Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Senate Republicans held a public safety-focused rollout centered on recruiting and retaining more police officers and addressing what they described as a statewide law enforcement staffing shortage. Speakers, including Senators Housley, Josinski, Chamberlain, Gazelka, Eichorn, and others, argued that violent crime is rising, that anti-police rhetoric and the defund-the-police movement have hurt recruitment and morale, and that departments in both the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota are struggling to fill vacancies. They said they want to restore respect for law enforcement and keep standards high while increasing the number of applicants. Several proposals were described: a $1 million public service campaign to promote law enforcement careers; scholarships and financial aid for Minnesota State students and other Minnesota residents entering policing; a Pathways to Policing program for second-career entrants; tuition reimbursement for licensed officers after a period of service; and a $10,000 signing bonus for new officers, backed by $20 million in funding and structured to pay after one year of service to the hiring agency. One senator said the bonus program could support up to 2,000 new officers if fully used. The speakers also said they planned separate future proposals on retention and tougher criminal penalties. In response to questions, the senators said the recruitment problem is not limited to Minneapolis and St. Paul but affects rural communities as well, with some departments seeing far fewer applicants or none who are qualified. They said they do not intend to lower hiring standards and argued that higher pay and incentives are necessary because the work is risky. They also said there is some overlap with Democratic and gubernatorial public safety ideas, which they welcomed as a sign of possible bipartisan agreement. No formal vote on these recruitment proposals was taken in the transcript, though senators said some public safety measures could move to the floor soon; they also noted that presumptive workers’ compensation would be voted on that day and that UI trust fund and health care staffing issues were other areas of potential quick action.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee met in a hybrid format and heard introductory discussion on Senate File 2774, a reorganization of the disability waiver rates-setting statute. Staff explained that the bill is intended to improve readability and amendability without changing policy, rate calculations, or the underlying math. Members and department staff said the rewrite should make future committee and conference reports easier to produce, and the department indicated support. The chair said the committee would review the bill and likely take it up with a short technical amendment at a later meeting, rather than acting on it immediately because it was introduced that day. The committee then discussed Senate File 2876, a package of temporary waivers and flexibilities tied to human services operations during COVID. DHS described the bill as a continuation or reinstatement of waivers used during the peacetime emergency, including verbal confirmation for cash assistance applications, verbal permission to contact third parties for eligibility verification, and a background-study waiver allowing some workers to begin work without supervision while fingerprint-based studies are pending, subject to federal limits. Members raised concerns about the two-week fingerprint window and the burden on small providers, and DHS said it has help information and a contact center, while also reviewing pain points. Additional provisions covered remote oversight for personal care assistance qualified professionals, allowing verbal or expressed approval for support-planning documents after virtual meetings, and a child care assistance provision that would pay providers who temporarily close for health reasons for up to eight weeks and allow them not to charge private-pay families. The chair said the child care closure-payment item had the most resistance, raised cost concerns and questions about interaction with other emergency funding, and indicated it likely needed more work and might not move out of the Senate in its current form. No formal votes were taken during the discussion.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Warren Limmer opened the meeting by saying the committee would review and vote on Senate File 2672, which would require Minnesota Senate confirmation of governor-appointed members of the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission. He argued the commission has become too policy-driven and too insulated from public accountability, raising separation-of-powers concerns because most members are appointed rather than elected. Limmer said the bill would not affect the three judicially appointed members, only the executive-branch appointees, and framed the proposal as a way for the legislature to vet appointees’ philosophical views and ensure they reflect voters’ interests. In questioning, Limmer said the commission’s recent actions, including a 2019 probation policy and a proposal to cap probation terms at five years for most crimes, showed it was making broad changes to criminal sentencing rather than minor technical adjustments. He said the legislature can always change the law, but in a split government that is unlikely, leaving the commission with too much practical power. He also said Minnesota relies heavily on probation and that reducing probation terms would ignore proportionality in sentencing. When asked about future appointees, he said he would look for a broad mix of backgrounds and viewpoints, including law enforcement, corrections, victims, and formerly incarcerated people, but emphasized legislative confirmation as the key change. The discussion also touched on a separate public safety topic: state funding for community groups, violence interrupters, and job-training nonprofits. Limmer said he had not reviewed the bill in detail but expressed skepticism that third-party groups improve community policing, saying stronger relationships should come directly from law enforcement personnel working with communities. No vote result or final committee action was stated in the transcript excerpt.