Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee first adopted the minutes from its March 2 meeting and then received a Department of Agriculture report on the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program. Matt McDevitt explained how the program works for asset owners who rent or sell agricultural assets to beginning farmers, the eligibility rules for beginning farmers, the annual credit limits, and the program’s funding structure. He reported that the program began with $5 million in 2018 and $6 million annually thereafter, with unused amounts rolling over; about $19 million was available in 2022. He also summarized early program data showing most credits were for land leases, with purchases and share-crop arrangements making up smaller but steady portions, and noted that approved farm financial management providers are reviewed and approved by the department. Members asked about carryforward rules, education requirements, and whether the program should be expanded because funds were not being used as quickly as expected. McDevitt said unused credits could likely be carried forward for up to 10 years and explained that waivers may be available for farmers with sufficient education or experience. Deputy Commissioner Andrea Valverde Service said the department was open to discussing ways to better utilize the funds. The committee then laid over House File 3421, which would provide $250,000 for a study of COVID-19 impacts on Minnesota deer, after hearing testimony from Fond du Lac Band Chairman Kevin Dupey in support and Minnesota Deer Farmers Association representative Tim Sprecht in opposition. Supporters argued the study was needed because COVID has been found in deer in other states and could pose risks to wildlife and humans; opponents said deer are not known to be symptomatic or proven to transmit COVID to humans, and that on-farm testing could stress animals and create liability. The bill prompted a heated exchange among members about whether the issue justified a study and whether broader action, including depopulation of deer, was being implied. Several members criticized the discussion as unfair or inappropriate, while others defended the seriousness of the pathogen issue. After Representative Burkel withdrew his A1 and A3 amendments, Chair Sundin closed debate and laid over House File 3421. The committee then returned to House File 3713, which would expand the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit to individually owned LLCs. Representative Miller explained the bill was intended to address a narrow gap in the current law, noting that many beginning farmers use LLCs for tax and liability reasons and that the change was meant to better fit the legislature’s original intent to help new farmers access land and assets.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee took up Senate File 3008, as amended to change the effective date to the day following final enactment. The bill would require open, non-discriminatory wholesaling for Minnesota-produced spirits, ending exclusive distribution rights for distilled spirits while leaving beer and wine under their existing rules. The chair allowed testimony from supporters for two minutes each and opponents for five minutes each, and the amendment was adopted by voice vote. Supporters, including Johnson Brothers, Bellboy, several independent retailers, restaurant owners, and municipal liquor representatives, argued that open wholesaling preserves competition, keeps prices lower, improves service and product availability, and helps small businesses and outstate retailers compete with larger chains. They said the current system lets them shop among multiple wholesalers when supply shortages or poor service occur, and that losing open wholesaling would push prices up and shift business to out-of-state or exclusive wholesalers. Several speakers emphasized that the Coleman Act has supported Minnesota businesses for decades and that the bill would protect local jobs and community revenue. Opponents, including Breakthru Beverage and Southern Glazer’s, argued that the Coleman Act is unconstitutional, is being challenged in federal court, and should not be amended while under judicial review. They said the law gives one wholesaler an unfair advantage, is an anomaly compared with other states, and does not actually promote competition or better service. Opponents also contended that prices in other states remain competitive without a Coleman-style mandate and that manufacturers and wholesalers should be free to choose their business relationships. No final committee action on the bill beyond adopting the amendment was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and approval of the previous day’s journal. Several House files were given second reading, and a large batch of newly introduced bills, House Files 4013 through 4115, received first reading. The chamber also received Senate File 2302, relating to health occupations, which was referred to the Committee on Health Finance and Policy. The main floor debate centered on Representative Daudt’s motion to suspend the rules so House File 4060, a proposed temporary gas tax holiday from Memorial Day to Labor Day, could be taken up immediately. Supporters argued Minnesotans needed immediate relief from high fuel prices and pointed to a large state budget surplus. Opponents, led by Majority Leader Winkler, called the proposal a gimmick and argued it had not received a hearing and should be considered alongside broader affordability measures. Members also debated prior votes on gas tax increases and indexing to inflation. After roll call, the motion failed 63-67. The House then handled several routine actions without controversy. Representative Frederick’s motion to recall House File 3417, a substance use disorder treatment bill, from Housing Finance and Policy and re-refer it to Workforce and Business Development Finance and Policy prevailed. House Resolution 9, memorializing those impacted by and lost to COVID-19, was introduced and referred to Rules and Legislative Administration. The House also adopted a motion to adjourn until March 10, 2022, and then adjourned.