Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee met with 14 members present and one member excused. The committee first approved the minutes from April 19, 2022, after a motion by Representative Matt Badger and no discussion. The committee then adopted the House calendar for April 25, 2022, under Rules 1.21 and 3.33. The chair also moved adoption of the calendar for April 26, 2022, explaining it was being taken up early to avoid another meeting the next day. That motion also passed without discussion. No bills were heard and no substantive policy issues were discussed. The meeting ended after the two calendar motions were approved and there was no further business.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard House File 4735, the supplemental early childhood omnibus bill, presented by Chair Pinto as a package spanning both education and human services. Pinto described the bill as a response to ongoing child care and early learning crises, with major investments in child care assistance, early learning scholarships, and voluntary pre-K, along with support for providers through workforce training, shared services, Brain Builders, stabilization grants, and a family child care liaison position. He also explained that the bill includes data-sharing and IT infrastructure language aimed at improving coordination among early childhood programs across agencies. Members asked detailed questions about the amendment and the bill’s structure. The A6 amendment was described as mostly technical, but it also changed the Brain Builders program into a pilot and adjusted IT/data-sharing provisions based on a fiscal note. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote. Questions then focused on the shift from Pathway 2 scholarships to mixed-delivery voluntary pre-K, with staff and Pinto explaining that about $18 million would be reallocated to the four-year-old VPK program, while Pathway 1 would continue to serve infants and toddlers; members were told there would be no gap in coverage for low-income children. Pinto also said the bill directs agencies to use existing data and does not expand data collection or change statutes. The committee also discussed a proposal to stabilize funding for tribal Head Start programs by setting a 10.72 percent allocation. MDE staff said the change is intended to hold tribal programs harmless from fluctuations in the federal formula and provide a predictable annual amount. Another topic was the $125,000 family child care liaison position, which Pinto said came from the Family Child Care Task Force and is meant to bring concerns from providers around the state. One member raised concerns about whether the bill prioritizes institutions over children, and another questioned the size of the CCAP increase and past fraud concerns, but no vote was taken on the bill itself in the portion provided.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House convened with prayer by Imam Assad Zaman of the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and a roll call establishing a quorum. The journal from the previous day was approved as corrected, and reports of standing committees and divisions were adopted without objection. The chamber then moved to second reading of House Files 3438, 4017, 4293, and 4366, and first reading of House Files 4797 through 4815. The Speaker announced members appointed to escort the Governor to the joint convention on Sunday, April 24, 2022. During announcements, members also discussed caucus plans and a brief promotional event outside the chamber featuring cattlemen’s steak on a stick, with encouragement to support Minnesota cattle producers. The Republican caucus was set to meet downstairs, while DFL members were told to caucus in Room 120 and rules to meet remotely. Majority Leader Winkler moved a recess to the call of the Chair after announcing the caucus schedule and expected reconvening time. The motion carried, and the House stood in recess.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Tax Committee met on April 21, 2022, and began with a staff overview of Minnesota local option sales tax requirements. Ms. Pollock explained that local sales taxes must be used for capital projects with a demonstrated regional benefit, that jurisdictions must submit detailed resolutions and documentation by January 31, obtain legislative approval, and then hold a referendum within two years before filing voter approval with the Secretary of State. The chair confirmed that the jurisdictions on the agenda had submitted the required materials. The committee then heard Senate File 3471, by Senator James, requesting an extension of Marshall’s existing half-cent local sales tax for 15 more years to fund a regional aquatic center. Mayor Bob Burns said the city’s current pool, built in 1937, is deteriorated, loses large amounts of water, is not ADA compliant, and cannot be repaired. He said the project has support from the city council, business community, and Chamber of Commerce, and that the bill would allow the city to go to voters in November. No questions were raised, and the bill was laid over. Next, the committee heard Senate File 3125, by Senator Newman, for Henderson’s local sales tax to fund a park, trail, and campground improvements. Testifiers described severe recurring flooding in the small river town, the city’s tourism and event economy, and the need to refurbish existing park and campground facilities, add campsites, and improve lodging options. Members asked about campground capacity, revenues, and whether the tax would fund operations; the city said the money would be for capital improvements, not operations. The bill was laid over. The committee then took up Senate File 3474, by Senator Johnson, for East Grand Forks. An A1 amendment was adopted, reducing the requested amount from about $37 million to about $21 million. Senator Johnson said the 20-year sales tax would help repair and upgrade recreational facilities, including an ice plant at the VFW arena, civic center improvements, and baseball fields. Senator Bach noted that current law requires separate ballot questions for multiple projects and warned that this can make the tax appear larger to voters; he said he would address the issue in a later bill. The bill was laid over. Finally, the committee began Senate File 3462, by Senator Aki, for Park Rapids, which would authorize a one-half percent sales tax for up to 20 years to improve five streets, including one near the high school. The city administrator said the city’s summer population swells dramatically and that the gravel streets create dust and washboard conditions. When Senator Bach asked about flexibility in project funding, counsel said the listed project amounts are prescriptive, though some prior authorizations have instead set a total amount. The hearing continued with the bill under consideration.