All Videos - Minnesota 2021 - 2021 1st Special Session (Page 11)
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Governor Walz Holds Ceremonial Signing of Opioid Settlement Bill Jun 15th, 2022
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
Minnesota officials held a bill-signing ceremony for legislation governing opioid settlement funds and related accountability measures. Speakers, including the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and several legislators and advocates, described the opioid crisis as having caused deep harm across the state, with disproportionate impacts on communities of color and Native communities. They emphasized that the settlement money cannot undo the damage, but can support prevention, treatment, recovery, naloxone, and other abatement efforts.
The attorney general said Minnesota has won six settlements with eight opioid companies and that the new law ensures more than $300 million will be distributed over 18 years to communities statewide, with no nondisclosure agreements and full transparency. He said the bill was built on a 2019 law and on an advisory process involving local, state, and community stakeholders, and thanked the bill authors and committee leaders. Legislators and advocates said the measure was designed to get money out quickly to local communities and to center people with lived experience and families in decision-making.
In response to questions, officials said the state funds had not yet been distributed because the money had not yet reached the state, but the first payments were expected in July, with some existing 2019-bill funds already moving through an RFP process. They said the 75 percent share for cities and counties would follow the same timing and be governed by a memorandum of agreement listing allowable uses. Local public health was described as the chief strategist for county settlement dollars, and counties said they were working with public health, public safety, and human services to identify evidence-based local needs. Officials also noted that other opioid litigation remains pending, including cases involving Purdue Pharma, Mallinckrodt, and several tribes.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Governor Tim Walz Media Availability - 6/14/22
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
The transcript is a press availability with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan discussing the state budget and ongoing negotiations with legislative leaders. A major topic was universal school meals: Walz and Flanagan defended the proposal as a way to reduce lunch shaming, remove stigma around free and reduced-price meals, and ensure children have access to food at school, citing research and personal stories about food insecurity. They said the idea remains important even though it was not included in the current deal, and that they will keep pushing for it in the future.
The governor also addressed broader budget talks and the possibility of a special session. He said negotiations were still ongoing, that an end date is important in legislative bargaining, and that he believed progress was still being made with the Speaker and stakeholders. He argued that Republicans in the Senate were reluctant to accept the agreement, in part because of August primaries, and said there was "buyer’s remorse" in the Senate over the deal. He described the situation as a compromise after Republicans would not cross a line on school meals.
Other budget priorities mentioned included tax cuts, gas price relief checks, education, public safety, transportation dollars, nursing homes, and child care providers. Walz said the state’s rainy day fund was already at a historically high level and argued that surplus money should be returned to the public rather than left for a future cycle. No votes were taken in the transcript; the main action was continued negotiation toward a possible budget agreement and special session.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Legislative Commission on Cybersecurity - 06/14/2022
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
The Cybersecurity Commission met in person on June 14 with a quorum present. Members approved the May 4 minutes by motion and voice vote. The meeting then focused on an update from Minnesota IT Services, with Commissioner Derek Toms and Chief Information Security Officer Rohit Tandon describing the commission’s role as a forum to improve communication with the Legislature and public, and to better understand and respond to cybersecurity threats affecting state and local government.
Toms emphasized that cyber threats are growing, affect every part of government and society, and are especially difficult for smaller or less-resourced entities such as cities, counties, schools, and tribal governments that often lack full-time cyber staff. Tandon’s presentation reviewed the national threat landscape, including federal cybersecurity policy, SEC disclosure proposals, CISA alerts, and increased cybersecurity spending. He highlighted ransomware as the most significant threat, citing data showing it has risen sharply, often enters through stolen credentials, phishing, or brute-force attacks, and can take more than a month to recover from. He also discussed supply chain attacks, cyber espionage, and denial-of-service attacks, noting Minnesota’s own experience with DDoS attacks during 2020 unrest.
The presentation also covered federal funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which provides Minnesota with $18 million in federal funds after a $5.7 million state match, with most of the money intended for local, tribal, and territorial governments. Tandon said a planning committee will guide use of the funds and must include representatives from state, county, city, town, public health, public education, and tribal entities, with cybersecurity experience required for at least half of the committee. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Governor Walz Holds Ceremonial Bill Signings for 7 Bills Jun 14th, 2022
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
The meeting featured a series of bill signings centered on bipartisan legislation affecting public safety, health, privacy, and vulnerable youth. Leaders repeatedly praised the work of legislators, advocates, and affected Minnesotans, emphasizing that the bills were the result of cross-party cooperation and personal testimony. No roll-call votes were taken in the transcript; the main action was the governor signing the measures into law.