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The discussion focused heavily on the recent school shooting and broader gun violence, with the Governor and legislative leaders expressing grief, urgency, and a shared desire to find bipartisan solutions. The Governor said the problem is multifaceted and pointed to local flexibility, support services, community groups, state resources through the BCA and other agencies, and a possible statewide violent crime task force or fusion center. He said he would welcome legislation proven to reduce gun violence, mentioning enhanced background checks, straw-purchase prevention, and red flag laws, while also stressing that guns are not the only factor. Senate Republicans said their focus would be on more police funding and holding violent criminals accountable, and one Senate leader said it was highly unlikely any gun control measures would move through the Senate this year. DFL leaders emphasized prevention, youth intervention, schools, housing, food, mental health, and wraparound services, along with support for law enforcement and public safety staffing shortages. The group also discussed the state bonding bill and infrastructure priorities. The Governor proposed a $2.7 billion bonding package and argued the state should use its surplus and leverage federal infrastructure dollars without leaving matching funds on the table. Republican leaders said the bill should be smaller and focused on core infrastructure such as roads, bridges, asset preservation, broadband, wastewater, and drinking water, with one senator citing roughly $800 million to $900 million as the amount already in the forecast. Several participants said a bonding bill should be bipartisan and should avoid unnecessary local projects, while others argued for a robust package that also supports public safety facilities and first responders, including the West Metro public safety regional facility. The meeting also touched on the Hennepin County Sheriff’s decision to retire rather than resign, with the Governor and others saying a transition would likely be best and that the sheriff’s office remains strong. On the Feeding Our Future matter, the Governor and DFL leaders said they support independent audits and transparency for any program involving public funds, while also noting the Department of Education identified problems early and that oversight should apply broadly across programs. No votes were taken, and the discussion ended with continued calls for collaboration on public safety, oversight, and infrastructure.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Minnesota leaders and legislative caucus leaders discussed public safety in the wake of a fatal shooting and broader concerns about violent crime. The governor, Senate Republican Leader Miller, House DFL leaders, and others expressed condolences, praised law enforcement’s response, and agreed that crime is a top priority. They emphasized both immediate response and longer-term prevention, with Democrats highlighting youth intervention, wraparound services, school supports, housing, food, and mental health, while Republicans stressed more police funding, tougher accountability for violent offenders, and support for law enforcement. The governor said he would welcome legislation proven to reduce gun violence, mentioning enhanced background checks and red-flag laws, but Miller said it is highly unlikely the Senate will advance gun control measures this year and that the focus should be on criminals rather than law-abiding gun owners. The discussion then shifted to a possible bonding bill. The governor said he had proposed a $2.7 billion package and argued the state should use its surplus to leverage federal infrastructure dollars, especially for roads, bridges, broadband, and other core projects. House and Senate Republicans said the governor’s number was likely too large to pass the House and suggested a smaller bill, with one Senate Republican citing roughly $800 million to $900 million as the amount already in the forecast for debt service. Several participants said any bill should be bipartisan, focus on core infrastructure and asset preservation, and avoid becoming a partisan standoff or a vehicle for unrelated projects. Some also argued the state should move early in session rather than wait until the end. The meeting also touched on Hennepin County Sheriff Dave Hutchinson’s announcement that he would retire at the end of his term, with the governor and legislative leaders saying a transition would likely be best but leaving the decision to voters and county processes. Later, leaders addressed the Feeding Our Future scandal and possible audits of the Minnesota Department of Education. The governor and DFL leaders supported an audit and broader transparency, while one Republican leader called for a detailed accounting of federal pandemic-relief dollars and criticized the legislature for not exercising enough oversight. The conversation ended with a broader exchange about crime root causes and whether the state should prioritize immediate enforcement, prevention strategies, or both.