Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met remotely, established a quorum, and approved the March 11, 2022 minutes. It then heard House File 3321, which would provide a one-time $100,000 appropriation to the Minnesota Family Resiliency Partnership Program through DEED’s Adult Career Pathways Program. The bill’s author and testifiers described the program as a statewide network serving displaced homemakers and others facing crisis after divorce, death, abandonment, or disability, emphasizing its trauma-informed counseling, workshops, job-search help, and strong outcomes. Testimony highlighted the program’s participants, including many women, BIPOC individuals, domestic violence survivors, and people experiencing homelessness, and argued the appropriation would serve as bridge funding while fee-based base funding is updated. Committee members expressed strong support, and the bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. The committee then received DEED Commissioner Steve Grove’s overview of the governor’s budget recommendations. He focused first on the unemployment insurance trust fund, saying $2.73 billion is needed to avoid tax increases on businesses, and also referenced the governor’s proposed funding for frontline workers. He outlined proposals to expand Launch Minnesota with $5 million, adjust policy to better use nearly $100 million in federal State Small Business Credit Initiative funds, create a marketing effort for Minnesota through a new platform, staff up the Minnesota Business Vitality Council, and establish a $50 million grant/lottery program for nonprofits. Grove also described workforce-related proposals, including $15 million for youth computer science and tech workforce development, $15 million to modernize DEED’s digital workforce systems, and support for paid family and medical leave as a workforce and economic development tool. He said the budget would also fund the New Americans Office, create an ombudsman for agricultural workers, support clean-tech and electric vehicle transitions, and provide $2.5 million in grants to communities affected by coal plant closures. No votes were taken on the budget presentation during the transcript segment.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a quorum call, and approval of the previous day’s journal and committee reports. Several House and Senate files were read, and a Senate message transmitting Senate File 3472 was referred for comparison with House File 3717. The chamber then moved to the calendar for the day. The first bills considered were House File 2819, which raised civil penalties for snowmobilers who trespass off designated trails, and House File 2945, which would let local law enforcement share full criminal history background check information with city and county hiring officials instead of only a yes/no result. Both bills were passed after brief debate, with HF 2819 passing 122-10 and HF 2945 passing 127-5. House File 3249, making technical changes to the Safe at Home address confidentiality program, also passed unanimously 131-0. House File 2353, which would classify as private certain education support services data collected through Hennepin County’s program to reduce educational disparities, drew the most discussion. Supporters said the change was needed so participants would feel safe using the program and so it could expand statewide; opponents focused on privacy safeguards, especially audit trails and access to sensitive information. After debate, the bill passed 75-57. Representative Scott said he would not support it without audit-trail language, while Representative Lucero emphasized the importance of tracking access to sensitive data and noted the data would be destroyed after four years. Later, the House adopted several committee-reassignment motions, including moving House File 3378 to Judiciary Finance and Civil Law, House File 3563 to Early Childhood Finance and Policy, House File 3887 to Health Finance and Policy, and House File 3545 to Ways and Means because of its fiscal impact. Representative New Brindley then moved to suspend the rules so Senate File 2677 could be recalled and given second and third readings; she argued employers were facing imminent unemployment insurance tax increases tied to replenishing the trust fund, while others noted the fund supports workers and that the state should repay the debt. The transcript ends amid that debate and related remarks about employer tax increases and the unemployment insurance trust fund.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee on Health and Human Services Finance heard testimony on the Office of the Legislative Auditor’s evaluation of emergency ambulance services in Minnesota. Legislative Auditor staff said the system needs reform in several areas: the way primary service areas are allocated and overseen, the weak ambulance license renewal process, the lack of state performance standards, and the need for action on staffing and financial sustainability, especially in outstate areas. The audit also criticized the Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board (EMSRB) for not fully carrying out its responsibilities, including not maintaining a statewide EMS plan, not updating rules in decades, and not collecting required financial data. The auditor recommended keeping primary service areas but creating a process to periodically review and modify them, adding more oversight to licensing renewals, requiring a new initial licensing process when service providers change, and directing EMSRB to set and enforce performance standards. The report also suggested the legislature try pilot or sunset policies to address rural