Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House took up Senate File 3008, a broad liquor omnibus bill, and first adopted a House language amendment before the bill was presented. Representative Stevenson described the measure as a bipartisan compromise developed after extensive stakeholder meetings and a prior comprehensive Commerce Committee hearing. He said the bill would “free the growler,” allow small brewers and distillers more flexibility in package sizes, eliminate the cap on cocktail rooms, and reform the Coleman Act to address liquor wholesaling and preserve competition. He also thanked committee and staff members for their work. Members then considered several amendments. The A-5 amendment, which deleted a provision originally offered by Representative Hornstein, was adopted. The A-9 amendment, allowing the city of Alexandria to issue a wine and strong beer license for North American Hockey League events at the Runestone Community Center, was also adopted as a friendly amendment. The A-6 amendment, which would have allowed the city of Madelia to issue an off-sale permit to a business despite the city’s municipal liquor store, was debated as a local-control issue but was rejected after Stevenson argued it conflicted with Minnesota’s three-tier system. The most extended debate centered on the A-11 amendment to remove the Liquor Regulation Advisory Council from the bill. Representative Mekeland argued the council was self-interested, lacked funding for an executive director, and would politicize liquor regulation; he also cited outside letters and a separate agreement he said would bind future liquor policy discussions. Stevenson responded that the council would be advisory only, would bring together representatives of the three tiers to provide guidance, and that the outside agreement was not part of the bill and could not bind future legislatures. Representative Rasmussen also supported removing the council, saying it lacked public health and public safety representation. The amendment was not adopted.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, and adopted committee reports. It then moved through several routine orders, including second readings of Senate File 4163 and 2952 and House File 3834 and 4221, the first reading of introduced bills, and referral of Senate Resolution 138 to the Rules and Administration Committee. Senator Wicklund was added as a co-author to Senate File 3395, and several members were excused for conference committee work on Senate File 2673. The main floor action was on House File 3768, a structured settlement transfer bill. Supporters said it updates Minnesota’s 1999 law to protect people selling structured settlement payments by requiring purchaser registration with the Secretary of State, a surety bond, expanded disclosures, written advice to seek independent professional counsel, stronger court review of whether transfers are in the payee’s best interest, added protections for minors, and a county-of-domicile requirement. The bill passed 66-0. The Senate also took up House File 3845, which would create a foster care ombudsperson office. Supporters argued foster youth need an independent voice and better protection, while opponents said an Office of Ombudsperson for Families already exists and that adding another office would add bureaucracy without fixing underlying child welfare problems. Despite the debate, the bill passed 64-0. The chamber also passed Senate File 3258, described as a technical fix to the Board of Medical Practice, by a 64-0 vote. Later, Senate File 2543 was discussed, a commerce bill affecting motor vehicle self-insurance for agricultural cooperatives. The bill would allow cooperatives to maintain self-insurance authority based on working capital rather than a strict positive cash-flow test, reflecting the seasonal nature of farming and grain buying. Senators raised questions about how claims would be handled in bankruptcy and whether cash assets would be considered; the bill then proceeded to roll call, with the transcript cutting off before the final vote result was stated.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Conference Committee on House File 4366 reviewed several shared agriculture priorities and compared House and Senate funding levels and language. Early discussion focused on Forever Green at the University of Minnesota, where the House proposed $6.5 million in FY 2023 plus ongoing base funding and the Senate proposed $200,000 one-time; both sides said the program has broad support, but the Senate noted some related funding exists in the Environmental Trust Fund. The committee also discussed cover crop development grants, with the House at $9 million one-time and the Senate at $50,000 one-time, again with the Senate pointing to possible Environmental Trust Fund support and the House emphasizing commercialization, soil health, and new markets for farmers. The regional food system report line item was described as having similar funding but slightly different wording, with the Department of Agriculture explaining the House language tied the report to an ongoing federally funded three-year study with the University of Minnesota and that stakeholders were comfortable with that approach. Members then turned to emerging livestock processing facility grants and emerging farmers. For processing facility grants, the House proposed $3 million in FY 2023 and the Senate $700,000, with both sides agreeing the program is a priority but differing mainly on the amount. For emerging farmers, the House proposed $2.6 million and the Senate $300,000; the House said its language was broader and included all emerging farmers, while the Senate language gave preference to organizations serving African immigrants, refugees, and African-American populations. The discussion also shifted to a House-only farmland down payment assistance proposal, which House members described as a way to help beginning and emerging farmers overcome high land costs and keep farmland in farmers’ hands. Senators asked about repayment safeguards, and House members said the program includes a one-to-one match and uses a beginning-farmer-style eligibility definition, with a gross income cap of $250,000 from farm product sales. The committee