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee met in a new hybrid format and began with member introductions and brief remarks from the chair about encouraging in-person participation when possible. The main agenda item was an update from DEED Commissioner Steve Grove and Acting Deputy Commissioner Evan Rowe on unemployment insurance, with the chair noting that the topic had dominated interim discussions. Grove outlined the purpose of unemployment insurance as temporary partial wage replacement for workers unemployed through no fault of their own, generally for up to 26 weeks, and described it as a federal-state program administered by states. Grove reviewed how Minnesota’s unemployment system functioned during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the legislature and governor eliminated the waiting week, suspended certain eligibility requirements for COVID-related layoffs, expanded shared work, and provided relief for reimbursing employers. He also described major federal actions, including enhanced weekly benefits, extended benefits, and a temporary FEMA-funded lost wages assistance program. He emphasized that Minnesota’s system handled the surge without crashing, processed about 1.3 million applications, paid benefits to about 873,000 Minnesotans, and distributed nearly $15 billion during the pandemic. Rowe then began a more detailed explanation of the UI tax structure and trust fund. He said employers pay taxes only on wages up to the taxable wage base, which was $38,000 for 2022, and that the base tax rate ranges from 0.1% to 0.5% depending on trust fund levels. He also explained the experience-rated tax, which ranges from 0% to 8.9% based on an employer’s use of the system, and noted that additional and special assessments can be triggered when the trust fund falls below certain thresholds. No votes or formal actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee met on February 2, 2022, in a hybrid format and reviewed the rules for remote and in-person participation before taking up Senate File 2672. The committee adopted the A1 amendment, which was described as a typographical correction, and then heard the bill, which would require Senate confirmation of members of the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission. Senator Limmer argued the bill was needed because the commission is largely appointed by the governor, has become too policy-driven, and should face more legislative oversight. He also tied the proposal to concerns about recent sentencing-guideline changes, including probation caps and a possible custody-status-point change. Senator Latz opposed the bill, arguing that the commission was intentionally designed to be broad and advisory, that the legislature retains ultimate authority to override guidelines, and that the commission’s work is meant to reduce partisan influence rather than invite it. He also noted that the governor’s appointment power is not entirely unfettered because some appointments are made on recommendation of other entities and certain seats are statutorily limited. Other members, including Senators Matthews and Kiffmeyer, discussed whether the commission had strayed from its original purpose and whether confirmation hearings would improve oversight or politicize the process. Nate Rights, the executive director of the Sentencing Guidelines Commission, testified that the cited prison-bed impact figures for a proposed custody-status-point change were prospective estimates, not retroactive releases, and that the commission had unanimously rejected the proposal at its January meeting. A roll call vote on the bill was requested and granted, but the transcript provided does not include the final vote result or any final disposition of the bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee met in hybrid format and began with member and staff introductions. Chair Mary Kiffmeyer explained the committee would not be voting on bills that day, but would instead receive updates on two issues: Minnesota Management and Budget’s planned March 2022 medical premium holiday for the State Employee Group Insurance Program (SEGIP), and a Minnesota IT technical issue. Staff and members discussed Zoom procedures and microphone use before moving to the presentations. Lorna Smith of MMB explained that SEGIP’s reserves rose sharply in 2020 because COVID-19 reduced medical utilization, leaving the state with unusually high contingency reserves. She said the March premium holiday would waive premiums for one month for active employees, employers, under-65 retirees receiving an employer contribution, COBRA participants, leave participants, and participating quasi-state agencies. The holiday was expected to forego about $84 million in premiums, with roughly $75 million attributed to employers and $8.6 million to employees. Smith said the program still expected to remain in a healthy reserve position and projected reserves would remain above target after the holiday, then return to target over several years. She also said the reserves are managed annually with actuaries, and the current target reserve level is 16.7 percent of projected claims. Members questioned why MMB chose a one-time premium holiday rather than a broader premium reduction or freeze, arguing that a holiday creates a “whipsaw” effect and does not benefit employees who are not on payroll in March. Smith responded that annual premium setting already accounts for claims and reserve needs, and that reducing premiums enough to eliminate the excess reserves would likely require a much larger increase later. She also said taking money out of reserves for the general fund would be costly because of federal share and penalty implications. Senators also asked about where reserves are held and whether they are invested; Smith said they are invested with the state’s other dollars and that she would provide more detail later. Chair Kiffmeyer asked for the PowerPoint in advance in the future and noted that over-65 retirees are in a different plan, while members asked MMB to consider whether they should also benefit from the premium holiday.