Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The discussion focused on Senator Susan Kent’s proposal for a Minnesota paid family and medical leave program. Kent said the benefit is needed because many workers must return to work very soon after childbirth or cannot take time off for serious illness, injury, or to care for a family member without losing income. She described the plan as a statewide insurance program funded by employee contributions, with a sliding wage-replacement scale that would cover lower-wage workers at a higher percentage and provide up to 12 weeks of leave. She also said part-time workers and self-employed people could participate, and employers offering comparable benefits could keep their own plans. Kent contrasted her proposal with a Republican-backed private insurance approach, saying it would not cover medical leave, would be more expensive because of a smaller risk pool, would likely reach fewer people because of cost caps, and could still allow employers to offer benefits unevenly across different groups of workers. She argued that a statewide plan would be more affordable and universal. In response to concerns that a state-run program could become another MNLARS-type failure, she said Minnesota could model the system on its existing unemployment insurance structure and on Washington state’s successful paid leave program, avoiding the need for entirely new systems. The interview also touched on Kent’s legislative record as she prepared to retire. She said she was proud of helping stabilize the state budget, supporting same-sex marriage, and expanding student mental health resources such as counselors, school psychologists, and social workers. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the interview.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate debated and passed Senate File 3472, a conference committee report extending the Minnesota Premium Security Plan, or reinsurance, for three more years. Supporters said the measure would help hold down premiums in the individual market and protect Minnesotans from sharp rate increases, with one speaker noting the program has become a national model. The bill was described as providing three years of paid-up health insurance support, with the first two years funded up front and the third paid later. Several speakers also discussed policy changes included in the House version of the bill, including provisions related to prenatal care and prescription drug co-pays. Some members said those additions would help patients and improve affordability for certain medications, while others argued they did not address the underlying cost of health care and that insurance remains unaffordable even with reinsurance. One speaker expressed frustration that the state continues to rely on piecemeal fixes rather than broader reform. The bill was presented as a way to protect roughly 880,000 people in Minnesota’s individual market. After the debate, the Senate agreed to the conference committee report and passed the bill’s title.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee met on April 1, 2022, to take final action on Senate File 2673, the public safety omnibus bill, and Senate File 3329. Chair Limmer opened by explaining the bill’s spending level, saying the committee had built the bill around about $199.4 million and leadership had rounded that to a $200 million spending limit, with a rape kit fiscal note still pending. He then walked through the A35 amendment, which added reporting requirements for Ramsey County public safety grants, clarified that certain law enforcement funding could not supplant salaries, and made technical corrections to sentencing language. The A35 amendment was adopted. The committee then took up several amendments related to victim services and rape kit funding. Senator Bigham offered the A43 amendment for unified rape kit billing and Department of Public Safety/OJP administration, initially with a $5 million placeholder based on estimated costs. After discussion about the missing fiscal note and the committee’s spending limit, the dollar amount was reduced to a blank/placeholder and the amendment was adopted. Senator Pappas offered the A41 amendment to increase crime victim services grants, but after debate over whether the committee was constrained by a spending cap and whether the amount should be a placeholder, the amendment failed. Senator Latz’s A45 amendment, requiring law enforcement to retain certain custodial, booking, implied consent, and breath-test recordings for at least 60 days or until related proceedings conclude, was adopted after he said law enforcement groups were generally comfortable and the cost impact would likely be limited. Finally, Senator Bigham offered the A42 amendment to include PTSD in the killed-in-the-line-of-duty workers’ compensation statute, retroactive to January 1, 2017, for law enforcement, firefighters, and correctional officers. She cited the case of Sergeant Corey Slifko and argued the change would recognize survivors and address denied claims. Members questioned the fiscal impact, and Bigham clarified there was no fiscal note prepared and that the amendment would recognize PTSD as a qualifying death for workers’ compensation purposes. The transcript ends while discussion of the A42 amendment is still underway, so no final vote on that amendment or on the underlying bills is shown in the excerpt.

