Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 2767, the omnibus liquor bill, and first adopted the H-2767-A13 author amendment. That amendment added guardrails for cocktail rooms tied to an agreement between craft distillers and wholesalers, included funding and staff for direct wine shipping administration, and added two local projects: a social district in Anoka and a softball complex in Rochester. The bill author described HF 2767 as the product of a year of compromise aimed at modernizing Minnesota liquor laws, especially for craft distillers and craft brewers, while preserving consumer and safety protections. Members then adopted three friendly amendments from Representative Nash. A15 added farm wineries to a council representing parts of the three-tier system, A16 added a food retailer or convenience store seat, and A17 added another member to balance the council and include a wholesaler representative; a technical correction was noted so the council size would reflect the adopted amendments. Supporters said the bill reflected broad stakeholder consensus and would help update outdated liquor rules, including issues like growlers, distillery sales, and 3.2 beer. Representative Johnson raised concerns about alcohol-related harms and said he could not support the bill, though he confirmed that the Coleman Act fix was included and expressed concern about the softball complex provision and youth tournaments. The bill’s fiscal impact was described as modest, with appropriations for direct wine shipping administration, two additional inspectors for AGED, and Department of Revenue work related to tax consequences; the total general fund cost in the biennium was said to be under $1 million. A question about allowing beer stronger than 3.2 in convenience stores was answered in the negative, with members saying that issue was not resolved because consensus did not exist. The committee then voted to recommend HF 2767, as amended, for placement on the General Register, and the motion passed 18-2.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate first dispensed with further roll-call proceedings and then took up Senate File 4476, a redistricting bill described by Senator Johnson as a technical fix. Johnson offered and explained the A5 amendment, saying it corrected lines that had extended outside District 44 and addressed a voter privacy issue by moving a precinct so ballots could remain secret. The amendment was adopted without objection, and members noted the bill was straightforward and intended to improve the mapping process and voting access. During debate on the amended bill, Senator Isakson asked whether any additional changes or amendments were expected later, including in conference committee. Johnson said no further amendments were anticipated on the Senate side for that bill and that any future changes would come with warning. Isakson praised the transparency but said he hoped future mapping changes would be more substantive and clearly pro-democracy. The bill then advanced to third reading and final passage. On the roll call, members voting under Rule 40.7 were reported, and the bill passed 63-1 with its title agreed to. Afterward, Senator Miller announced that an agreement had been reached on unemployment insurance and frontline worker pay, with language still being finalized by committee chairs, the commissioner, and the administration. Senator Franzen objected that the minority had not yet seen the final language, and Miller responded that everyone would have an opportunity to review it before voting. The Senate then recessed to the call of the President.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: House and Senate leaders announced a tentative agreement on a bill to fully replenish Minnesota’s unemployment insurance trust fund, use federal ARPA dollars, and provide $500 million in bonus payments to frontline workers who worked during the early COVID-19 period. Leaders said the deal also includes a $190 million general fund appropriation for ongoing state COVID response efforts, with legislative oversight attached to that funding. They described the agreement as pending final language and said it was the result of months of negotiations and several recent meetings. Senator Housley said the frontline worker payments are intended as a thank-you to workers who continued reporting to work despite health risks, citing testimony from caregivers, nursing home staff, nurses, hospital food service workers, MnDOT drivers, bus drivers, and school bus drivers. Leaders said the payment amount would be the same for eligible workers, with an estimated $750 if about 667,000 workers apply, though the final amount could vary depending on the number of applicants. They said the application process would take a few months and that unused money would revert. On the unemployment insurance side, leaders said the bill would prevent tax increases on businesses and may include adjustments for businesses that have already paid or need more time to pay. They said the UI bill was in conference committee, with a goal of Senate passage that day and then House approval, putting the measure on the governor’s desk as soon as the next day if both chambers agree. They also said school worker UI benefits were not included, and briefly addressed unrelated questions about a deer farm amendment and redistricting changes, calling those matters ongoing discussions.