also reviewed the agricultural emergency fund and avian influenza response. House members said the House position was $4.5 million in FY 2022, including $1.5 million for the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, while the Senate had $500,000; both sides discussed the need to cover testing, staffing, mapping, and depopulation costs, with some reimbursement expected from USDA but not for all surveillance testing. Minnesota Department of Agriculture officials reported 58 confirmed commercial infected premises and 13 backyard premises across 24 counties, mostly turkey farms, with 127 people involved in the response. They said the state had already spent more than the initial funds available, estimated needing about another $3.2 million, and explained that costs include drinker swab and surveillance testing, overtime staffing, mapping, and depopulation supplies. No votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the discussion was informational and focused on narrowing differences and identifying possible funding sources, including the Environmental Trust Fund and drought relief-related dollars.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate took up House File 3669, an omnibus tax bill, and first adopted a technical A27 amendment correcting language on public safety pension subtraction, school construction sales tax exemption cross-references, and charitable gaming numbers. The bill was then presented as a broad package of permanent tax relief, with supporters saying it would return excess revenues to taxpayers and provide about $8.65 billion in tax relief over three years, plus additional property tax relief. The bill includes reductions in the first-tier individual income tax rate, elimination of state income tax on Social Security benefits, federal tax conformity changes, estate tax portability, a parental leave tax credit, expanded child and dependent care and K-12 credits/subtractions, historic structure and new market tax credits, charitable gaming relief, angel investor and R&D credit changes, and several sales tax exemptions and local option sales tax provisions. It also contains property tax measures such as homestead and agricultural homestead changes, a lower state general levy, targeted homeowner refunds, senior property tax deferral changes, 4d housing adjustments, energy storage and affordable housing exclusions, TIF technical changes, and aid or relief for specific local governments and projects. Senator Weber walked through the property tax section in detail, emphasizing increased homestead market value exclusions, higher agricultural homestead and resort homestead thresholds, a phased reduction in the state general levy, larger targeted homeowner refunds, expanded senior deferral eligibility, and several local tax and aid provisions. He also noted exemptions or relief for school construction materials, nonprofit animal shelters, agricultural fencing, charitable gaming, and other local projects, along with transition aid for communities affected by power plant shutdowns and reimbursements for certain counties and cities. After the bill presentation, Senator Dietzich supported several provisions, including mortgage debt discharge relief, K-12 credits, business tax conformity, and affordable housing items, but criticized the bill for not doing enough for schools, renters, and lower-income Minnesotans. Senator Friends likewise argued the bill favored wealthier taxpayers and businesses, objecting especially to the lack of help for special education cross-subsidies and school funding; he offered the A25 amendment to remove the business property tax cut and the tax cut for higher-income Minnesotans, and requested a roll call. The debate also included a point of order raised by Senator Nelson, with the presiding officer ruling that Senator Friends was not out of order but reminding members to stay within the bill. The transcript ends during discussion of the A25 amendment, with the roll call requested and granted, but no final vote on that amendment or on House File 3669 is shown in the excerpt.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The conference committee on Senate File 4062 met in hybrid format and focused heavily on Article 4, which addresses PFAS restrictions. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, through Tony Quillis, argued that PFAS is a broad and diverse chemical class with thousands of compounds and uses, and said a single regulatory approach is too sweeping. He pointed to ongoing federal and state activity, including EPA review work and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency efforts, and said the bill moves too quickly before those processes are complete. He also raised concerns that the article lacks de minimis language, intentionally added language, and a manufacturer-to-retail sell-through period, and said the Chamber and related industry groups support more targeted, phased approaches rather than broad bans. DFL members responded that the bill is not a blanket ban on all PFAS uses, but instead targets specific consumer-facing products. They defended regulating PFAS as a class to avoid regrettable substitutions and to address the health risks associated with newer PFAS compounds as well as older ones. Members cited research on bioaccumulation, pregnancy and child health impacts, immune and heart effects, and contamination in fish and other products. They also argued that waiting for federal action is not sufficient because federal policy can change with administrations, and said Minnesota should act to protect public health and avoid leaving cleanup costs to taxpayers. Members explored possible areas of compromise, especially whether language on intentionally added PFAS and a phased sell-through period could address some industry concerns. Representative Hanson asked whether ski wax could be a narrower area for agreement, and Quillis said those provisions would help but that he still had broader concerns about all of Article 4. Committee members also discussed how other states are approaching PFAS, with testimony noting that neighboring states had not yet passed similar legislation, while Wisconsin was cited as developing a broader PFAS plan that includes public engagement, labeling, and possible bans. No vote or final action was taken during this portion of the meeting.