Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The discussion focused mainly on Minnesota redistricting, with lawmakers reacting to the court-drawn maps and how they may affect legislative and congressional districts. Speakers said rural districts will likely become larger while metro and suburban districts grow, making representation and constituent communication more difficult in Greater Minnesota. Several members said the court’s approach followed a “least-change” principle, kept most constituents in familiar districts, and appeared generally fair, though one senator said he was disappointed by more Republican pairings than Democratic ones. They also noted that some incumbents may be paired or face new district configurations, but said they had not yet fully analyzed the maps. Members also discussed the political implications of the maps for the upcoming election cycle. Republicans said they were confident the new lines would still allow them to maintain or grow their majority, pointing to priorities such as public safety, education, and permanent tax relief as their main message. They said suburban districts would likely be battlegrounds, while some specific Senate districts appeared favorable to Republicans. One member said the caucus planned to field Republicans in every district, but no formal candidate announcements were made. In addition to redistricting, the conversation touched on the broader session agenda. Republicans emphasized permanent, ongoing tax relief in response to record inflation, along with funding for more police, holding criminals accountable, and supporting parents and schools. They also said the Senate had passed unemployment insurance funding at the same level as the governor’s proposal and urged the House to do the same without tying it to other negotiations. No formal votes were taken in the exchange itself, and the remarks were largely a press availability or interview-style discussion rather than a committee action.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate State Government Finance and Policy and Elections Committee met in hybrid format on February 15, 2022, to hear the governor’s supplemental budget requests, beginning with the Department of Administration. Commissioner Alice Roberts Davis outlined a series of proposals, including funding for procurement innovation and a new disparity study, added human resources and financial management support for small agencies through SMART, fleet fund stabilization in light of reduced vehicle use, expanded grants administration oversight, more capacity for collaboration and dispute resolution, updates to the Private Cemeteries Act and field archaeology work, elimination of the $200 fee for open meeting law advisory opinions, creation of an Office of Enterprise Translations for Spanish, Hmong, and Somali materials, and a one-time grant for Ampers community radio news programming. She emphasized that these requests were intended to improve state operations, access, and service delivery. Members asked several questions, focusing especially on the proposal to eliminate the open meeting law advisory opinion fee, the fleet fund request, and the translation office. Senators Osmek and Carlson argued the fee change could encourage frivolous requests and create more work for local governments, while the commissioner responded that the department receives few requests and that waiving the fee would be more cost-effective than administering it. Senator How questioned whether the state should reduce its vehicle fleet rather than subsidize the fleet fund, and the commissioner explained that the request was meant to stabilize the fund amid projected declines in usage. Chair Kiffmeyer also pressed for the actual bill language and asked how the translation office would handle dialect differences; Davis said the office would staff two people per language and that in-house expertise would help address dialects and technical terminology more effectively than outside vendors. The committee then heard from the Department of Management and Budget. Commissioner Jim Schowalter and Deputy Commissioner Britta Ratan presented a major request to stabilize funding for the state’s enterprise resource planning systems, which support accounting, HR, payroll, and learning management. They said the systems cost about $22 million annually but can only be billed up to $10 million per year under current law, creating a structural gap that has been covered by one-time funds and dwindling balances. The department requested general fund support to close the gap, upgrade the data warehouse, and add staff, and also proposed lifting the statutory cap on the statewide systems billing account and creating an advisory group of agencies to guide future billing and system improvements. They also introduced a separate request to expand MMB’s capacity for impact evaluations, noting that the work has bipartisan support and would allow more evaluations each year.