ambulance sustainability and consider broader structural changes to EMSRB, including board composition or shifting some functions elsewhere. The auditor noted that EMSRB had not published statewide primary service area maps and had not evaluated its executive director in years. EMSRB Executive Director Dylan Ferguson responded that the board agrees with the spirit of the recommendations and described steps already underway. He said the agency has hired six new staff, increased inspections, cleared backlogged complaint investigations, begun regular performance evaluations of the executive director, and is drafting a statewide EMS plan and performance measures. Ferguson also said EMSRB is working on GIS mapping of primary service areas for public posting and is reviewing the financial-data requirement to determine how to proceed. He said the board is open to further legislative discussion and collaboration on implementing the audit’s recommendations.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee met on March 14, 2022, and announced that five bills were on the agenda, but no votes would be taken because all were layover items. The first bill discussed, Senate File 3448, would require a procedure for downward departures from sentencing guidelines similar to the existing process for upward departures. Senator Newman said the bill would add notice to victims about plea agreements and sentencing departures, allow victims to object, and involve a jury in deciding whether mitigating circumstances justify a downward departure. Committee members raised concerns about the complexity of sentencing, the role of juries, access to pre-sentence investigation information, the burden of proof, possible delays, and the bill’s $32 million fiscal note. Newman argued juries already decide guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and could also assess mitigating factors. The committee ultimately laid SF 3448 over without a vote. The committee then heard Senate File 2893, which would address reimbursement for county transportation costs under the Interstate Compact for Adult Supervision. Senator Newman explained the bill was prompted by Sheriff Brian Cruz, who said counties were paying out-of-pocket to transport probationers from other states back to Minnesota and were not being reimbursed. Sheriff Cruz, speaking for the Minnesota Sheriffs Association, supported the bill and described the compact process, saying sheriffs travel nationwide to return probation violators and that the costs can be significant, with some transports costing thousands of dollars. He said the bill reflected discussions among the Department of Corrections, the Sheriffs Association, and lawmakers, and that there was now agreement on how to handle the expenses. The transcript cuts off before any final action on SF 2893 is recorded.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Education Policy Committee met remotely, approved the March 9 minutes, and then heard House File 3926, a bill by Representative Keeler to increase teacher prep time and add additional prep time for special education teachers. Keeler and supporting testifiers, including a special education teacher and a teachers’ union president, argued that teachers are overburdened by planning demands, paperwork, IEPs, and coverage duties, and that more uninterrupted prep time would help retain teachers and better serve students. Opponents, including principals and administrators, said the proposal would be difficult to staff, would require additional hires and significant costs, and could reduce instructional time; several emphasized the need for local control and flexibility. Representative Bennett also raised concerns about unresolved special education paperwork burdens and the logistics of covering the added prep time. After debate, the committee voted on the motion to refer House File 3926 to the Committee on Education Finance. The motion passed 11-8, and the bill was referred onward. Members then began discussion of House File 3860, introduced by Representative Bolden, which would recruit and support licensed school nurses through grow-your-own pathways, recruitment grants, and scholarships. Bolden said the bill responds to workforce shortages and the important role school nurses play in students’ physical and mental health, especially during the pandemic, and turned to testifiers for further support.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: State leaders discussed ongoing negotiations over two main COVID-related spending items: replenishing the unemployment insurance trust fund and providing promised frontline worker payments. The governor said Minnesota is in a strong financial position and argued both items can be resolved in a bipartisan way without raising business taxes, while also noting the payments would help Minnesotans during broader economic uncertainty. He said the House and Senate would return with subject matter experts, along with commissioners from Labor and Industry and DEED, to try to reach a compromise, and that another meeting could happen the next day. The governor described the main disagreement as the size of the payments, saying the UI trust fund discussion was between roughly $1.2 billion and $2.7 billion, and frontline worker funding between $0 and $1 billion, with the Senate not yet offering money for frontline workers. He said the administration believes $2.72 billion is needed for the UI fund to avoid penalties and interest, and that the deadline matters because businesses will begin preparing first-quarter UI tax payments ahead of an April 30 deadline. He also said the state should not ask businesses to wait for legislative action because they could face penalties if payments are late. In response to questions, the governor said the Senate appears to be moving away from frontline worker bonuses and toward other priorities such as permanent tax cuts, but he urged lawmakers to keep the COVID-related issues separate from broader surplus debates. He also addressed other pending issues, including drought relief, saying the state should pass a stripped-down version focused on immediate help for livestock producers rather than adding unrelated provisions. He emphasized that the legislature has a responsibility to reach compromises and noted Minnesota’s recent history of passing budgets and improving its credit rating through bipartisan agreement.