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee meeting focused on the financial crisis facing Minnesota nursing homes and assisted living facilities, with testimony from Care Providers in Minnesota and the Long-Term Care Imperative. Nicole Matson said a statewide survey found the average nursing home is projected to lose more than $800,000 this year, many facilities have raised wages by 10% or more since the pandemic, and a large share have operating margins below negative 10%. She warned that about 40 nursing homes and 400 assisted living settings could be at risk of closure without permanent funding, affecting access to care for an estimated 14,000 seniors. Providers described severe staffing shortages and rising costs. Tim's Wiki of Interfaith Care Center said his facility had lost about 25% of its workforce, had 154 open shifts in the last pay period, was paying around $17 an hour for CNAs, and had spent $300 to fill a single weekend shift; he said the organization was on track to lose about $1 million this year and could run out of money within two years. Nathan Johnson of Pioneer Care in Fergus Falls said his campus had empty beds because it could not staff them, revenue fell 13% last year, and operating margins went from a 1% gain in 2019 to projected losses of 10% this year; he said the Senate HHS bill was needed now to avoid closure, bankruptcy, or sale. Carrie Thurlow of LeadingAge Minnesota said the current value-based reimbursement system was designed for normal inflation and does not respond quickly enough to pandemic-era wage and cost spikes, and she argued that permanent, sustainable relief is needed this session. Members of the committee, including Representative Pinto and Representative Liebling, said they recognized the need and emphasized the goal of helping people live in dignity, while also noting broader budget constraints and competing priorities. Discussion centered on how the reimbursement system works: committee members and testifiers explained that VBR recognizes costs after they are reported and audited, but only with a significant delay, so it does not keep pace with current inflation or wage increases. No formal vote was taken in the excerpt; the chair invited additional questions and asked for written follow-up on some of the specific numbers discussed.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Education Finance Conference Committee met on May 11, 2022, with House and Senate members present along with Commissioner of Education and staff. Chair Davnie reviewed the schedule and noted the committee would continue later if needed, with the Senate available only until 10:30 a.m. The committee’s focus for the morning was student and staff mental health, continuing testimony begun earlier in the week. Testimony came from several school health and mental health professionals. Kari Deaverell, a licensed school nurse with Intermediate District 287, described responding to the February 1 school shooting at South Education Center, the trauma faced by students and staff, and the strain on educators working with highly vulnerable children. She urged support for school staff and mental health resources. Jolie Holland of the School Nurse Organization of Minnesota said school nurses are often the first point of contact for students with mental health concerns, described medication-related health issues she has helped identify, and asked the committee to include a permanent licensed school nurse position at the Minnesota Department of Education, a provision she said is in the House bill. Jennifer Stefan, principal in Deer River, described the district’s full-service community schools model, partnerships with mental health providers, and the need for more student support personnel. Christy McCoy, a school social worker, emphasized trauma, grief, and anxiety among students, the need for school-employed mental health staff, and support for House provisions on school support personnel, MDE positions, MTSS, and mental health screening. Members asked follow-up questions about the effectiveness of school-linked mental health grants and the role of the commissioner and administration in conference committee negotiations. McCoy said school-linked programs work best when they are coordinated with school-employed providers. One member commented that the testimony painted a bleak picture of chaos, despair, and failure in schools, while the chair reiterated that the committee’s task is to reach agreement on a bill to send to the governor. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting shown.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The joint higher education conference committee met to begin side-by-side review of House File 3872. Members introduced themselves, and Senate fiscal staff Hannah Gruenwald outlined the Senate’s higher education finance provisions, saying the Senate version would increase spending by about $43 million across two biennia. She highlighted appropriations for underrepresented student teacher grants, a new law enforcement degree grant program, the Skills Path Program, Learn to Earn Coalition funding, MICC, Minnesota State operations and workforce scholarships, University of Minnesota safety/security and NRRI funding, and a correction to a line item tied to Skills Path general education aid. Members asked for clarification on the NRRI funding, and staff confirmed it was operating and maintenance support rather than House-style infrastructure funding. Senate policy staff Joan White then reviewed the bill’s policy sections. She explained the Skills Path Program, expanded eligibility for state student aid to include certain institutions not physically located in Minnesota, a new law enforcement grant program, changes to developmental education language and placement rules, expanded workforce development scholarships for law enforcement and construction, changes to the Permanent University Fund and NRRI-related scholarships, a required Owatonna Learn to Earn report, a requested University of Minnesota athletics commission, and a revisor instruction changing “remedial” to “developmental.” She also described Article 3, which expands the Minnesota