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Senate DFL leaders opened the session with a press conference outlining their priorities for the year. Leader Melissa Lopez Franen said the caucus would focus on responding to the pandemic’s health and economic fallout, addressing rising prices and crime, supporting schools, and protecting democracy and voting access. Other priorities she highlighted included public safety, tax relief for families and small businesses, affordable health care, housing, climate action, and support for teachers and students. Senator Ron Latz and other members expanded on the public safety agenda, arguing for a holistic approach that combines more law enforcement resources with prevention, accountability, mental health supports, youth intervention, and community policing. They said they do not support relying only on tougher penalties or incarceration, and instead emphasized recruiting and retaining officers, improving certification pathways, sharing information across systems, and investing in community programs that can reduce crime before it happens. Senators Nick Frentz, Foung Hawj, and Mary Kunish also spoke. Frentz emphasized support for working people, small businesses, tax relief, and climate policy, especially electric vehicle infrastructure and decarbonization. Hawj stressed unity, job creation, support for BIPOC and new American communities, clean energy, and fair treatment of essential workers. Kunish focused on education, describing pandemic-related learning loss and teacher burnout, and called for more funding and support for teachers rather than book bans or curriculum micromanagement. In the question-and-answer portion, senators discussed possible public safety legislation, including officer recruitment and retention, youth intervention funding, and information-sharing between law enforcement, mental health, and juvenile systems. They also said they would prioritize paying frontline worker bonuses before addressing unemployment insurance backfill, and noted that any permanent tax cuts would need to be weighed against long-term budget stability.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The transcript covered opening-day remarks and press questions with Governor Tim Walz, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, and later Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller. Walz emphasized returning to the Capitol, bipartisan cooperation, and the importance of democracy and in-person public engagement after the disruptions of recent years. He said his priorities included short-term relief and longer-term changes for children and families, with particular interest in frontline worker pay, unemployment insurance, child care, and reducing costs for working and middle-class Minnesotans. Walz also discussed tax policy, saying he was open to some tax relief but opposed cuts for the wealthiest Minnesotans, and he defended targeted relief tied to lowering child care and health care costs. He supported restoring voting rights for people who have completed their sentences and said the state should continue addressing COVID-19, including boosters and masking, while also working to expand the health care workforce. On frontline worker bonuses, he said the money should go to those who bore the greatest risk during the pandemic. Miller, speaking for Senate Republicans, said their top concerns were rising crime, students falling behind, and inflation. He called for more funding for police, stronger accountability for violent offenders, and education reforms focused on literacy and parental involvement. He argued for permanent, ongoing tax relief and a full repeal of state income tax on Social Security benefits, while saying Republicans were open to quick agreement on short-term health care staffing fixes, workers’ compensation COVID presumptions for certain positions, and public safety measures. He said Republicans were not seeking to ban books and instead wanted more books and reading opportunities for students.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present. Members first adopted Senate Resolution 68, which amended the temporary Senate rules to allow remote voting and remote committee hearings during the 2022 regular session, while keeping those options available for special sessions and the Rules Committee. The chamber then received Senator Jeremy Miller’s resignation as Senate president, effective January 30, 2022, and proceeded to elect a new president. Senator David Osmek was nominated and elected President of the Senate by a vote of 36, then took the oath of office and delivered brief remarks thanking colleagues, family, and the chaplain. The Senate also elected Brian Purick as assistant sergeant-at-arms by a unanimous 67-0 vote after the retirement of Marilyn Hall, and he was sworn in. The body adopted Senate Resolutions 69 through 72. These resolutions named the majority and minority leaders, adjusted the locations of two standing committee meetings, authorized member attendance at meetings and seminars with expenses paid, and set member postage allowances for the year. Resolution 71 and 72 were adopted by roll call with 67 ayes and no nays. Senate Resolutions 73 through 87 were then referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. During announcements, Senator Lopez Franzen welcomed members to the first day of the 92nd session, congratulated the new leaders, and asked about a working group and the status of workforce and frontline worker pay issues left unresolved from the prior session. Senator Miller said the working group appointments were complete and that the Senate was working with hospitals, long-term care providers, and the House on short-term workforce fixes, though no agreement had yet been reached. Senator Miller then moved to adjourn, and the Senate agreed to adjourn until Thursday, February 3 at 11:00 a.m.