The first measures discussed were the Hometown Heroes Act for firefighters and first responders, which was described as addressing elevated risks of cancer, PTSD, and cardiac disease, and a bill protecting living organ and bone marrow donors from discrimination in insurance and long-term care. Speakers said both bills honored selfless service and would remove barriers for people who help others. Another bill established a guardianship process for at-risk juveniles ages 18 to 21, giving juvenile court exclusive jurisdiction and aiming to connect vulnerable youth—especially those who have experienced abuse, abandonment, or trafficking—with needed services and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status protections.
The transcript also covered a student data privacy bill, described as a long-negotiated, nearly unanimous effort to ensure student data belongs to students and is protected from misuse by tech companies. Legislators and advocates said the bill set guardrails for online education and reflected concerns from parents, schools, and civil liberties groups. Finally, the governor signed a major competency-statutes reform related to mental health and criminal justice, and a bill creating an ombudsperson for foster youth. Supporters said these measures were designed to save lives, restore lives, improve outcomes for foster children, and give vulnerable Minnesotans a stronger voice in state systems.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Governor Tim Walz Media Availability - 6/13/22
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
The governor discussed the status of Minnesota’s special session negotiations, saying the parties had agreed to a 4-4-4 framework and were close on several major budget bills. He said transportation had been handled the prior week, and that health and human services and education were very near agreement, with education reportedly only about $34 million apart on a roughly $1 billion bill. He expressed confidence that a deal could be reached that week and said he was not focused on executive action, but on bringing legislators back to finish the work.
A major topic was tax relief and inflation. The governor argued that Minnesota should return money to residents now, saying the state had room to do so because of strong reserves and a large amount of money left available. He said the best way to help with gas and grocery costs was direct checks or rebates, and suggested that a $2,000 payment could offset higher prices. He also discussed a possible gas tax holiday, saying he was open to options but believed its impact would be limited and that long-term solutions should include moving away from fossil fuels.
The governor also addressed public safety and policing, saying the state should not interfere with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights or other agencies’ regulatory functions and emphasizing that investigations and reforms should proceed through proper process. On gun policy, he said he still supported gun reform, including background checks and red flag laws, but stressed that it should not derail the budget agreement. He said the public was strongly supportive of action on gun reform and that he did not want to give Republicans a reason not to return and complete the session’s work.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
'Free the Growler' Becomes Law, Improving Minnesota's Agriculture Economy Jun 10th, 2022
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
This Capitol Report episode focused on several recently enacted Minnesota laws and related legislative debates. A major segment highlighted the agriculture omnibus bill, which included $13.1 million in drought relief for farmers, $2.5 million to replenish zero-interest loan programs, broadband investments for rural areas, a half-million-dollar soil health pilot, down-payment assistance for beginning and emerging farmers, and added mental health funding for farmers and ag workers. Agriculture Commissioner Tom Peterson said the drought was the worst since 1988 and emphasized that broadband, soil health, and land access are critical to modern farming. He also described bipartisan negotiations that helped the bill pass, including a late-night agreement between lawmakers.
Another major topic was the liquor law package and the long-running effort to “Free the Growler.” Senator Karin Housley said the law raises the growler-sales cap from 20,000 barrels to 150,000 barrels and allows larger breweries to sell growlers again, while smaller brewpubs can sell four- and six-packs and distilleries can sell up to 750 milliliters per person per day. Supporters framed the changes as helping small businesses, tourism, and community growth, while noting that some breweries had been constrained or even moved operations because of the old cap. Housley also said the law ends Minnesota’s remaining 3.2 beer restrictions outside resorts, though she acknowledged the liquor provisions are still complex.