Higher Education Facilities Authority to finance health care organizations, with Article 4 making conforming changes. Members raised several concerns and questions. Representative Bernardi questioned the constitutionality of conditioning University of Minnesota supplemental funding on creating an athletics commission; Chair Rarick responded that the legislature may attach conditions to appropriations and said the provision was intended to prompt action on non-revenue sports. Representative Keeler asked about commission models and NCAA templates, and staff said they would look into it. Several members objected to the online-institution/state grant provision, arguing it could divert aid from Minnesota institutions and should be paired with more funding; Rarick said the provision was aimed at online flexibility for adult learners and noted the draft currently appears to fit one program, likely Western Governors University, though they were considering broader language. Staff later noted the fiscal note anticipates only a 0.25 FTE research analyst need for the additional online-school reporting. After the Senate walkthrough and questions, House fiscal staff Catherine Shell began the House side of the spreadsheet for the supplemental appropriations bill.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House took up House File 2725, a judiciary bill addressing so-called “gap” or Rule 20 cases involving defendants found incompetent to stand trial who may not meet civil commitment standards. Representative Edelson, joined by Representative Albright, described the bill as the product of years of work by the Community Competency Restoration Task Force and a broad group of stakeholders, including NAMI, county attorneys, public defense, courts, law enforcement, DHS, and families. Supporters said the bill would separate competency restoration from civil commitment, create an independent competency restoration board, add forensic navigators and competency educators across judicial districts, establish bridge plans and timelines, and move Rule 20 procedures from court rules into statute. Edelson also referenced a family in the gallery and a fatal hit-and-run case to illustrate the public-safety stakes. Several members raised concerns. Representative Scott said the bill did not address DHS’s provisional discharge practices, worried about public safety and whether enough mental health professionals would be available for the new navigator roles, and said he would support the bill with reservations. Representative O’Neill argued the bill did not go far enough because it did not connect to civil commitment, questioned whether 30-day timelines were sufficient, and said the bill would not solve the broader lack of community treatment infrastructure; she ultimately opposed it. Representative Pinto strongly supported the bill, saying it filled a major constitutional and policy gap between criminal competency and civil commitment and would improve public safety while protecting due process. After further debate, Edelson said the bill was a necessary, bipartisan first step and asked for a yes vote. The House then took the roll. The bill failed on a 31-nay vote, and House File 2725 did not pass; its title was not agreed to.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The conference committee met in hybrid format to begin reviewing the House and Senate differences in the State Government Finance, Elections, Pensions, Transportation bill. Staff first walked through the spreadsheet of fiscal items, highlighting Senate positions such as one-time funding for the Secretary of State for local election administration needs, funding for Minute Services for live-streaming requirements, and House provisions covering legislative operations, the Secretary of State, election security, technology modernization, and other agency budgets. The House fiscal walkthrough also covered Department of Administration, Minnesota Management and Budget, the Historical Society, and licensing boards, with the overall House general fund direct expenditures summarized at $76.549 million and a net general fund change of about $76.5 million for fiscal year 2022-23. The committee then reviewed the campaign finance and elections article. Testimony described a mix of technical updates and policy changes, including expanded absentee and mail ballot procedures, earlier absentee ballot opening, changes to voter registration and election result timelines, limits on certain local election-related contributions, live-streaming and ballot board provisions, drop box requirements, security markings on absentee ballots, and House-only provisions on independent expenditure disclaimers and remedies for intimidation of election officials. Staff also noted a typo in the comparison document regarding the Senate article reference. Finally, the pensions portion was summarized. The pension commission director explained four articles: a one-time lump-sum COLA for retirees in 2023 and 2024, a reduction in the assumed investment return rate from 7.5 percent to 7 percent, a 50 percent increase and extension of state aids for three pension plans, and a one-time $390 million appropriation to public pension plans based on market value of assets. At the close, members were told the committee would meet again the next afternoon at 1:00 p.m. to continue with same and similar provisions, and the meeting was adjourned.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Minnesota House convened on Minnesota Statehood Day with a prayer delivered by Poet Laureate Gwen Nell Westerman, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and a roll call establishing a quorum. The House then approved the previous day’s journal, adopted comparison reports and standing committee reports without objection, and noted second reading of Senate File 3540. House Files 4869 through 4873 were introduced for first reading. Before any further business, Majority Leader Winkler announced that the House would recess so the Rules Committee could meet and the DFL caucus could confer in Room 120, with a planned return around 5:00 p.m. A motion to recess to the call of the chair was made and adopted without opposition, and the House recessed.