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Housing Finance and Policy Committee continued its review of Minnesota Housing by hearing from Commissioner Jennifer Holm and board members Terry Tau and Stephanie Cleansing. Holm explained that Minnesota Housing is governed by a seven-member board, with six governor-appointed public members and one member appointed by the state auditor, and emphasized the importance of the board’s role in financial management, bondholder obligations, and agency oversight. Tau and Cleansing introduced themselves, described their backgrounds in community development, philanthropy, and public service, and said their board service is focused on ensuring safe, affordable housing, fiscal responsibility, and equitable delivery of programs statewide. Members asked about what Minnesota Housing does well to promote homeownership, and both board members pointed to down payment assistance, housing counseling, the Home Stretch program, and partnerships with local and private entities. They said the agency is a relatively small part of the market but can help families succeed as homeowners by providing education and support, not just financing. They also discussed stakeholder engagement, including work with tribal communities, regional housing conferences, community organizations, and direct feedback from residents and local partners. The committee also revisited the RentHelpMN rental assistance program. Holm and Tau said the program was a large and difficult undertaking, but that it was ultimately successful in reaching a very high volume of applicants with relatively few glitches. They noted that applications were later closed because demand far exceeded available funding, and said additional legislative funding would be needed to continue the program. Members raised concerns about the end of the eviction moratorium and the risk of a sharp increase in evictions if rental assistance is not expanded. In response to questions about Minnesota’s homeownership equity gap, Tau cited historical wealth disparities, redlining, and a mismatch between what many families of color can afford and the limited supply of homes in that price range.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Local Government Committee met on February 15, 2022, with a quorum present and Chair Jasinski participating remotely while recovering from an injury. The committee first heard Senate File 2925, authored by Senator Anderson, which would allow certificates of discharge for members of the Armed Forces of the United States to be recorded without a fee. Senator Anderson and Greg Peterson of the Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers testified that the current statute is outdated because it names only the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, while later-created branches such as the Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force should also be covered. The committee took no questions and approved the bill on a voice vote, recommending it to pass and re-referencing it to the Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee. The committee then heard Senate File 3016, authored by Senator Howe, a township zoning and planning cleanup bill. The bill would repeal redundant zoning and planning authority in Chapter 366 and redirect townships to Chapter 462, which witnesses said is the more commonly used and clearer statutory framework. Steve Fenske of the Minnesota Association of Townships testified in support, explaining that the change would not remove township powers but would streamline the law and reduce confusion; Peter Coyle of Housing First Minnesota said his question about the bill’s scope had been answered and offered no further concerns. Senator Westrom suggested the measure might fit on a consent calendar because it appeared noncontroversial, but the chair said the committee would send it to the general register. The committee then approved the bill on a voice vote and sent it to general orders, after which the meeting adjourned.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Minnesota Senate passed Senate File 2848 on a 51-15 vote. The bill would provide $2 million to support recruitment of new law enforcement officers, including funding for an advertising campaign and an additional $1 million for the Pathways to Policing program, which helps recruit people into law enforcement as a second career. Supporters argued that police departments are facing staffing shortages and need help rebuilding the recruitment pipeline, saying the bill would promote the value of police work and encourage more applicants. Opponents criticized the timing and approach, pointing to recent police violence and arguing that taxpayer money should not be used for an ad campaign; they also said public safety should be addressed more broadly through holistic strategies rather than rebranding alone. After debate, the Senate approved the bill and agreed to its title.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee met on February 15, 2022, and heard three MnDOT-related bills, all of which were laid over for possible inclusion. On Senate File 3137, Senator Duckworth proposed allowing third parties or private entities to install, operate, and maintain electric vehicle charging stations at state rest areas. MnDOT testified that EV use is growing, charging infrastructure has gaps, and the bill would help address corridor coverage while leaving ownership and operation to the private sector. Members asked about emissions calculations, fees, alternative fuel corridors, and whether fast-charging would fit rest-area use; the bill was laid over. The committee then took up Senate File 3148, an agency bill carried by Senator Pratt, and adopted an author’s amendment to align the bill with the other chamber. MnDOT described the bill