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met remotely, approved the April 19 minutes, and then took up informational hearings only. House File 4628 was presented as a more than $110 million appropriation from the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund for digital connectivity, technology, and multi-purpose community facilities. The bill would fund grants for devices/equipment and for facilities that support work, education, and health monitoring, with a focus on underserved communities and labor standards. Testifiers from the Duluth and Saint Paul public libraries supported the bill, describing aging library facilities that could be renovated into technology-rich community hubs offering workforce, digital literacy, and basic health-related services. In response to questions, the bill author explained that the federal guidance is broad and can include spaces where people access telehealth or other health-support services, and said the goal is to remove barriers to work and access to services. The committee then heard House File 4631, a bill related to climate resilience in building design. Representative Lee and Dr. Richard Graves of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Sustainable Building Research described the bill as a study and reporting effort to examine how changing weather patterns, heavier precipitation, flooding, heat, and drought should be incorporated into future building and infrastructure design. Graves said historic weather data is limited for future design needs and argued for updated, forward-looking climate data and best practices to improve resilience and cost-effectiveness. Several members questioned the reliance on climate modeling and the use of 1895 as a baseline, while supporters said the intent was to better prepare buildings and infrastructure for observed and expected changes. The bill was described as requiring a report back to the legislature by February 1, 2025. Finally, the committee began House File 4231, another bill from Representative Lee, which would require state-funded projects to obtain approval from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Sustainable Building Research before funds are released beyond final design, showing compliance with state sustainable building guidelines. The bill would also remove certain exemptions from predesign requirements, require a qualified cost estimator for small projects, index small-construction thresholds to inflation, and provide a blank appropriation to help inform recipients about the requirements. Dr. Graves testified that early incorporation of sustainable design lowers costs and improves outcomes, and that the bill is intended to ensure projects are reviewed before construction begins. The hearing remained informational, with no votes taken on the bills.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House first received reports from the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration designating several bills for the calendar and requiring pre-filing of amendments for House Files 3438, 4366, and 4293. The chamber then took up House File 961, a labor bill that would allow certain law enforcement supervisors from agencies including the State Patrol, DNR Conservation, BCA, Alcohol and Gambling, and Commerce to form their own collective bargaining unit for pay and benefits. Representative Ecklund said the bill would help supervisors keep pace with the employees they oversee, provide some protections from frivolous lawsuits and complaints, and would not force anyone to join or merge supervisors with rank-and-file employees. Floor debate on HF 961 centered on unionization, compensation, and retirement issues. Supporters, including Representatives Garofalo, Novotny, and Barr, described the bill as common sense protection for supervisors and asked about pension implications and whether the measure changed current pay structures; Ecklund said pay details would be negotiated later. Representative Drazkowski opposed the bill, arguing it was an effort to expand public-sector unions and their political influence, and contended the employees could negotiate on their own. After discussion, the House passed HF 961 by a vote of 123 to 8. The House then took up House File 3765, the LCCMR appropriations bill for the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Representative Hanson explained that the bill allocates about $70.88 million based on merit and includes funding for prion research, PFAS research and mitigation, pollinators, invasive plants and pests, environmental education diversity, and other natural resources projects. Supporters highlighted climate adaptation, flood resilience, renewable energy research, PFAS cleanup, and pollinator habitat work. Representative Heinzman questioned whether the LCCMR had produced an official recommendation, and Hanson clarified that the bill was the appropriations bill reflecting the highest-scoring proposals, not a formal recommendation, and acknowledged ongoing concerns about the commission’s inability to reach the supermajority needed for recommendations. Debate continued on specific projects and the commission’s structure, with no final vote shown in the transcript excerpt.