likely be July 1 rather than August 1 because of the fiscal impact. The committee then took up House File 2908, which Representative Fischer moved to re-refer to the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee. Fischer said the bill would establish a voluntary certified salt applicator program as best management practices and provide limited liability protections for certified private applicators who follow the program and document compliance; he said the bill’s fiscal note was $355,000 in the first year and $350,000 in the second. Testifiers from Audubon Minnesota, Bolton & Menk, and Stop Over Salting supported the bill, arguing that road salt and chloride are harming surface water and groundwater, wildlife, and infrastructure, and that training and certification can significantly reduce salt use while maintaining public safety. The committee heard testimony but no final vote on HF 2908 in the portion provided.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard House File 2908, which would establish a voluntary certified salt applicator program aimed at reducing chloride pollution in Minnesota waters. Representative Fischer said the bill is intended to promote best management practices for winter maintenance, with a separate liability provision to be considered later in Judiciary and Civil Law. He noted a fiscal note of $355,000 in the first year and $350,000 in the second year, and said the bill is largely similar to a prior version from the last session. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive. Audubon Minnesota, the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Stop Over Salting, and a winter maintenance consultant all argued that road salt is contributing to rising chloride levels in surface water and groundwater, harming aquatic ecosystems, infrastructure, and wildlife. Witnesses emphasized that training programs such as MPCA’s Smart Salting courses have reduced salt use significantly and can help private applicators adopt safer, more precise practices. Several testifiers also said limited liability protections would encourage more private businesses to participate in training and change overapplication habits driven by fear of lawsuits. Members asked about alternatives to granular salt, the geographic concentration of chloride-impaired waters, and whether cities or the state could require liquid de-icers or certification by ordinance or purchasing policy. Testifiers said liquid de-icers and other precision strategies can reduce chloride use, though no single solution eliminates the problem, and MPCA staff said most impaired waters are in urban, impervious-surface areas, especially the metro. Representative Fischer said the bill’s path looked more promising this year and that the Senate had already held a hearing. At the end of the hearing, Representative Fischer renewed his motion to re-refer House File 2908 to the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee. The committee approved the motion on a 16-0 vote, with three members excused.

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Higher Education Committee heard testimony from former and current University of Minnesota athletes about the university’s decision to eliminate certain athletic programs, including men’s indoor track. Speakers said the cuts were confusing and deeply disappointing, and described the impact on athletes who lost opportunities to compete at the Division I level. One former athlete argued that money used for recent salary increases and extensions for football and other university leaders could have helped preserve the programs. Testimony also emphasized the effect on team cohesion and morale, with athletes saying the combined men’s and women’s track teams now feel incomplete and that the decision left students with uncertainty about their futures. Several speakers criticized the athletic department for not doing enough to save the programs and said the university appeared to make the decisions without meaningful input from affected athletes or the broader community. No votes or formal committee actions were mentioned in the transcript excerpt.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Lawmakers held a press conference on a proposal to legalize sports betting in Minnesota, with the discussion centered on a framework that would include brick-and-mortar wagering at tribal casinos and the two racetracks, Canterbury and Running Aces, plus at least two mobile/online licenses. Speakers said the plan is intended to respect tribal interests, provide consumer choice, keep betting revenue in-state, and create a state tax or transaction-fee stream, while also directing some money to track purses and problem-gambling programs. Senator Chamberlain and other supporters, including Senators Coleman, Housley, Koran, and Baker, described the proposal as popular and overdue, emphasizing that Minnesotans are already betting across state lines and that online wagering is where most of the market is. They argued the bill would offer consumer protections, reduce black-market activity, and allow tribes flexibility to control licenses and potentially sub-license to others. Several speakers stressed that the proposal is not meant to be a major cash cow, but rather a regulated entertainment option with some revenue for the state. Questions focused on how online operations would be structured, whether a new tribal compact would be needed, and whether tribes had been consulted. The sponsors said the mobile component would be regulated by the state because it occurs off tribal land, while tribal lands would remain under compacted tribal control; they also said a new compact would likely be required in Minnesota. They acknowledged ongoing discussions with tribal stakeholders and said the bill was still being rewritten, with new language expected soon. No vote was taken.