The program also covered a ceremonial bill signing for veterans legislation, with Governor Tim Walz and veterans groups emphasizing that veterans policy should be handled separately and not traded away in broader negotiations. Officials said the law will support housing and services for veterans, including funding for the Minnesota Assistance Council on Veterans, and will help retain National Guard members. The episode closed with Senate DFL lawmakers calling for action on gun violence measures and a special session to finish the public safety bill, while criticizing Republican opposition to hearings and votes on background check and red flag proposals.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
'Free the Growler' Becomes Law Jun 10th, 2022
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
Senator Karen Housley discussed the recently enacted Minnesota liquor law changes, especially the long-running effort to “free the growler” for craft breweries. She said the old 20,000-barrel cap on growler sales had limited small breweries’ growth and even pushed some business, such as Lift Bridge, to expand out of state. The new law raises the cap to 150,000 barrels, allows small brewpubs to sell four- and six-packs, and lets distilleries sell up to 750 milliliters per person per day. Housley framed the changes as support for small businesses, tourism, and local economic growth, while noting the rules remain complex and still cap direct sales from the brewery at 750 barrels.
The conversation also touched on broader liquor-law changes in the bill, including a social district pilot in Anoka, extended hours for some major sporting events, and permission for strong beer sales at town ball games and auto races. Housley said the bill’s supporters focused on helping businesses and communities, while acknowledging that some senators, including Mark Johnson, opposed making alcohol more accessible because of concerns about alcohol abuse and public health. She said those philosophical differences were for lawmakers to debate in their own districts and on the Senate floor.
Asked about Minnesota’s remaining 3.2 beer law, Housley said the bill had already lifted a restriction that limited 3.2 beer sales to resorts, and she called it outdated that Minnesota is the last state to still have it. She said she would likely continue working to eliminate it, though she was unsure whether it would be the next liquor issue taken up immediately.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Improving Minnesota's Agriculture Economy Jun 10th, 2022
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
The discussion focused on Minnesota’s omnibus agriculture law, which was one of the few major bills to pass in a session that left several other items unfinished. Agriculture Commissioner Tom Peterson said the law includes $13.1 million in drought relief for farmers affected by last summer’s severe drought, including $8.1 million in grants and $2.5 million to replenish zero-percent interest loan programs for livestock and crop producers. He said the application window for relief would open soon and that the aid is intended to help farmers cover immediate bills and losses that crop insurance does not fully address.
Peterson also highlighted other provisions in the law, including broadband investments for rural and underserved areas, which he said are important for GPS-guided equipment, irrigation systems, direct marketing, and e-commerce. He described a $500,000 soil health assistance pilot for next year, and $1.5 million over the next biennium for down payment grants to help new and emerging farmers, including farmers from Somali, Hmong, Native American, and other underserved communities, enter agriculture despite high land costs and an aging farm population.
The law also adds $22,000 next year and $44,000 in the next biennium for farmer mental health services. Peterson said the funding supports free counselors and farm advocates and comes amid multiple years of weather, disease, and market stress. He said the agriculture bill advanced because lawmakers from both parties worked closely together, citing late-night negotiations and support from agricultural groups as key to reaching agreement.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct - 06/08/2022
Summary:
The Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct met on April 8 for a probable-cause hearing on an ethics complaint against Senator Omar Fateh. Staff explained the Senate rules and procedure for the first hearing, including that the subcommittee must decide within 30 days whether there is no probable cause, whether to defer action, or whether to proceed with an investigation. The chair said the hearing would be used to hear both sides and that no final action was expected that day. Members were sworn in, and the chair decided to handle the two complaint counts separately.
On complaint number one, the complainants argued that Senator Fateh violated Senate Rules 56.3 and 56.4 by failing to disclose a conflict of interest involving Somali TV of Minnesota. They said Somali TV aired campaign-related content for Fateh without proper disclaimers, that he later authored legislation to appropriate $500,000 to the same organization, and that this created at least the appearance of a conflict and possibly a quid pro quo. They cited Senate rules, state ethics and campaign-finance statutes, and news reporting to support their position.
Senator Fateh’s attorney disputed the allegations, saying the complaint was based on rumor and unsworn reporting rather than facts. She argued the Somali TV appearance was a paid advertisement, not a free endorsement, and said the campaign paid $1,000 through Cash App, later amended in reporting when the payment error was discovered. She also said Somali TV regularly runs paid political ads for candidates of both parties and functions as a community information platform. The defense further argued that the later appropriations bill was consistent with work done by other senators for community organizations and was not tied to the ad. The hearing continued with video examples and rebuttal testimony, but no vote or final decision was taken in the portion provided.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Ceremonial Bill Signing for Bill Investing in Mental Health System Jun 8th, 2022
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
Officials at Children’s Minnesota gathered with Governor Tim Walz, legislators, advocates, and families to celebrate and prepare to sign a bipartisan mental health package into law. The centerpiece discussed was a new 22-bed inpatient pediatric mental health unit at the St. Paul campus, which will be the first east metro unit for children under 12 and one of the few in the state able to serve children with both mental health and complex medical needs. Speakers said the unit is expected to serve about 1,000 children and teens a year and will add about 60 jobs. They also noted the broader mental health continuum in the bill, including expanded partial hospitalization programs and crisis services.