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House took up House File 3765, the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund/LCCMR appropriations bill, and the author explained that it allocates about $70.88 million based on the merit-ranked recommendations that received the most support from the 17-member commission, though no proposal reached the 12-vote threshold for an official recommendation. The bill was described as funding work on prion research and chronic wasting disease, PFAS research and cleanup, pollinator protection, invasive species, climate resilience, renewable energy research, state parks and trails, land acquisition, and environmental education. No amendments were offered, and the bill was given its third reading for floor debate. Supporters highlighted specific provisions they said were science-based and important statewide, including a prion research center at the University of Minnesota, PFAS destruction and drinking-water research, pollinator habitat and conservation planning, climate adaptation work, and projects to engage young people in outdoor and environmental learning. Several members also defended items criticized by opponents, such as blueberry and berry species research, urban archery for deer management, and studies on wildlife impacts, arguing these reflect treaty rights, local wildlife issues, and the need for innovation in environmental funding. Opponents argued that the LCCMR process is not functioning well because the commission failed to reach the supermajority needed for an official recommendation, and they questioned whether the current structure and partisan balance should be reformed before more money is spent. They also criticized several projects as unnecessary or promotional, including studies they viewed as duplicative and a Science Museum project to share LCCMR’s work. The bill remained under discussion, with members indicating it would likely go to conference committee and that some would not support it in its current form.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum present, adopted the committee reports on the agenda, and gave second reading to Senate Files 4113, 3052, 4165, and 4410. Senate Resolutions 126 and 127 were referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. The body also designated Senate File 98 for special orders and then took up Senate File 4062, the environment and natural resources policy and finance bill, which was described as combining finance, policy, and lands provisions. Senator Ingebrigtsen outlined the bill’s main provisions, including appropriations for SCORE grants, whole effluent toxicity, trail and shooting sports projects, White Bear Lake water levels, and a general-fund events promotion item tied to large events and sales-tax growth. He also described policy sections on permitting efficiency, off-highway vehicle transfers, snowmobile decals, ATV weight limits, timber and mineral review, minnow importation, air and water permits, mattress recycling, and other DNR/MPCA matters. Senator Ruud then explained the annual lands bill, which authorizes DNR boundary changes and the sale of surplus state lands through public and private sales. The first major amendment, A54, proposed removing several provisions from the bill, including the rifle-zone language for Dodge and Hestad counties, the wolf language, and the mattress recycling section. Senators asked procedural questions about how the repealers would operate, and Ingebrigtsen said the amendment would leave the rest of the bill intact while carving out those items. A subsequent amendment, A57, was offered to the A54 amendment to keep the wolf provision in the bill; its author argued the DNR should be ready to manage wolves if they are delisted, while an opponent said the wolf should not be mandated for hunting and requested a roll call.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee met on April 21 and first approved the minutes from its April 19 and April 20 meetings. Members then turned to House File 4735, a supplemental early childhood omnibus bill, which was described as spanning both education and human services jurisdiction. Chair Pinto outlined the bill’s goals: expanding child care assistance rates, broadening eligibility, reducing waiting lists, funding early learning scholarships and voluntary pre-K, supporting workforce development and stabilization grants for providers, and maintaining support for infant and toddler programs. The committee adopted the A6 amendment, which Pinto said was largely technical but also changed the Brain Builders program into a pilot and added infrastructure funding to improve data systems and data sharing across early childhood agencies. Representative Scott questioned the data-sharing language, asking whether parents had to sign off and whether the bill was expanding data collection. Pinto and MDE staff responded that the language was aimed at interagency coordination using data already held by state agencies, not new collection, and that the language was tied to a direction in the bill for the Commissioner of Management and Budget to identify statutes, rules, and practices that complicate data sharing. Staff also pointed members to the relevant section in the bill and clarified that the amendment was the only spreadsheet change for this bill. Members then discussed funding shifts within the early childhood proposal, including moving about $18 million in fiscal year 2023 from Pathway 2 scholarships to mixed-delivery voluntary pre-K. Supporters said the change would better serve four-year-olds while preserving coverage for younger children through Pathway 1 and CCAP, and that there would be no “donut hole” in services. Some members raised concerns about whether the bill favored institutions over children and asked for outcome data comparing programs. On another provision, MDE testified that a change in the distribution of funds for migrant and Indian reservation programs was intended to maintain stable funding for tribal Head Start programs. The A6 amendment was adopted, and the committee continued discussion of the bill as amended; no final vote on the bill itself was recorded in the portion provided.