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from Eric Martens, executive director of the Minnesota State High School League, about efforts to address racist comments, harassment, and other disrespectful behavior at high school athletic events and in school activities. Martens said recent incidents show more work is needed to make schools and contests safe, welcoming, and inclusive, and he described the league’s collaboration with school leadership groups, including superintendents, principals, activities directors, and school boards. He said the league is working with impacted schools, facilitating communication, providing resources and policies, and organizing student input to help develop a model code of conduct. He also emphasized that expectations must be taught, modeled, enforced, and followed by appropriate consequences when violations occur. Members asked whether the league’s bylaws on conduct and harassment were new; Martens said they have been in place for quite some time, including Bylaw 409 on school responsibility for teams, fans, and representatives. He said the recent incidents are highly visible because of media and social media attention, though exact numbers are difficult to track. In response to questions about student engagement, he said the league plans to involve representatives from all 16 regions and ensure students from diverse backgrounds, including BIPOC students, are at the table. He also said the league is partnering with student leadership efforts and a conference focused on safe and welcoming schools. Additional questions covered spectator conduct, consequences, and younger-level programs. Martens said non-student spectators can be removed and may face trespass or other legal action, while students can face school discipline such as suspensions from activities. He said the same expectations need to be carried down into youth and lower-level programs because coaches influence those settings. In a separate exchange, he explained that during the pandemic the league reduced costs and programming, cut its budget by about 40 percent, used PPP loans, and later reduced member fees and created a model to credit excess revenues back to school dues.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 1888, authored by Representative Hewitt, and first adopted an A1 amendment before discussing the bill. Hewitt said the bill would update Minnesota’s mortuary science laws by allowing unlicensed, trained people to assist with removals from the place of death under licensed mortician supervision, and by allowing those same workers, if chosen by the business, to help arrange or direct funerals or graveside services. He also said the amendment would clean up COVID-era issues, including storage of bodies without embalming and cremation of a veteran’s limb, and argued the bill would provide flexibility for funeral homes facing staffing shortages, especially in rural areas. Testimony was split. Supporters, including a funeral car service operator and a long-time licensed funeral director, said the current system creates delays for families and medical staff, that staffing shortages are severe, and that the bill would let businesses use trained helpers without eliminating licensed funeral directors. A Department of Health representative said the agency was neutral and explained that during the emergency waiver, unlicensed removal workers had to register so the department could monitor complaints; those registrations expired in 2021. Opponents, including the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association and a mortuary science student, argued the bill would let unlicensed people practice mortuary science without adequate oversight, weaken public protections, and create enforcement problems because the department could not discipline unlicensed individuals. One testifier said the bill was too broad and that the existing statute needs a more comprehensive rewrite. Members asked about training, vehicle requirements, and whether unlicensed removals are already happening. Hewitt said current law already covers vehicles and other standards, and that the bill would not change bloodborne pathogen or other training requirements; he said unlicensed removals are already occurring in practice. After discussion, the chair noted the licensing-versus-workforce balance issue and laid House File 1888 over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate began by dispensing with further roll call proceedings, closing the roll, and hearing a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. After the roll was taken, the chamber confirmed a quorum and noted several members who intended to vote under Rule 40.7. The body then received House messages transmitting House Files 2875, 3175, and 3035, gave first reading to House bills, adopted committee reports and authors’ motions, and moved several Senate files to second reading. It also referred Senate File 3738 and 3750 to Environment and Natural Resources Finance, and Senate File 3785 to Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy. The chamber then took up House File 2454, a local government bill allowing the City of Mora’s public utilities commission to expand from three to five members. Senator Rarick explained the change was requested to improve quorum reliability and allow more discussion among members; there was no