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Education Policy Committee met remotely, approved the February 14, 2022 minutes by voice vote, and then heard House File 1083, as amended by the DE1 amendment, which was adopted by voice vote. The bill, authored by Representative Mohler, would create a comprehensive school mental health lead at the Minnesota Department of Education and, under the amendment, add a second lead focused on teacher and staff mental health. Mohler said the positions would serve as a clearinghouse for evidence-based strategies and would not require districts to take on new mandates. The committee announced a time-certain vote on the bill for 1:45 p.m. and asked members to hold questions until testimony concluded. Testimony was strongly supportive of the bill. Mohler, Amy Jones, Al Levin, Sarah Washington, Cara Diavro, Matthew Coy, and Dr. Katie Pickell all described rising student mental health needs, pandemic-related stress, trauma, burnout, and educator shortages, arguing that Minnesota needs state-level leadership to coordinate support for students and staff. Several testifiers emphasized that school-based mental health services reduce stigma and improve access, while Pickell cited statewide survey data showing mental health as a top and growing concern for administrators, teachers, support staff, students, and families. Coy and Diavro spoke personally about family loss and school violence, underscoring the urgency of prevention and support. Jolie Holland of the School Nurse Organization of Minnesota also supported HF 1083, saying a mental health specialist at MDE would be a valuable resource and noting that school nurses bring a needed medical and physical health perspective to mental health work. She added that the organization did not want support for this bill to diminish the need for separate permanent funding for a licensed school nurse position at MDE. Department of Education representatives were present and available for questions.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Commerce Committee met remotely, approved the February 9, 2022 minutes, and then took up several bills. The first major item was House File 2915, relating to coverage for ectodermal dysplasia. Representative Poston explained the bill would help children with the rare condition and said the cost would be about five cents per premium per month. The committee adopted the A22 author’s amendment, heard brief supportive remarks recalling prior testimony from affected families, and then voted 13-0 to recommend the bill be re-referred to the Health Finance and Policy Committee. The committee then began hearing liquor-related bills for possible inclusion in a later omnibus liquor bill. House File 2758, from Chair Becker-Finn, was amended with A1 to clarify that the bill applies only to contemporaneous World Cup viewings, not rebroadcasts. Testimony emphasized the social and community value of World Cup watch parties and the need for cities to have flexibility to allow bars and other venues to serve during matches. Members discussed public safety and the narrow scope of the proposal, and the bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus liquor bill. House File 3070, from Representative Swedzinski, would allow agricultural societies to apply for up to a seven-day liquor license during county fairs. Testifiers from the Minnesota Federation of County Fairs and Lyon County said many fairs run longer than four days and that the change would help raise revenue for maintenance, safety, accessibility, and programming. The committee also discussed the local tradition of “rolly bowling,” and the bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus liquor bill. The committee then moved to House File 3018, from Representative Nash, which would allow municipalities to permit sale of strong beer at town team baseball events in place of unavailable 3.2 beer; testimony from town ball representatives said the change was needed to preserve a major fundraising source for small-town teams. The transcript cuts off during that testimony, before any final committee action on HF 3018 is shown.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard House File 3072, which would significantly expand Minnesota’s student loan tax credit by raising the maximum credit from $500 to $5,000, increasing the income phaseout, changing the earned income limit, and making the credit refundable. The author argued the bill would build on Minnesota’s earlier action on student debt, help working- and middle-class borrowers, and support retention of educated workers in a state facing workforce shortages and declining birth rates. The chair noted the fiscal estimate was large, about $430 million in fiscal year 2023 and roughly $438 million and $446 million in the following two years, and mentioned eight letters of support posted on the committee website. Several testifiers spoke in favor of the bill, describing how student debt has affected their ability to pay for housing, child care, health care, and basic living expenses. Speakers included a nurse, a child care director, a policy advocate, a graduate student, and others who said the credit would provide meaningful relief and help them stay in Minnesota, buy homes, start families, or continue in needed professions. Many tied their support to broader economic concerns, including workforce shortages, out-migration of young adults, and the difficulty of balancing debt with family responsibilities and career advancement. No opposition testimony was presented in the excerpt. At the start of the meeting, the committee laid over House File 3072 for possible inclusion, and the bill remained under consideration after testimony.