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 4300, the K-12 education funding bill, and adopted the A6 amendment after a brief explanation that it made technical corrections and several substantive changes. The amendment increased the state share of the special education cost subsidy, raised career and technical education aid to fully fund CTE transportation costs, clarified an asynchronous learning provision for certain alternative programs, and was described as still fitting within the bill’s target. The bill was then presented as amended and moved forward for further consideration. Chair Davnie described the bill as a way to “pay our bills” by addressing major cross-subsidies and unmet costs in school funding. He highlighted $422 million for special education deficit reduction, an investment to eliminate the English learner cross-subsidy by 2026, funding for 1,100 student support personnel, expanded voluntary pre-K through a mixed-delivery model, support for after-school and summer learning, full-service community schools, school meals in higher-poverty schools, and pathways for education support staff to become licensed teachers. He also said the bill includes a special education tuition billing working group and other efforts aimed at helping schools recover from disrupted learning. Representative O’Neill questioned why funding amounts varied so widely by district, using Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Monticello as examples. Chair Davnie and House Research’s Tim Strom explained that the formula reimburses districts for actual special education and English learner costs, and that differences are driven in part by tuition billing from charter schools, intermediate districts, and cooperative arrangements. Strom said Monticello’s situation was affected by a 2016 transition in its special education structure and a lower base established at that time. Representative Scott criticized the bill for adding mandates without addressing special education paperwork burdens and said he would vote no. Representative Becker-Finn responded that the bill’s funding and working group provisions are part of reform and said stable funding is needed to address delayed learning and student needs. Representative Petersburg also opposed the bill, arguing it rewards some districts over others and does not address the underlying mandate burden. No final vote on the bill itself was recorded in the excerpt, but the A6 amendment was adopted.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance and Policy Education Committee continued oversight hearings on the Minnesota Department of Education’s involvement in the Feeding Our Future-related fraud investigation. The chair emphasized that the committee was not accusing MDE staff of wrongdoing, but wanted to understand how the fraud occurred and what oversight or corrective steps might be needed. Assistant Commissioner Darren Corte and Nutrition Program Services Director Monica Herrera testified, after prior appearances by Commissioner Mueller and CFO Denise Anderson. Corte and department staff also responded to a document request by saying site applications had been pulled and would be provided in a usable format, while noting that IRS Form 990s are not part of the site application materials. In opening remarks, Corte described his role overseeing special education, compliance, nutrition program services, the charter center, and general counsel, and said MDE staff had rapidly shifted into crisis response when COVID-19 closed schools in 2020. Herrera outlined the nutrition division’s work administering USDA school meal and related programs, including claims and reimbursements through the CLICKS system, and said the division worked with about 2,000 sponsors and more than 10,000 sites, handling over $450 million in program funds and numerous USDA waivers during the pandemic. Both witnesses framed the department’s work as focused on keeping children fed during an unprecedented emergency. Committee members pressed Corte on leadership structure, reporting lines, site application approval, internal controls, and whether the department recognized fraud risk in these programs. Corte said he reported directly to Commissioner Ricker early in the pandemic after Deputy Commissioner Mueller was assigned to COVID response, and later kept Commissioner Mueller updated on the Feeding Our Future matter without involving her in daily litigation strategy. He acknowledged that someone in the department had to approve site applications before they were entered into the system, but said Herrera could explain the process in more detail. On risk, Corte agreed federal nutrition programs carry inherent fraud risk, noted a 2019 GAO report on fraud and risk in food nutrition programs, and said MDE was aware of it. He also said there were many meetings during the pandemic, including at least one large pre-closure meeting in Roseville, but he could not recall a single all-leadership meeting specifically devoted to the USDA waivers; he said waiver-related discussions happened later with nutrition, finance, and leadership staff as needed.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate File 4508, as amended by a technical A1 amendment. Senator Rarick said the bill responds to concerns about University of Minnesota intercollegiate athletics, especially cuts made during the pandemic, by asking the Board of Regents to create a commission to review the past, present, and future of athletics and recommend ways to sustain programs, including financing models, scholarships, and support for Olympic sports. Members expressed general support for the goal. The committee then adopted an A22 amendment, with an oral correction, to reduce and restructure the State Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board from 14 members to 8, based on concerns raised in an Office of the Legislative Auditor report and discussions with the House and stakeholders. The bill, as amended, was recommended to pass and referred to the Higher Education Committee, and the committee also noted it would go to the Rules Committee. Next, the committee took up Senate File 4045, which would move the Rare Disease Advisory Council from the University of Minnesota to the Minnesota Council on Disability. Senator Pratt said the change would better support the council’s policy work and align with the original intent of the 2019 legislation. Testifiers from the rare disease council and the Council on Disability supported the move, emphasizing the large number of Minnesotans affected by rare disease, the need for policy advocacy on issues like telehealth and transition to adult care, and the importance of keeping the council independent while receiving administrative support. The committee adopted an A2 amendment that clarified the relationship between the council and the Minnesota Council on Disability, set terms and appointments, and removed legislators from decisions on grants of state money to avoid constitutional issues. Senate File 4045, as amended, was then recommended to pass and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. Finally, the committee began Senate File 3636, a structured settlement bill. Senator Atki said the bill updates Minnesota’s laws on the transfer of structured settlement payment rights and incorporates model language used in other states. The committee adopted an A4 amendment that made technical fee and effective-date changes, including clarifying fees paid to the Secretary of State and setting section 18’s effective date. A committee staff member noted the collected fees would go to the general fund and that the bill contains no appropriations. The bill was then presented as amended, but the transcript ends before any final committee action on Senate File 3636.