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Article 4 of a bill dealing with PFAS restrictions, with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce represented by Tony Quillis arguing that PFAS is a broad class of more than 4,000 chemicals with many different uses and risk profiles, so a “one size fits all” approach is inappropriate. He said state and federal PFAS work is already underway, including EPA and MPCA plans, monitoring, stakeholder work, and a report due in January 2023, and he urged the committee not to move ahead before those efforts are complete. He also said the article lacked de minimis, intentionally added, and manufacturer-to-retail lag language, and noted concerns from the Personal Care Products Association and Minnesota Retailers Association. Representative Waslik responded that the bill does not ban all PFAS uses, only specific consumer-facing products, and defended regulating PFAS as a class to avoid regrettable substitutions and to address the difficulty of testing each chemical individually. Representative Morrison added that PFAS exposure is linked to health harms, bioaccumulates, and can be transferred to babies, and said waiting for federal action would allow more contamination. She also said the U.S. Chamber has opposed federal PFAS action and argued Minnesota should act regardless of federal politics. Members discussed whether other states have passed similar laws; Quillis said he had not seen surrounding states pass comparable legislation, while Morrison pointed to actions in states like Wisconsin and broader efforts in California, Maryland, and Maine. Representative Lippert argued that targeted bans can signal industry to develop alternatives, and Quillis said industry is already investing heavily in alternatives but that it is hard to estimate any consumer cost or fiscal impact from the proposed changes. No vote or formal action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House first took up a Senate amendment to House File 3296, an act relating to motor vehicles. Representative Youakim said the Senate changes were technical, including removing an unnecessary title-stamp reference and clarifying the effective date. The House concurred, and the bill was re-passed as amended by the Senate on a 127-0 roll call vote. The chamber then received a series of Senate files and referred them to committees or to the Chief Clerk for comparison with related House files. These included commerce, health, civil law, and human services measures, with several sent to Commerce Finance and Policy, Ways and Means, or the Committee on Commerce. The Speaker also announced Senate concurrence requests on House Files 3682 and 3760, and the Rules and Legislative Administration Committee announced bills to be placed on the calendar and amendment prefiling requirements for several measures. The main floor debate centered on House File 2725, a judiciary bill on competency restoration and so-called GAP cases involving defendants found incompetent to stand trial but not eligible for civil commitment. Representative Edelson, joined by Representative Albright, described the bill as creating a statutory framework for competency restoration, a competency restoration board, forensic navigators, bridge plans, and procedures to separate competency restoration from civil commitment. Supporters said it was a necessary first step to improve public safety and treatment, while opponents including Representatives Scott and O'Neill raised concerns about provisional discharges, workforce shortages, the short 30-day window for lower-level cases, and the lack of a broader civil-commitment or community-care solution. Representative Pinto defended the bill as a needed foundation to close the gap between criminal competency and civil commitment. No final vote on House File 2725 is shown in the transcript excerpt.

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The conference committee met for the first time on Senate File 2673, with members from the House and Senate introducing themselves before staff walked through the Senate spreadsheet and bill provisions. The chair framed the bill as a response to rising violent crime, gunfire, fentanyl, and repeat offending, and said the Senate plan is intended to support law enforcement, increase penalties for violent and habitual offenders, and improve transparency and accountability in the criminal justice system. He also emphasized probation funding, youth intervention programs, and caution about relying on newer nonprofit grant recipients without stronger oversight. Fiscal analyst Chris Turner reviewed the Senate spreadsheet and compared it with House and governor positions. Major Senate appropriations included funding for judicial compensation, public defense, emergency management readiness grants, prosecutor training, youth intervention grants, body cameras, pathways to policing, gunfire detection, mental health support for first responders, violent crime enforcement teams, school safety specialists, Ramsey County crime prevention efforts, use-of-force training, police education reimbursement, recruitment and retention bonuses, law enforcement skills programs, sexual assault medical exam costs, and peace officer survivor benefits. He also noted Senate support for probation and supervision funding, including county supervision grants, county probation officer reimbursement, and DOC supervision services. The bill also contains several criminal code changes that create bed costs, including fleeing police, car theft used in another crime, carjacking, mandatory minimums for firearm crimes, longer prison terms, organized retail theft, aggravated and consecutive sentences, assault expansion to include health care professionals, and fentanyl penalties aligned with heroin. Turner estimated the total bed cost for those nine provisions at $2.714 million in FY 2023, rising in later years. He also reviewed two general fund revenue changes: elimination of fees for uncertified court document copies and a marriage license/divorce filing fee reallocation, with the Senate’s version taking effect earlier and costing more than the House version. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee was in the information-gathering stage, with staff continuing through the bill and spreadsheet.