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard House File 2811, as amended by a DE1 amendment, which would provide relief grants for businesses in Minnesota border counties affected by the prolonged Canadian border closure. Chair Eklund explained that the bill was originally prompted by Boundary Waters outfitting losses from fires and Forest Service closures, but was expanded to cover broader border-community impacts from the Canadian restrictions. The DE1 amendment was adopted by voice vote, and the bill was then laid over for possible inclusion. Testifiers described severe economic harm in border communities. The Grand Portage tribal chair said the band’s casino, store, and resort rely heavily on Canadian customers and have seen business drop sharply. The Koochiching Economic Development Authority director said International Falls lost Canadian retail and tourism traffic, with many businesses closing or for sale and significant losses in lodging, medical, and event-related activity. A Border Route resort owner and outfitter described losses from drought, fires, evacuations, and Boundary Waters closures, saying the season was cut short and revenues fell. A border store owner said his business was down about 90 percent since March 2020 and that staffing and financing had become difficult. Another business owner described how transient tourists and Canadian property owners support local fuel, lodging, and supply sales, and said his propane and fuel business had fallen more than 50 percent. Representative Baker supported the concept but questioned whether the bill’s revenue-loss threshold was based on the right comparison year, noting that 2021 may have been stronger than 2020 for some businesses. Chair Eklund said the threshold was modeled on prior relief legislation and was open to further review. Committee members said they would look more closely at the numbers and broader small-business needs, and Chair Eklund closed by thanking the testifiers and renewing his motion to lay the bill over.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Property Tax Division met with a quorum present and first approved the minutes from February 9, 2022, and from the June 18, 2021 joint Tax and Property Tax meeting by voice vote. Members then moved through four bills, each laid over for possible inclusion in the division report after hearing testimony and taking voice votes on amendments where offered. House File 2300, as amended, would reclassify property owned by community land trusts and used as homesteads at a lower class rate. Representative Richardson and testifiers from One Roof Community Housing and the Rondo Community Land Trust said the bill would support long-term affordability, help low- and moderate-income homeowners, and better reflect the limited-equity nature of community land trust housing. They noted there are about 12 community land trusts and roughly 1,200 such homes statewide, and the chair said a cross-reference would still need to be added so homeowners remain eligible for property tax refunds. The DE1 amendment was adopted and the bill was laid over. House File 1661, as amended, would exempt a nonprofit assisted living facility in Duluth, St. Anne’s, from property tax. Representative Schultz and St. Anne’s executive director Scott Johnson argued the facility should be treated like other nonprofit elder-care providers that are already exempt, emphasizing its long history, nonprofit status, and service to low-income seniors. Johnson said the facility has about 167 units, 56 residents are impoverished, and the property tax burden has risen significantly; the committee also clarified that the revenue note’s $10,000 figure reflected a state property tax refund interaction. The DE2 amendment was adopted and the bill was laid over. House File 1429, as amended, would update the agricultural property tax classification to include industrial hemp. Representative Vang and Department of Revenue testifier Joanna Byers said the change would align the tax code with current hemp production law and ensure farmers growing industrial hemp qualify for the proper agricultural classification. The DE1 amendment was adopted, members were told the bill had related revenue interactions with agricultural credits, and the bill was laid over. House File 2810 would give the city of Echo an extension to capture local government aid after an audit/filing problem tied to a clerk transition; Mayor Raymond Sweetman said the city had since corrected the issue and secured help, and the committee was told the bill had a zero revenue estimate because the aid was already appropriated. The bill was laid over after brief questions about the size of the city and the filing delay. The division then received an overview of the Department of Revenue’s annual Voss report on homestead property tax burdens. Nick Green explained that the report compares homeowner income with property taxes and refunds, using statewide data to track trends over time; he said burdens fell after the Great Recession and have risen somewhat since 2014, while still remaining below 2007 levels overall. He also noted that metro homestead burdens remain higher than greater Minnesota, though the gap has narrowed over time, and began outlining the factors that drive differences in property tax burdens across regions.