opposition. The bill passed 65-0 and its title was agreed to. The next measure, House File 2841, was described by Senator Johnson as a technical real property bill developed with the Minnesota State Bar Association to codify current title-examiner practices and ease court processes. It also passed unanimously, 67-0, with the title agreed to. The main debate centered on Senate File 2302, the Nurse Licensure Compact. Senator Nelson supported the bill, arguing it would let nurses work across state lines with a single license, reflect existing safety standards, help address workforce shortages, and align Minnesota with 39 other states and jurisdictions. Senator Bigham opposed the bill, saying Minnesota’s current licensure system preserves high standards and public accountability, and argued the compact would weaken state oversight and not solve staffing problems; Senator Wicklund echoed concerns that the bill would not address hospital working conditions, staffing, or mental health supports. Bigham also moved to re-refer the bill to the Committee on Civil Law and Data Practices Policy, citing data practices and rulemaking provisions in the compact; the motion was taken up with roll call requested, and debate continued on whether the bill should have gone through additional committee review.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The House/Senate committee held an informational hearing on Senate File 3265, a bill addressing “white bagging” in health care. The chair said the committee wanted to learn more before taking action and planned to continue studying the issue over the interim, with further review expected before any possible action in 2023. Senator Koran introduced the bill as a measure to prohibit payers from mandating white bagging for clinician-administered drugs, arguing it could improve care, reduce delays, and protect patients without raising costs. Testimony was largely in support of the bill. Molly Skipstead, a pharmacist who has worked in cancer centers, described white bagging as a practice where insurers or PBMs require drugs to be obtained through a third-party pharmacy, often one they own or contract with, which she said can delay treatment, create safety risks during shipping, increase waste when treatment plans change, and raise out-of-pocket costs by shifting drugs from the medical to the pharmacy benefit. Scott Sefchi of Mayo Clinic gave similar testimony, emphasizing patient care, product integrity, operational burdens, and higher patient costs, and said his institution and state medical assistance programs do not use the practice. Dr. Paul Thermas of Minnesota Oncology also supported the bill, saying white bagging can disrupt real-time treatment decisions, increase staff burden and burnout, and undermine timely, patient-centered cancer care. Witnesses repeatedly argued that the bill would not ban white bagging entirely but would stop payers from requiring it, preserving provider and patient choice for clinician-administered drugs. They also said the practice can lead to wrong or delayed shipments, drug waste, and supply-chain concerns, and that there is no validated evidence that banning mandates would increase overall health care costs. No vote or final committee action was taken during the hearing.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee first approved the March 2 minutes and then heard a presentation from Minnesota State High School League Executive Director Eric Martens on efforts to address racist comments, harassment, and other inappropriate behavior at school athletic events. Martens said the league is working with schools and education organizations to improve behavior, support affected students, develop a student-led model code of conduct, and hold regional student meetings and a student conference focused on safe, welcoming schools. In response to member questions, he said the league’s bylaws on sportsmanship and harassment have been in place for some time, that schools are responsible for addressing misconduct by teams and fans, and that consequences can include removal, trespass notices, and student suspensions from activities. He also said the league is trying to extend these expectations down to youth programs and lower grade levels, and that the league’s financial model was adjusted during the pandemic, including fee reductions and crediting excess revenues back to member schools. The committee then took up House File 2246, a technical bill to change the size and structure of the Minnesota State High School League board and correct a statutory reference from bylaws to constitution. Representative Hewitt and Mr. Roger Arneson explained that the league is a private nonprofit with legislative oversight, serving more than 500 member schools and over 100,000 student participants, and that the board is largely appointed by outside entities rather than chosen by the league itself. They said the bill reflects changes made after the pandemic financial crisis and could create another opportunity to improve board diversity, noting the current board has 22 members and only one person of color. Public testimony came from Idal Abdul, who spoke about the lasting trauma caused by racist insults, suspensions, and other harms to children, and urged stronger accountability, including financial consequences for school districts. Members then asked follow-up questions about board quorum, board size, financial records, appointment criteria, and how the league encourages more people of color to apply or be appointed. Testifiers said a majority constitutes a quorum, attendance is generally good, financial statements can be provided, and appointing authorities are directly encouraged to recruit diverse candidates. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.