Testimony and remarks focused on the severity of the youth mental health crisis and the need for more access points across the system. Children’s Minnesota leaders described sharp increases in emergency department visits for mental health crises and long waits for psychiatric beds. A parent, Stevie Bourne, described repeated ER visits, long waits for beds, and the relief of knowing the new unit will allow parents to stay with their children. NAMI Minnesota’s Sue Abderholden said the bill expands programs that already work, such as mobile crisis, culturally responsive services, school-linked and shelter-linked services, foster and intensive services, inpatient care, and early psychosis treatment, while also addressing workforce shortages through grants to help people pay for required supervision for licensure.
Governor Walz and legislators from both parties emphasized the bill’s bipartisan and nonpartisan nature and said it was developed with input from advocates and families. Rep. Peter Fischer said the House Behavioral Health Division passed related bills with unanimous support, and Sen. Rich Draheim said the effort was among the most nonpartisan he had worked on. Walz said the package is an important first step, not the last, and stressed that mental illness should not be stigmatized as violence; he said the greater concern for many students is suicide and trauma. No formal vote was taken at the event; the bill was being celebrated as passed by the Legislature and ready for the governor’s signature, which Walz then signed at the close of the event.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Press Conference: Gun Violence Prevention Legislation - 06/07/2022
Summary:
Senate DFL leaders held a press event focused on unfinished legislative business and, in particular, gun violence prevention measures they want included in a public safety bill and considered in a special session. Leader Melissa Lopez Franzen said DFLers were ready to finish agreements on tax cuts, school funding, bonding, and public safety, and argued Senate Republicans were blocking action. She and other speakers framed the issue around recent mass shootings and broader gun violence, saying Minnesotans want leadership and swift action.
Senator Ron Latz outlined the main gun-safety proposals: expanding background checks to cover gun shows and private sales, enacting a red flag/extreme risk protection order law, and increasing the purchase age for assault-style weapons to 21. He said these ideas are broadly popular, cited support among Minnesotans and gun owners, and criticized GOP leaders for refusing hearings, votes, or meaningful negotiation in conference committee. He also described changes made through bipartisan discussions, including concerns about who may petition under a red flag law and the role of law enforcement and judges as screening and review mechanisms.
Senator Kerry Dietzick focused on the age proposal, arguing that 18- to 20-year-olds should not be able to buy semi-automatic assault-style weapons while still being able to hunt. She cited examples of mass shootings and said the proposal would align with existing age restrictions for handguns and other activities. Rashmi Senna Varathna of Protect Minnesota added testimony about the impact of gun violence on children, families, and rural suicide rates, and urged a broader approach that includes mental health resources, trigger locks, after-school programs, and community engagement. In Q&A, speakers reiterated that the proposals were intended as pragmatic, popular safety measures and said Republicans should return to negotiations; no votes or formal legislative action were taken at the event.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Governor Tim Walz Media Availability - 6/7/22
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
The governor was asked about the decision to launch the online portal for frontline worker pay and said the administration used a formal “go/no-go” process for major technology rollouts. He said the team had been preparing for about nine months after authorization on May 23, with final testing focused on scalability, fraud prevention, cybersecurity, customer service capacity, and language translations, including Somali. He emphasized that the application window is 45 days, not first-come, first-served, and said the state has navigators and additional phone support ready in case of early glitches.
He also addressed legislative negotiations related to a possible special session, saying budget and public safety leaders had met and that progress was being made. He said Senate Republicans appeared to be leaning toward a pension bill rather than a hiring bill, but that he still believed they were close to a deal. He described several items as major priorities, including reinsurance, unemployment insurance, frontline worker pay, veterans issues, and mental health funding.