as a package of transportation-related changes, including naming the North Star Bikeway, creating a new legislative route for the Highway 67 reroute near Granite Falls, allowing Indian employment preference on certain projects near reservations, clarifying state-aid money needs for roads that cross boundaries, updating the Municipal State Aid Screening Board membership, and making technical changes to drone insurance and registration rules. It also deletes two legislative routes tied to the Highway 67 reroute and a Saint Cloud roadway that will be turned back to the city. The bill was then laid over as amended. Finally, the committee heard Senate File 3123, another MnDOT bill on the Corridors of Commerce program. MnDOT said the proposal responds to prior controversy over geographic balance and the burden of scoring too many applications, and would have area transportation partnerships narrow project submissions before full scoring. The bill would also create a small-projects category for greater Minnesota and set a funding split between the metro district, larger greater Minnesota projects, and smaller greater Minnesota projects. Members discussed the metro district’s inclusion of Chisago County, the value of smaller rural projects, and the heavy traffic and construction challenges in metro corridors. The bill was laid over, with members indicating they would continue reviewing the proposal.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee met in a hybrid session to receive implementation updates on four energy-law initiatives enacted the prior year: the Renewable Natural Gas Innovation Act (NGIA), Solar on Schools, the Energy Conservation and Optimization Act (ECO), and the Minnesota Efficient Technology Accelerator. Commissioner Grace Arnold and Department of Commerce staff outlined the status of each program and emphasized that stakeholder engagement has been central to developing the required regulatory frameworks and guidance. On NGIA, Commerce and CenterPoint described ongoing work to establish Public Utilities Commission frameworks for greenhouse-gas accounting and cost-benefit analysis, with a June deadline noted as on track. They said utilities may propose resources such as renewable natural gas, hydrogen, energy efficiency, strategic electrification, and carbon capture, provided they reduce emissions relative to natural gas and provide net benefits. CenterPoint said it plans to file its first innovation plan later this year or early next year, including pilots for small and medium business audits, high-heat industrial processes, district energy, and electric air-source heat pumps. The company also reported a renewable natural gas interconnection effort and a hydrogen pilot at its Minneapolis River plant, expected to begin blending very small amounts of hydrogen into the system; members asked about blending levels, compatibility, and how renewable gas would be collected and delivered. For Solar on Schools, Commerce reported that the outside-Xcel program is a grant program funded with $8 million and limited to public schools and other eligible public institutions outside Xcel territory, with applications based on financial need. The first round opened in January, and 45 districts submitted 122 applications totaling about $11.8 million, far exceeding available funding; decisions were expected by February 28. The Xcel-side program, funded through the Renewable Development Account, is a separate incentive-based proposal called Solar Awards for Schools and is still in the PUC process. Logan O’Grady of the Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association supported the program overall but urged more funding for the non-Xcel grants and said his members would have preferred the Xcel program to use upfront grants rather than production-based payments. On ECO, Commerce said the act modernizes the conservation improvement program by adding load management and efficient fuel-switching options, raising electric utility savings goals, increasing low-income spending requirements, and adding school efficiency measures that complement Solar on Schools. Staff reported 11 stakeholder meetings and 13 comment opportunities, one completed methodology on electric vehicle charging sales, and progress toward deadlines for pre-weatherization and fuel-switching guidance. Senator Eric asked whether the EV charging sales treatment applied to all utilities or only certain utility classes; the discussion was ongoing when the transcript ended.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee met to discuss workforce shortages across Minnesota’s long-term care and disability services systems and to consider Senate File 2786, which members described as a short-term funding measure to provide immediate relief. The chair said the committee had held prior hearings on the issue and wanted to move beyond describing the problem toward solutions. Testimony from Care Providers in Minnesota and the Long-Term Care Imperative emphasized severe staffing and financial pressures, including roughly 23,000 open positions, about 20% of the workforce, monthly losses of workers, reduced occupancy, admissions limits, and cash-flow strain from pandemic-related costs, inflation, PPE, and testing. Witnesses said temporary funding could help, but long-term rate and payment-system changes are still needed. Disability service providers described