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The program focused first on a new independent review of Minnesota driver and vehicle services, which produced 31 recommendations for deputy registrars, exam stations, and the Department of Public Safety. Senate Transportation Committee Chair Scott Newman said the review was prompted by concerns that the state had spent heavily on the MNLARS/MNDrive system while deputy registrars and DPS continued to say they needed more money and staff. He said the report is likely to lead to legislation this session, and he emphasized that the recommendations are aimed at improving customer service for Minnesotans who need licenses, tabs, and exams. Newman said he supports looking at fee changes for deputy registrars because the MNDrive system is more time-intensive and current fees may not cover the work required. He also said he would seriously consider the report’s recommendation on exam stations, noting that DPS had reduced the number of stations sharply during the pandemic and that restoring access is important. On another recommendation, he said extending driver’s license renewal from four years to eight years could save people time and hassle. He also endorsed more online and kiosk-based services, while noting that privacy and data security would need to be addressed. The program then turned to the 2022 session priorities laid out by Governor Tim Walz and Senate Republicans. Walz highlighted paid family leave, child care, unemployment system improvements, frontline worker pay, and tax relief for families, saying the state should help Minnesotans cope with rising costs without raising taxes. Senate Republicans said their focus would be on public safety, education, mental health, and permanent tax cuts, including ending taxes on Social Security income for seniors. The show also covered a new bicameral DFL caucus promoting the Minnesota Health Plan, a universal coverage proposal. Sen. Jen McEwen argued the plan would remove profit-driven insurance middlemen, cover comprehensive care, and reduce costs, while rejecting Republican claims that it would be a government-run or socialized system.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Lawmakers discussed a recent independent review of Minnesota driver and vehicle services, commissioned after last session’s legislation to examine disagreements between deputy registrars and the Department of Public Safety. Senator Scott Newman said the report’s 31 recommendations are intended to improve customer service for Minnesota residents and are likely to lead to legislation this session. He emphasized that the review, led by the same expert who reviewed MNLARS, was prompted by concerns that the state had spent heavily on the new MNDrive system while deputy registrars and DPS continued to say they needed more money and staff. A major topic was deputy registrar compensation. Newman said MNDrive appears to be more time-intensive than MNLARS, while current fees do not cover the work required, and he supported looking at a fee increase. He also noted that many deputy registrar offices are independent businesses that must at least break even, warning that without financial help some offices could close. Another issue was driver exam stations: after COVID-related reductions and a resulting backlog, DPS had restored all 93 stations, but the report suggested an optimal range of 40 to 50 properly staffed stations. Newman said he would review that recommendation carefully and argued service levels, not just station count, should guide decisions. The discussion also covered extending the length of time between driver’s license renewals, which Newman described as a possible cost saver and convenience measure for residents. He said Minnesota’s four-year renewal cycle is shorter than many other states and that longer renewal periods could reduce hassle without adding cost. Finally, he supported expanding online and kiosk-based services for renewals and tabs, while noting that privacy and data security would need to be addressed. No formal vote was taken in the discussion.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The transcript covers the launch of a new bicameral Minnesota legislative caucus supporting a universal health care proposal called the Minnesota Health Plan. Speakers, including Sen. Jennifer McEwen and other supporters, argued that health care is a basic human right and framed the current employer-based system as costly, profit-driven, and a racial and economic justice issue. They said the plan would provide comprehensive coverage for all Minnesotans, including prescription drugs, vision, hearing, dental, mental health, chemical dependency treatment, home care, and nursing home care, while allowing patients to choose providers. McEwen said the plan would remove profit incentives and insurance-company middlemen from care decisions, letting providers determine medically necessary treatment directly with patients. She argued it would lower costs by negotiating prices and reducing administrative bureaucracy, and said it could help small businesses, municipalities, and workers by separating health coverage from employment. She also said the plan is not new, noting that Sen. John Marty originally advanced it and wrote a book on the subject in 2016. In response to concerns that the proposal would be too expensive or amount to socialized medicine, McEwen said the current system is already too costly and wasteful, citing U.S. spending compared with other countries and stories of people delaying care because of cost. She said the Minnesota Health Plan is not like the VA and would still allow private providers to operate, but without insurance companies in the middle. The transcript does not mention any formal committee vote or legislative action beyond the caucus announcement and the discussion of the proposal.