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House took up House File 4300, the education finance bill, and the authors described it as a major investment in Minnesota students and schools. Representative Davnie highlighted funding to reduce special education and English learner cross-subsidies, support voluntary pre-K and early learning scholarships, expand early Head Start, add school support staff such as counselors and social workers, and increase mental health and wraparound services. Representative Pinto emphasized the early childhood portions of the bill, including mixed-delivery pre-K, early learning scholarships for infants and toddlers, ECFE support, Reach Out and Read, school breakfast access for early childhood special education and ELL students, and a grow-your-own early childhood educator program. Representative Hassan focused on teacher diversity, teacher retention, and a personal finance graduation requirement, while Representative Richardson stressed mental health, trauma, school safety, anti-racism measures, discipline reform, and curriculum provisions such as financial literacy, ethnic studies, civics, and Indigenous Peoples Day. Members speaking in support said the bill responds to student and educator needs, especially around mental health, safety, and persistent opportunity gaps. Hassan described student testimony about harassment, discrimination, and unsafe school environments, and argued that all students benefit from more teachers of color and Indigenous teachers. Richardson cited committee testimony about overdose deaths, suicide, school shootings, and racial and disability-based discipline disparities, and said the bill takes steps toward a fairer discipline process while still allowing removal for violent behavior or serious safety threats. Several members also thanked staff and committee leaders for their work on the bill. The only recorded action before the transcript ended was adoption of amendment A22, offered by Representative Dabney, which updated a fiscal note for a consolidation aid provision and kept the bill within its target. Representative Drazkowski then offered amendment A25, which would require legislative approval before the Minnesota Student Survey is brought forward to schools; he said he could not find statutory authorization for the survey and argued that school districts already have survey authority and parental opt-out options. The transcript cuts off during his explanation, before any vote on A25 is shown.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House took up House File 4300, the education finance bill, and heard opening remarks from Rep. Dabney, Rep. Pinto, Rep. Hassan, and Rep. Richardson. Dabney framed the bill as a major investment in Minnesota students, emphasizing funding to reduce the special education cross-subsidy, eliminate the English learner cross-subsidy deficit, expand mixed-delivery voluntary pre-K, and add dedicated funding for student support staff such as counselors, social workers, psychologists, nurses, and chemical dependency counselors. Pinto focused on early childhood provisions, including increased Early Head Start funding, expanded early learning scholarships for infants and toddlers, statewide voluntary pre-K for low-income four-year-olds, early childhood social workers, breakfast access for early childhood special education and early ELL students, support for the Children’s Museum and Reach Out and Read, ECFE support, and a Grow Your Own early childhood educator program. Hassan highlighted teacher diversity, saying the bill includes funding and policy changes to increase teachers of color and Indigenous teachers, support educator pipelines, and add personal finance as a graduation requirement. She also described the bill as responding to student reports of harassment, discrimination, and unsafe school environments. Richardson emphasized mental health and school safety provisions, citing trauma, overdose deaths, suicide, and school shootings, and pointed to measures such as mental illness and suicide prevention training for administrators, child abuse hotline communication, Narcan availability, substance use instruction, social-emotional learning, special education due process changes, and protections for teachers. No votes or final actions were taken in the excerpt; the discussion was an opening presentation of the bill and its provisions.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate File 3641, as amended by the A5 amendment, which would provide state transition aid to local taxing jurisdictions when electric generating units retire and reduce the local tax base. The bill would require advance notice to the Department of Revenue, calculate aid on a per-unit basis, phase the aid out over 20 years, and end aid early if a jurisdiction’s taxable value rebounds to 90 percent of its pre-retirement level. Testimony from Oak Park Heights Mayor Mary McComber and Becker City Council Member Rick Hendrickson described the large property-tax impacts of retiring coal plants in their communities, including the Allen S. King plant and Sherco, and supported the bill as a way to avoid sharp tax shifts and help redevelopment. Members asked about the affected tax base and redevelopment constraints, and the bill was laid over as amended. The committee then took up Senate File 3765, a bill for the city of Virginia related to debt limits for financing a new public safety facility. Senator Bakk explained that the bill would exempt the city’s USDA loan and related bond payments from the statutory debt limit so Virginia can complete a new police, fire, EMS, and training facility. Mayor Lawrence Cuffey Jr. testified that the current building dates to 1895, the project costs about $29.4 million, and the city has already received $9.5 million in state bonding support but still needs about $17.1 million in USDA financing. He said the city’s remaining debt capacity is insufficient under the 3 percent limit and that the project is needed to serve a large regional area. Members discussed the history and purpose of the 3 percent municipal debt limit, with Senator Bakk and League of Minnesota Cities representative Gary Carlson noting it was last changed in 2008 from 2 percent to 3 percent and suggesting the committee may want to revisit whether the limit is outdated. After questions, Senator Tomassoni urged support for the bill, and Senator Bakk emphasized that the measure would not require state funding. Senate File 3765 was laid over for possible inclusion.