similar shortages and their effects on people with disabilities and families. Lynn Noren of Ryze USA said there were more than 3,500 people on waiting lists statewide for employment and day services, with Ryze alone needing 70 new staff to serve more than 250 people waiting to return or begin services. She said the lack of staff harms mental health, increases pressure on residential providers, and forces family members to leave work or take leave to provide daytime support. She urged short-term measures such as retention bonuses, child care grants, and scholarship funds, along with permanent wage and rate-setting changes. Jean Westaco of ACR Homes gave detailed testimony about crisis conditions in residential disability services, saying the organization serves more than 200 people with high medical needs but is short about 272 direct-care staff. She described repeated site closures, disaster planning, requests for National Guard help, and the closure of four CRS homes affecting 17 individuals, with only four having found placement at the time of testimony. She said the current rate structure, which she said allows about $16.33 per hour, is not enough to compete with other employers and that wages need to be closer to $20 an hour. A parent of a resident, Mr. Fletcher, testified that families fear losing stable placements and stressed the complexity and vulnerability of the people served. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion provided, though the chair indicated the committee would later mark up Senate File 2786.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee held a hearing focused on the University of Minnesota’s 2020 decision to eliminate men’s tennis, men’s gymnastics, and indoor track, with several testifiers criticizing the process and asking the legislature to review how the cuts were made. Chair Thomas Sony and other members said the hearing was intended to hear from people affected by the decision, since the university was not present to explain its actions. Testimony repeatedly argued that the process lacked transparency, collaboration, and meaningful engagement with athletes, coaches, alumni, and supporters. Anne-Marie McNamara Rogers described her family’s long history with the university and said earlier efforts to save threatened sports had succeeded through donor and alumni collaboration, unlike the 2020 cuts. She and others said the athletic department and regents gave shifting explanations involving finances and Title IX, and that affected parties were not meaningfully consulted before the September 10 announcement and October 10 regents vote. Several speakers also said the board’s final proposal changed late in the process to remove outdoor track from the cuts, and that a motion to delay the vote was defeated before the board approved the measure 7-5. Current and former athletes testified about the personal and competitive impact of the cuts. Ava Hill and Yaya Madyar said the loss of indoor track hurt recruiting, competition, and the sense that student-athletes were being supported by the university. Mark Fu said the elimination of men’s gymnastics ended his chance to compete for Minnesota and forced him to look elsewhere for college. John Roethlisberger, a former gymnast and alumnus, argued the university could have pursued other budget solutions, pointed to prior fundraising efforts that saved sports in the early 2000s, and said the department did not seriously try to preserve the programs. No votes were taken by the committee during this hearing.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Mining and Forestry Policy Committee met for its first meeting of the year and began with member and staff introductions. The committee then heard an overview from Joe Henderson of the Minnesota DNR’s Lands and Minerals Division on the mining permitting process, including waste characterization, environmental review under MEPA, and the main DNR permits involved in mining projects: water appropriation, public waters work, dam safety, and permit to mine. Henderson explained that environmental review must be completed before permits can be issued, that the DNR works with other agencies and tribal governments throughout the process, and that permit-to-mine requirements include wetland mitigation, financial assurance, and progressive reclamation. He also described DNR research facilities in Hibbing and emphasized the role of core sampling and leaching tests in evaluating waste rock and tailings. Members asked about how often permits are reviewed, whether permits expire, how amendments are handled, the size of financial assurance requirements, tribal consultation, and whether there is an expedited permitting process. Henderson said the DNR conducts annual reviews of operating plans and permit conditions, and that permits are generally tied to completion of reclamation rather than a simple expiration date, though the department is working on setting numeric terms in response to court direction. He said dam safety permit amendments are handled by DNR engineers through annual inspections and company applications, financial assurance is site-specific and can exceed 100 percent of estimated reclamation costs because of contingencies, and the DNR does not have an expedited permit process like the PCA. He also said the DNR meets regularly with tribal technical staff, sends early notices, and may add special permit conditions to address concerns, but the DNR retains final permitting authority. In response to questions about timing and cost, Henderson said many non-mining permits meet a 160-day target, while mining permits take longer because of the science and data involved; he cited PolyMet as an example where the process took much longer due largely to environmental review. He estimated there were about 27 permit-to-mine applications worked on in 2021 and a similar number of amendments or new permits still in the queue. He said companies pay an application fee and may also be billed supplemental fees to reimburse the DNR for technical work. The committee had not taken any votes or formal actions during the portion of the meeting provided.