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard House File 3254, which Senator Pratt described as a narrow venue fix to an earlier Minnesota sales-representative law. He said the bill would ensure disputes are heard in Minnesota courts rather than in other states, and the committee voted to recommend the bill to General Orders without opposition. The committee then took up Senate File 3501, a technical cleanup bill related to the 2020 physician assistant practice-act changes. Senator Draheim and Leslie Clayton of the Minnesota Academy of PAs said the bill does not change scope of practice, but harmonizes terminology and cross-references; they noted support or no concerns from the Board of Medical Practice, Board of Pharmacy, Minnesota Medical Association, nursing groups, and APRN coalition. Natasha Trunovsky testified in opposition, arguing the bill moves PAs closer to independent practice and should include patient-notification and physician-referral amendments. Members discussed committee jurisdiction and title-identification issues; the proposed amendments were withdrawn, the A5 House fix was adopted, and the bill was then recommended to pass to General Orders. Finally, the committee heard Senate File 3193, a bill addressing disclosure of limited mental health information to law enforcement during crisis responses. Senator Howe said the bill would help officers and social-service responders de-escalate situations and better connect people to services; the A2 authors amendment was adopted. Counsel explained the bill would allow certain mental health entities and records to share limited information, including crisis strategies, with law enforcement when they have responded to the incident, and would also make related changes to the Health Records Act and adult protection team provisions. Testifiers including Rich Newmeister and Irene Gao of the League of Minnesota Cities and Jody Gerkin of CentraCare supported the bill as a narrow privacy-balanced approach, while emphasizing the need for limited disclosure and, in some cases, agency policies for handling the information.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee met remotely on March 31, 2022, adopted the March 29 minutes, and heard presentations on the governor’s supplemental budget recommendations from several agencies. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency outlined proposals focused on PFAS response, adapting to extreme weather, supporting local water and land infrastructure, solid waste and recycling, brownfields, railroad safety, lead and cadmium restrictions in consumer products, solar panel recycling, and small business loan support. MPCA also described policy items on wastewater discharge notifications, waiving a 30-day public notice period for some municipal wastewater expansions, increasing the capital assistance program cap, and reducing 3M settlement reporting from twice a year to once a year. The Department of Natural Resources presented climate-related budget items, including $42 million for climate adaptation of public lands and waters, $10 million for grassland and wetland restoration, $5.5 million for private woodland assistance, and $24 million for acquiring public lands, along with smaller amounts for broadband licensing, cannabis enforcement, public safety response, and aggregate mapping. The Board of Water and Soil Resources described proposals for water storage, a healthy soils program, a tribal government coordination FTE, and catch-up funding for delayed engineering and construction work. The Metropolitan Council Environmental Services requested planning funds to help local governments assess infrastructure risks from extreme weather. Explore Minnesota Tourism asked for funding for two full-time positions to support marketing and public relations as tourism recovers from the pandemic, and the Environmental Quality Board requested a one-time $600,000 appropriation to develop Minnesota-specific climate assessment tools for environmental review. No votes were taken on the budget items during the presentations, and the chair indicated questions would be held until the end of the hearing.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met on House File 3401, an omnibus education bill from Representative Richardson, and first approved the March 30 minutes by voice vote. The committee then adopted the A11 author’s amendment, which made technical and substantive changes across the bill, including clarifying supplemental online learning, revising the “Recess for All” provisions, and making the requirement to maintain opiate antagonists permissive rather than mandatory. After the amendment, the bill was laid over for further consideration and possible inclusion in a future omnibus bill. The bill walkthrough covered a wide range of education policy changes. Major topics included online learning and crisis online learning, Indigenous and American Indian education, ethnic studies and state academic standards, World’s Best Workforce requirements, discipline and restrictive procedures, postsecondary enrollment options, charter school governance and admissions, health and safety, and nutrition/libraries. The teacher article proposed changes to licensure, teacher diversity goals, reporting on hiring and vacancies, probationary periods, mentorship and grant programs, and principal evaluations. The charter school article addressed authorizer terms, market need studies, admissions preferences, facility leasing, and annual audits. Several provisions focused on student supports and equity, including expanded reporting by subgroup, stronger limits on exclusionary discipline, requirements for non-exclusionary practices, and additional protections related to recess, special education, and American Indian students. The health and safety section emphasized evidence-based substance misuse prevention, social-emotional learning, and child abuse hotline notices. No additional votes were taken beyond approval of the prior minutes and adoption of the A11 amendment.