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate took House File 4366 off the table and heard opening remarks on the bill, which is a supplemental housing and homeownership package. Senator Drem described the proposal as focused on creating more housing units and expanding pathways to homeownership, citing a statewide shortage of about 50,000 units. He outlined the bill’s main funding pieces: $35 million for a grant program, $10 million for workforce homeownership, $10 million to help convert manufactured housing parks to co-op ownership, $5 million for a sprinkler-matching program for nonprofit high-rise housing, and $5 million for the CER Champions program, which supporters said could help create thousands of new homeowners. He also thanked committee members and staff for their work on the bill. Senator Rest then offered the A1 amendment, which would delete section 29 of the bill. He argued that the deleted language would overturn the results of local rent stabilization votes in St. Paul and Minneapolis, and said the legislature should respect the will of voters and local control. Several senators, including Swedzinski, Klein, Murphy, and Isaacson, spoke in support of the amendment on democratic and constitutional grounds, saying the legislature should not retroactively nullify a free and fair election. They emphasized that the issue was not the merits of rent control itself, but whether the state should override local referendum results. Senator Draheim and others opposed the amendment, arguing that rent control harms housing production, reduces permits and property values, and worsens the state’s housing shortage. He said rent control has been widely studied and concluded it discourages new units, which Minnesota needs. Senator Pappas supported the amendment, saying local voters should be respected and that the legislature should not interfere with their decision. The transcript shows extended debate on the A1 amendment, but no final vote on the amendment or the bill itself is included in the excerpt.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Redistricting met for a short hearing on Senate File 4476, a technical redistricting bill. The underlying bill makes a change to Northfield Township in Rice County, and the A4 amendment added a second change involving Granite Falls Township. Counsel explained that the Granite Falls amendment moves a portion of Granite Falls Township from District 16A to 15A, and that both changes are precinct-level adjustments tied to map updates. Committee members also reviewed map references and noted that some handouts reflected older versions of the Granite Falls map, while the online version showed the updated configuration. Testimony and discussion focused on why the changes were being made. Senators and counsel said the purpose was to keep political subdivisions as whole as possible while addressing voter privacy concerns in very small precincts, including situations where only a few voters were affected. Counsel and staff said the Granite Falls change was intended to add more voters to a very small precinct so ballots would remain private, and that the Northfield change addressed a similar issue. One member asked whether the changes fit broader redistricting principles; counsel responded that this was a policy question and that the legislature is not necessarily bound by the court’s principles. The committee adopted the A4 amendment by voice vote. After further questions about authority, timing, and who requested the changes, Senator Johnson said the requests came through the district senators, likely from constituent or municipal input, and that the legislature has authority to make such changes. The committee then voted to recommend Senate File 4476, as amended, to pass and refer it to General Orders. The meeting was then adjourned.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Rules and Administration met with a quorum and took up one item, Senate File 4476, a late-arriving bill from the redistricting process. Senator Johnson explained that the bill included changes requested by Senators Draheim and Lane and was intended to make adjustments for voter privacy in certain districts, with the delay attributed to the local redistricting process taking longer than expected. After brief discussion and no questions from members, Senator Johnson moved to suspend Joint Rule 2.03 for further proceedings on SF 4476 and to adopt the prior redistricting committee report recommending the bill as amended do pass. The motion carried on a voice vote, and the committee adjourned.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, and received House messages. The House appointed conferees on Senate File 2677, relating to unemployment insurance, and transmitted House File 4293; no action was required on either message. The chamber also adopted the author’s motions in one motion and then moved to special and general orders, including House File 4366, the omnibus agriculture, rural broadband, and housing bill. Senator Westrom presented the bill as a supplemental budget package focused on agriculture, rural broadband, and housing. He described agriculture funding for meat-processing and meat-cutting capacity, high school meat-cutting equipment grants, deer farm relief, soy crushing and biofuels, avian influenza response, veterinary diagnostic lab upgrades, AURI equipment, emerging farmers, cover crops, training grants, and a food systems study. He also emphasized a major rural broadband investment using federal funds to expand service to unserved and underserved areas, and said the goal was to finish the buildout so the program would no longer be needed. Several amendments were considered. Senator Bach’s A4 amendment, which adjusted dates tied to a wood products production incentive, was adopted. Senator Bingham’s A3 amendment on chronic wasting disease and white-tailed deer restrictions drew debate over deer farm commerce and disease prevention; after roll call, it failed on a 36-36 tie and was not adopted. Senator Herr spoke in support of the emerging farmers provision, and the bill discussion continued into housing provisions after the agriculture amendments were addressed.