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Republican senators and other speakers held a news conference unveiling a package of Minnesota education proposals framed as a “Parents Bill of Rights” and related school transparency measures. They argued that parents should have greater access to what is taught in schools, school budgets and spending, privacy protections, notice of violent incidents, and the ability to speak at meetings without publicly disclosing personal contact information. The speakers repeatedly said the goal was to restore parents as the primary decision-makers in children’s education and to increase transparency and accountability in schools. Specific bills discussed included Senate File 2909, described as reinforcing parents’ fundamental right to direct their child’s education and requiring districts not to withhold information about a child’s well-being or education; Senate File 2666, which would require schools to post class syllabi electronically for parents and the public within the first two weeks of the term and update them when material changes occur; and Senate File 2575, which would require curriculum access without cost upon request and annual notice of school policies. Another proposal, Senate File 2729, would prohibit school boards from requiring parents to publicly disclose their address at meetings. Speakers also referenced a school-choice proposal that would let money follow students and said it would be brought back to committee. In response to questions, the speakers said the bills were intended to create a partnership between parents and educators, not to micromanage classroom instruction. They said the syllabus requirement would focus on scope and sequence rather than day-to-day lesson detail, and that if parents objected to material, existing law already allows alternative instruction in some cases. They also said parents should first work through local schools and school boards if concerns arise, and that penalties were not the focus. No votes or formal committee action were taken in the transcript; the speakers said some of the bills would be heard or brought forward in committee later.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee took up Senate File 2740, a bill aimed at addressing long-term care workforce shortages and related facility stability issues. Senator Abeler explained and amended the bill to remove a temporary nursing licensure section, keep and modify provisions on recredentialing nurses whose licenses have lapsed, retain a temporary assisted living staff training section, and keep a voluntary correction program for nursing facilities so providers can raise concerns with the Department of Health without those discussions being used against them in surveys. The committee adopted the A1 amendment as amended, including a technical title fix, and later adopted an oral amendment restoring title language after section 4 was retained. Testimony from Toby Pearson of Care Providers of Minnesota and Matt Steele of LeadingAge Minnesota strongly supported the bill, describing an ongoing operational crisis in long-term care. They cited roughly 23,000 open positions, monthly workforce losses, reduced occupancy, admissions being limited because of staffing shortages, and severe cash-flow problems driven by lower occupancy and higher costs for overtime, PPE, and testing. They said many facilities are close to insolvency, some are relying on National Guard assistance, and the bill’s temporary regulatory changes could help keep facilities open and maintain access to care. Members raised concerns about patient safety, Board of Nursing oversight for lapsed licenses, and whether the Department of Health had been consulted on the voluntary correction language. Department of Health staff said they would want follow-up discussion, noted that current practice already does not trigger regulatory action when providers ask questions, and flagged possible federal/CMS issues. Senator Wicklund said the bill still had open questions and she could not support it at that time, while Senator Abeler said the bill was an initial effort to rescue collapsing nursing homes and that more work would continue with the department and stakeholders. Despite the concerns, the committee voted to recommend Senate File 2740, as amended, to pass and send it to the floor. After that, the committee moved on to the governor’s supplemental budget, beginning with Commissioner Jan Malcolm’s overview of the Department of Health’s budget request, which she described as a sizable package of 29 proposals totaling $233 million in the current biennium and $731 million in the next.