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House File 1683, the supplemental transportation omnibus bill, was presented as the committee’s policy and finance package focused on matching federal infrastructure dollars, supporting the NLX passenger rail line, improving road safety, and funding bridge and MnDOT facility needs. Chair Hornstein said the bill includes about $80 million to match federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds, about $85 million for NLX, $80 million for critical bridge supports, $69 million for MnDOT facilities, and additional provisions on highway and traffic safety and transit support for townships and small cities. The committee first took up the A40 author’s amendment, which corrected engrossing errors, added a new reintegration driver’s license program for certain people leaving incarceration whose licenses had been suspended, canceled, revoked, or denied for pre-incarceration violations, and made technical corrections to ignition interlock language. Representative O’Neill raised concerns about public safety and whether the proposal belonged in the Public Safety Committee, while Representative Pinto, Chair Hornstein, and witness Anna Odegaard explained that the proposal mirrors existing limited-license law, excludes serious offenses, lasts one year, and is intended to help reintegration without a general fund impact. After discussion, Chair Hornstein ruled the motion to send the amendment to Public Safety out of order, and the committee adopted the A40 amendment. After the amendment passed, members raised additional bill concerns. Representative Garofalo asked about language related to death benefits for a South St. Paul officer and noted he would work with Chair Hornstein on cleanup language. Representative Petersberg criticized the omission of auto parts sales tax revenue and questioned proceeding with some transit projects before a Legislative Auditor report on Met Council management. Representative O’Neal asked about proposed fee increases for Class D and Real ID licenses and was told they were intended to support deputy registrar workload and related administrative costs. The transcript ends with discussion still underway on the bill, with no final vote on HF 1683 shown in the excerpt.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 4017, a pension policy bill from the state government finance committee and pension commission. Chair Nelson moved both the bill and an A1 amendment. The amendment was adopted and added a $125,000 appropriation to the Department of Labor and Industry to fund a study of firefighters’ and police disability benefits, specifically to assess whether those benefits are adequate and up to date. Nelson explained that the bill is a package of pension-related policy items approved by the pension commission. Provisions described included extending the period for buying back military service in a pension, adding dental hygienists to the correctional plan, and allowing certain Duluth Transit Authority employees to remain in their current pension plan rather than move into PERA as the city of Duluth takes over the transit authority. Representative Garofalo spoke in support and said he would back the bill. After discussion, the committee voted on the motion to recommend the amended bill for placement on the general register. The roll call passed unanimously, 27 ayes and 0 nays, and House File 4017 as amended was sent on to the floor.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 4293, the supplemental state government finance and elections bill, and first adopted the author’s A17 amendment. The amendment made technical changes by replacing “dot dot dots” with zeros in certain appropriations and added a provision changing Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day, which the author said had been intended originally but was missed in drafting. Chair Nelson then presented the bill as a roughly $77 million supplemental package, emphasizing that much of the spending was for information technology and cybersecurity upgrades across state government. He highlighted funding for the legislature, including the reviser’s office, staff retention raises, enterprise cloud transformation, executive branch technology modernization, advanced cybersecurity tools, Minnesota Management and Budget’s ERP systems, the Attorney General’s Office, the Secretary of State, ARPA-related matching funds, and some historical society reopening costs. Representative Nash praised cybersecurity funding but criticized the inclusion of contested elections provisions in an omnibus bill and argued that controversial policy items should be separated out. He also objected to grant-administration language allowing up to 10% for administration, calling it excessive bureaucracy. A Department of Administration representative explained that the grant-administration language was requested by enterprise grant makers and would allow up to 5% for legislatively named grants and up to 10% for competitive grant programs, citing the need for upfront review and oversight to protect taxpayer funds and assist grantees. Nash remained skeptical and said he would continue the issue on the floor. The committee then adopted the A20 amendment, which shortened but did not remove language clarifying that mailed materials are absentee ballot applications or sample ballots, not official ballots. Representative Scott later questioned the $2.335 million increase for the Attorney General’s Office; the office’s legislative director said it was mainly for retention, salary competitiveness, and administrative backbone functions such as finance and IT, and agreed to provide more detailed staffing information to the committee. The bill was moved to the general register.