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee first approved the March 29, 2022 minutes, then took up House File 4306, a pension bill described by Rep. Murphy as a skeleton bill to provide additional state investment in public pension plans, including cost-of-living increases, a temporary reduction in employee contributions, a possible reduction in the assumed investment return rate, and increased direct state aid to certain plans. Testimony from AFSCME, the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, and firefighter/police representatives supported the bill’s focus on pension stability and retiree COLAs, while noting concerns about long-term funding and the need for additional resources. The committee voted 8-5 to send HF 4306 to Ways and Means. The committee then heard House File 4017, an omnibus pensions bill from the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement. Susan Lyncheski summarized the bill’s articles, which included expanded military service credit purchases for MSRS members, additional covered positions in certain state plans, PERA changes for Duluth Transit Authority employees and segmented annuities, teacher return-to-work provisions, volunteer firefighter retirement changes and technical fixes, expanded disability-determination authority for advanced practice registered nurses, technical State Board of Investment changes, a study of police disability benefits, and other cleanup provisions. The committee adopted the DE1 and A4 amendments, then voted 12-1 to refer HF 4017, as amended, to Ways and Means. Finally, the committee returned to House File 4036, a bill creating a legislative task force on aging demographics and the possible need for a state Department of Aging. Rep. Claiborne explained that the bill required a report and appropriation, and that two amendments were needed after a late fiscal note. The committee began consideration of the A1 amendment, which would complete the appropriation by inserting funding amounts, and heard that the bill’s supporters and testifiers were available to answer questions.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House File 3545, a bill relating to horse racing, was taken up for third reading and debate. The bill would expand the uses of the breeders fund to include racehorse adoption, retirement, and repurposing. The author said the change would help support Minnesota’s horse racing industry and cited economic activity and jobs tied to the industry. Supporters described the measure as a repurposing of existing funds, not a new tax, and pointed to nonprofit organizations that retrain retired racehorses for therapy, police work, and other uses. Several members questioned the bill’s purpose and funding source. Representative Drazkowski argued the fund was already collecting more money than needed, said the proposal would simply spend more of it, and objected that it would subsidize horses owned by wealthy people rather than ordinary horse owners. Representative Quam asked for clarification on current fund restrictions and whether the bill was similar to greyhound retirement programs. The author and Representative Nash responded that the money comes from a 1.25 percent deduction from advanced deposit wagers, not a general tax on Minnesotans, and that the bill only adds an additional authorized use of the existing breeders fund. In closing, the author said the bill would help horses live out their lives without going to slaughter and noted that amendments could have been offered earlier. The House then voted on the bill, and House File 3545 passed by a vote of 101 ayes and 30 noes; its title was agreed to.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration met with 15 members present. The committee first approved the minutes from March 29, 2022, after a motion by Representative McBadge. No discussion was offered, and the motion prevailed. The committee then considered the calendar for the day for April 4, 2022. The chair moved adoption of the calendar pursuant to Rules 1.21 and 3.33. Again, there was no discussion, and the motion prevailed. With no further business before the committee, the meeting adjourned.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate was called to order, placed under call, and the sergeant-at-arms was instructed to bring in absent members. A prayer was offered by Reverend Peter Richards of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Mound, Minnesota, followed by the pledge of allegiance. The secretary then took the roll, announced that a quorum was present, and noted several members intending to vote under Rule 40.7. Under the fifth order of business, Senator Miller moved to adopt the committee reports printed in the agenda, and the motion prevailed. Under the eighth order, bills on the introduction calendar received first reading and were referred as indicated. Under the ninth order, the Senate adopted the author’s motions under motions and resolutions. Senator Miller then moved that the Senate recess to the call of the president for approximately 30 to 45 minutes, and the motion prevailed. Before recessing, Senator Lopez Franzen announced that Senate Democrats would caucus in room 323 and promoted the Capitol STEM Day event featuring student robotics teams from several schools. The Senate then went into recess.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Finance Committee heard Senate File 4261, as amended, which would fund removal of old single-bay aircraft shelters and construction of new universal aircraft shelters at the Duluth Air National Guard base for the 148th Fighter Wing. Senator Duckworth moved the A1 amendment, which increased the proposed appropriation from $10 million to $25 million; the committee adopted the amendment. Duckworth and supporters said the project would help the 148th remain viable for future missions, protect a major regional employer, and support the wing’s federal and state roles. Testimony in support came from Jennifer Katy of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee and Tom Warner of the Duluth Airport Authority. They emphasized the wing’s economic impact, its role in emergency response and mutual aid, and the long-standing civilian-military partnership at the airport. Don Kerr of the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs said the bill was not originally an agency bill but was brought forward because of concerns about the Air Force’s future basing decisions and the need to retain Minnesota’s flying wings. He explained that the state intends to fund the project entirely with state dollars, citing Air Force guidance and the desire to show a state commitment. Members asked about the lack of federal match, the specificity of the bill language, the number of personnel and pilots in the wing, and whether drones could be part of the future mission. Kerr said the project would be 100% state-funded, that the amended language still allowed flexibility, and that the goal was to preserve a manned fighter mission in Duluth, whether F-35s, F-15EXs, or another future aircraft. Witnesses said drones were not viewed as a desirable option for Duluth. The transcript does not show a final vote on the bill itself, only adoption of the amendment and continued discussion.