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The meeting focused on ongoing budget negotiations in Minnesota, especially two COVID-related items: replenishing the unemployment insurance trust fund and funding promised frontline worker payments. The governor said the state is in a strong financial position and argued both items should be resolved in a bipartisan way without raising business taxes. He said the House and Senate would return with subject matter experts, along with the commissioners of Labor and Industry and DEED, to try to reach a compromise, and he hoped they could meet again the next day. The governor described the positions as still far apart. He said the House had proposed about $1.2 billion to refill the UI fund and the Senate about $2.7 billion, while the Senate had offered nothing above zero for frontline workers and the House had moved on that issue. He argued the UI fund should be fully replenished to avoid penalties and interest and said the frontline worker payments were already promised, voted on, and signed into law. He also said the payments would help workers and act as a stimulus amid broader economic uncertainty. The discussion also touched on reinsurance, which the governor said was not discussed in the meeting but would need to be addressed later. He said he preferred a public buy-in model over the current reinsurance approach, though he acknowledged the Senate disagreed. In addition, he briefly addressed drought relief, saying a small package for livestock producers had been slowed by added provisions and should be pared back and passed quickly. No votes were taken, and the main action was to continue negotiations with a smaller group of leaders and experts.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard Senate File 3771, as amended, which would create a free online hospitality and tourism training and certification program in Minnesota, modeled on South Dakota’s program. Senator Rood said the bill is intended to give young people and other new workers practical skills and a credential that can help them get hired and advance in the hospitality industry. The A1 amendment was adopted by voice vote. Testimony in support came from Hospitality Minnesota, the University of Minnesota Tourism Center, and TPI Hospitality. Supporters said the hospitality and tourism sector has been hit hard by workforce shortages and pandemic-related losses, and that many current workers are new to the industry. They described the proposed program as a statewide, asynchronous, no-cost training with multiple modules covering customer service, handling difficult situations, and learning Minnesota tourism, with certifications that would be recognized by employers. Supporters also said the program would complement existing high school and apprenticeship efforts and could be promoted through industry, Explore Minnesota Tourism, DEED, colleges, workforce centers, and local tourism organizations. Members asked about how the certification would work, why the University of Minnesota Tourism Center should lead the effort instead of other systems, and how the program would be marketed. Supporters responded that the South Dakota model uses 10 modules with certifications, that the U of M Tourism Center has the expertise to build and deliver the content, and that the program should be branded and communicated broadly so employers and workers understand its value. No final committee vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee met with quorum present and heard three bills. Senate File 3481, introduced by Senator Westrom, would create grants through the Department of Agriculture for schools to buy meat-cutting equipment and related training resources for agricultural education programs, with the goal of exposing students to meat-processing careers and helping address workforce shortages. Testimony from West Central Area agriculture instructor Eric Sawatsky, FFA student Jaden Kerry, Minnesota Farmers Union, and Minnesota Farm Bureau emphasized the need for more hands-on training, succession planning for small processors, and support for local food systems. After discussion, the bill was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill. The committee then took up Senate File 3320, sponsored by Senator Rarick, which would fund training and support for small meat processors and producers. An A1 technical amendment was adopted to help the agency administer the one-time spending more quickly. Testimony from Greg Worski of the Land Stewardship Project described his mobile poultry processing business, apprenticeship program, and the difficulty of finding accessible HACCP and inspection training in Minnesota. He and the bill author argued the measure would help small rural processors improve skills, meet regulatory requirements, and serve underserved communities. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion. Finally, the committee heard Senate File 3737, by Senator Weber, establishing an agricultural best management practices grant program focused on soil health, with direct cost-share grants to farmers or service providers and a stakeholder process to set five- and 10-year soil health goals. An A1 technical amendment was adopted. Testimony from Minnesota Corn Growers Association president Brian Beigler highlighted farmer-led research, cover crops, strip till, and the benefits and challenges of adopting soil health practices. The bill was then continued for further testimony, with additional presenters expected.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard Senate File 1844, which would allow Hubbard County to sell tax-forfeited land and place the proceeds in a new land replacement trust fund capped at $1 million. The county explained the fund would help it acquire replacement lands, especially former Potlatch lands, for forest management, recreation, and habitat purposes. Committee counsel noted the bill was needed because current law limits this use of sale proceeds to 30 percent. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion. Senate File 2869 was then heard for Goodhue County and the City of Wanamingo. The bill would allow the county to convey tax-forfeited land bordering public water so the city could use it for the Wanamingo Nature and Scenic Wildlife District and extend a nature trail. Members raised no objections, and the bill was laid over for possible inclusion. The committee next took up Senate File 3268, relating to Two Harbors. After adopting the A2 amendment, the bill was explained as a conveyance of DNR-owned parcels in Two Harbors that were originally acquired for a marina and safe harbor project that never materialized. Senator Bach and a city representative said the city wants to develop the vacant waterfront parcels to support downtown revitalization, tourism, and shoreline planning. DNR said it was willing to work on a path to dispose of the upper parcels, while the lower parcels contain a boat access and parking area with federal aid restrictions. The bill, as amended, was laid over for possible inclusion. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate File 3704, the annual DNR lands bill. After adopting the A3 amendment, DNR staff outlined sections dealing with easement fees, 30-year leases, a boundary addition for Myrie Big Island State Park, a boundary deletion for Cloquet Valley State Forest, additions to Riverlands State Forest, and several land sales or conveyances in Cass, Fillmore, Hennepin, Itasca, Pine, and Sherburne counties. Members asked follow-up questions about the Myrie Big Island acquisition, the quality and current use of the land, and the distinction between public sale, private sale, and conveyance. The transcript ends during discussion of this bill, with no final committee action shown in the excerpt.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 3263, a finance bill sponsored by Vice Chair Vang and intended to be laid over for possible inclusion. The bill would appropriate $3 million to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for farmland down payment assistance grants of up to $15,000 for eligible Minnesota farmers. Vang said the measure is aimed at land access barriers for beginning and small-scale farmers, with eligibility limited to Minnesota residents actively managing and doing the physical labor on the farm, under $250,000 in gross farm sales, and without prior ownership interest in the farmland. Recipients would have to provide a one-to-one match and repay part of the grant if they do not own or farm the land for five years. Testifiers supported the bill as a way to help farmers secure long-term land access and build sustainable farm businesses. One testifier described a background in agricultural lending and nonprofit work and said the program could help aspiring farmers like himself invest in ag real estate. Another, an urban farmer from Minneapolis, said long commutes, housing constraints, and lack of inherited wealth make land acquisition extremely difficult, and called the bill one of the first to directly help farmers who have struggled to access funding. A lending expert explained that combining grant funds with borrower equity can reduce risk for banks and make ag real estate purchases more feasible as land prices rise. Representative Anderson asked how grant amounts would be determined, whether the funds could count toward a bank’s down payment requirements, and how the bill’s five-year repayment provision would work in cases such as bankruptcy. Vang said the grant would match the farmer’s own funding up to $15,000 and noted he was open to clarifying the repayment language. After discussion, no further questions were raised and House File 3263 was laid over.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House took up House File 2819, a natural resources bill dealing with civil penalties for snowmobilers who trespass off designated trails. Representative Hansen said the measure was the product of a long compromise involving snowmobile and ATV interests, and argued that stronger penalties are needed because snowmobile trails depend on voluntary access from landowners; damage from trespassing can lead landowners to withdraw access, harming trail systems, tourism, and local economies. The bill would raise the civil penalties for trespass from $100 to $250 for a first offense, $200 to $500 for a second offense, and $500 to $1,000 for a third and subsequent offense. Hansen said there were no amendments at the desk and asked for support. No floor discussion followed before the vote. The House then voted on third reading and passed the bill, 122-10, with its title agreed to.