In closing, the governor said he remained optimistic and was willing to negotiate compromise publicly to get an agreement done. He argued that Minnesotans should receive money back in their pockets and that costs should be reduced, while noting that additional mental health funding remained available in other bills such as the DHS bill.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Media Availability: Governor Tim Walz - 06/02/22
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
The governor discussed ongoing budget negotiations with legislative leaders, saying the sides had previously agreed to a "4-4-4" framework: $4 billion in tax cuts, $4 billion in targeted spending, and $4 billion left on the bottom line. He said the remaining disagreements were mainly in the health and human services bill, including how to divide spending and whether to free up federal funds for child care, opioid response, and transportation matching dollars. He rejected the idea that the sides were far apart, argued that the public numbers show they are close, and said he would meet with the Speaker and Senate Majority Leader to try to resolve the logjam.
He also said Minnesotans want money returned to them and basic needs addressed, and he described sending checks to residents as fiscally responsible, though he had already compromised on that point. He emphasized that policy issues were off the table and that the discussion was about honoring the existing agreement rather than reopening it. He criticized suggestions that the governor or MnDOT could simply redirect funds without legislative action, saying that would be improper and not in good faith.
In response to a question about Finland, the governor said recent trade and diplomatic ties with Finland were beneficial to Minnesota. He noted a recent visit by Finnish officials, ongoing business relationships, and Finland’s effort to join NATO, saying the relationship supports Minnesota’s clean energy, food, and medical device sectors. No votes were taken.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
Governor Walz Holds Ceremonial Bill Signing for Bills Aiding Veterans Jun 2nd, 2022
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
Minnesota officials held a ceremonial signing for the state’s first stand-alone veterans and military affairs omnibus bill, describing it as a historic bipartisan effort. Governor Tim Walz, legislators, and veterans’ organizations emphasized that the bill was developed with input from the Commander's Task Force and other veterans groups and passed with near-unanimous support. Speakers repeatedly stressed that veterans issues should be handled separately from other budget negotiations and praised the House and Senate veterans committee chairs and members for their cooperation.
The bill’s main provisions focused on veterans homelessness, state veterans homes and cemeteries, county veterans service officers, post-9/11 bonuses, and National Guard retention. Commissioner Brad Herkey said the package funds the Minnesota Assistance Council on Veterans, temporary housing, and outreach for homeless veterans; adds funding and furnishings for veterans homes in Preston, Montevideo, and Bemidji; supports the new state cemetery in Redwood County; and provides service bonuses for more than 40,000 post-9/11 veterans and over 100 Gold Star families. Speakers also highlighted grants and training support for county veterans service officers and extended enlistment bonuses for National Guard members beyond 12 years.
Several speakers framed the bill as a response to veterans’ and families’ testimony and advocacy, including Veterans Day on the Hill and outreach by the DAV, American Legion, VFW, and other groups. Representative Donald Raleigh said veteran suicide prevention should be a next-session priority, and Governor Walz said he would work on that issue. The governor then signed the two bills, saying the legislature had shown that democracy works when it listens to veterans and their advocates.
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Minnesota 2021 1st Special Session
'Free the Growler' Bill Signed Into Law May 26th, 2022
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Summary:
The event was a ceremonial signing and press availability at Alley Brewing Company celebrating new Minnesota legislation aimed at helping craft breweries and distilleries sell more of their products directly to consumers. Brewery owners and state officials, including the governor, lieutenant governor, and Commissioner Steve Grove, praised the bill as a major win for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and the state’s brewing and distilling industries. Speakers said the law updates outdated liquor rules, supports growth and innovation, and reflects bipartisan cooperation in the legislature.
Officials described the industry’s economic and cultural importance, citing the number of breweries and distilleries in Minnesota, their role in tourism and community life, and their pandemic-era contributions such as making hand sanitizer and supporting vaccine efforts. The governor said the measure would be signed into law and noted it would allow breweries to sell six-packs and four-packs, distilleries to sell 750-milliliter bottles, and create a social district in Anoka. Representative Stevenson was thanked as the bill’s author and a key advocate.
After the signing, the governor and lieutenant governor took questions on broader state issues. They discussed ongoing budget and bonding negotiations, saying they remained optimistic about reaching agreement after a short break over Memorial Day weekend. They also addressed the Texas school shooting, expressing grief and frustration, calling for real action on gun violence, and urging Minnesotans to support candidates willing to take that action.