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 3669, the omnibus tax bill, first adopting the A23 author’s amendment. The amendment was described as mostly technical, including Department of Revenue suggestions, blank appropriations changed to zero, one administrative rate restored to 2.5 percent, and a change to the Great Start child care credit phase-out that was said to improve the fiscal impact by about $300,000. The bill was then presented as a bipartisan package focused on families, seniors, workers, small businesses, housing, and property tax relief, with the author highlighting provisions such as the Great Start child care credit, a larger and refundable student loan credit, a child tax credit rebate, Social Security tax relief for seniors, renter’s credit changes, unemployment and business-related subtractions, and expanded property tax aids. The author also emphasized that the bill would provide the largest property tax cuts in more than 20 years and said it was designed to complement other budget investments. Representative Sundeen offered an amendment to address what he described as overly broad levy authority for fire districts, citing concerns in his own township and Carrollton County. The chair and the bill author opposed the amendment, saying fire districts were created the prior year and they did not want to carve out one district. The amendment failed on a voice vote. During later discussion, members questioned the renter’s credit and whether property tax increases are actually borne by property owners or passed through to renters; the author and staff explained the credit is based on rent paid, assumes a portion of rent reflects property taxes, and would not apply to amounts not actually paid by the renter. Members also raised concerns about rent control and whether property tax increases can always be passed through in those areas. House fiscal staff then answered questions about the bill’s revenue effects, citing current-law general fund tax revenues of $54.594 billion for fiscal years 2022-23 and saying the growth rate would be 14.3 percent under current law and 11.27 percent under House File 3669 as amended. Representative Garofalo asked for clarification on the revenue figures and argued that credits and aid should be distinguished from direct tax reductions. After discussion, the committee voted on the motion to recommend House File 3669, as amended, for placement on the general register and to authorize technical corrections and title changes. The motion prevailed on a 16-10 vote, and the bill was sent to the floor.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard House File 3465, authored by Representative Long, which would require insurance coverage for infertility treatment deemed medically necessary by a health care provider. Long described the bill as a response to constituents facing high out-of-pocket costs and argued Minnesota should join other states that mandate infertility coverage. He introduced several testifiers in support of the bill, while one testifier, Laura Elm, opposed it on the grounds that the IVF industry has transparency, consent, and embryo-storage problems that should be addressed before expanding coverage. Supportive testimony came from Andy and Rachel Wilkie and Mariah Graham, who described years of infertility treatment, emotional strain, and major financial burdens, including credit card debt, a personal loan, a second mortgage, and fundraising to pay for IVF. Committee members also shared personal experiences with infertility, adoption, and the mental health toll of treatment. Representative Rasmussen suggested the bill be sent for a mandated health benefit review to assess costs and premium impacts, and the chair directed staff to submit it for review. Members generally expressed sympathy and support for the issue, though Representative Tice noted the bill did not address counseling or mental health support for couples. Representative Long closed by thanking the testifiers and members and expressing hope the bill would advance. No final vote was taken during the portion of the meeting reflected here.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate debated Amendment A37 to the omnibus jobs, energy, and commerce bill, which would set Minnesota on a path to 100% clean energy by 2040. Senator Frentz and other supporters argued the target was bold but achievable, included an off-ramp if costs or environmental impacts proved unsustainable, and would support jobs, energy security, price stability, and climate action. They cited worsening climate impacts, the need to act for younger generations, and the view that Minnesota is already moving aggressively on energy transition. Opponents or skeptics emphasized that energy systems must change carefully and with all stakeholders involved, warning against moving faster than the grid can be built out. They noted that wind and solar still make up a relatively small share of generation, that major plant closures and replacements are already underway, and that the market is driving much of the transition. One speaker also said emissions from the industrial sector and tailpipes still need attention. After debate, the Senate voted on the amendment and it failed, with 29 ayes and 35 nays. The amendment was not adopted.