Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard Senate File 3559, which would provide a $500,000 DEED grant to Minnesota Diversified Industries (MDI) to expand career-skills and employment programming for people with disabilities. Senator Wiger and MDI representatives described MDI’s work in Minneapolis, Cohasset, Grand Rapids, and Hibbing, emphasizing its manufacturing operations and its role in creating job opportunities and support for workers with disabilities. Testimony from an MDI employee highlighted the personal impact of the organization’s training, workplace support, and customer-service instruction, while MDI leadership outlined plans to expand through on-demand, mobile, and virtual-reality training models and a broader “Unified Work” concept. Committee members asked about the total project cost, private funding, geographic reach, and MDI’s outcomes. MDI said it would subsidize most of the cost through its operating business and use the state funds to accelerate development and attract additional private support. Members also noted the broader workforce shortage and the value of preparing more people for jobs. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion. The committee then heard Senate File 2505, a bill to fund Accessibility, Inc.’s Project Connect program to train formerly incarcerated individuals. Senator Dietzick and testifiers described the program’s history, its current focus on justice-impacted clients, and its partnerships with educators and businesses. A participant shared a personal recovery story and credited the program with helping him reenter the workforce after prison and substance abuse struggles. The organization reported serving 102 people in the most recent period, with 89 completing training, and said the appropriation would help it serve roughly 170 to 175 people; members asked about recidivism, reporting periods, and whether the program could expand beyond the metro area. The discussion ended with support for the organization and its role in helping people return to work, but no final vote was taken in the excerpt.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee heard presentations on two related bills, Senate File 2576 by Senator Gazelka and Senate File 2673 by Senator Limmer, both aimed at requiring mandatory prison sentences for violent crimes involving weapons. Gazelka’s bill would remove prosecutorial and judicial discretion to waive mandatory minimums for violent crimes committed with dangerous weapons generally, while Limmer’s narrower bill would do so only for firearm offenses. Both senators argued that current waiver practices are too common, cited Sentencing Guidelines Commission and BCA crime data showing high rates of downward departures and rising violent crime, and said the bills were intended to keep violent repeat offenders off the street and send a stronger deterrent message. Committee members raised concerns about the breadth and fairness of the proposals, including whether they would eliminate discretion in cases involving first-time offenders, accomplices, or ambiguous weapon possession scenarios. Senator Latz and others questioned how broadly the dangerous-weapon definition could apply, and whether the bills could capture situations where a defendant did not know a firearm was present. Mr. Backus from committee staff explained the current statute and how the bills would change the waiver provisions, and also clarified that Gazelka’s bill is broader than Limmer’s. Senator Bigham and others noted the absence of county attorney and other justice-system stakeholders from testimony and urged that public defenders, courts, corrections, and prosecutors be included in future discussion. No vote was taken on either bill. The chair announced that the bills would be laid over for possible inclusion in a later committee or finance bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard Senate File 821, a proposal to reestablish and fund Minnesota’s after-school community learning grant program. Senator Icorn said the bill would expand high-quality after-school and summer programming statewide, with equitable distribution across rural, suburban, urban, and tribal communities. Testifiers from Boys & Girls Clubs, the Sane Foundation, Ignite After School, and the Minnesota Department of Education described after-school programs as supports for academic recovery, mental health, youth development, working families, and culturally specific services, and cited research showing benefits in attendance, behavior, academics, and social-emotional learning. Senator Isacson raised concerns about access for students with disabilities, and Ignite said the bill is intended to serve all youth, though the committee noted competitive grants can favor better-resourced applicants. Senator Newman offered an A3 amendment requiring the commissioner to report program evaluations to the legislature, and the committee adopted it. The bill was laid over for possible further work, including adding a dollar amount. The committee then took up Senate File 3586, authored by Senator Coleman, which would increase general community education revenue. Coleman and testifier Tim Mau of White Bear Lake Area Schools and the Minnesota Community Education Association said the bill would provide more stable funding for community education, which has been flat since 2005, and would support programs for early childhood, K-12 enrichment, adult basic education, and senior services. Mau said the proposal would increase the state aid component and reduce the local levy for a net revenue increase, and estimated the bill would raise the per-capita levy by $158 beginning in 2024 while increasing overall community education revenue by about $9.1 million. Senator Kunish asked whether Bureau of Indian Education schools could access the funds and was told they do not currently flow to BIE schools because those schools are primarily federally funded and do not use local property tax levies. Senator Weaguer asked about community education’s role in reading readiness and other student supports, and discussion continued as the transcript ended.

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, adopted the March 3 minutes, and reviewed its upcoming schedule, including a long hearing day the following Tuesday. The chair described the day’s agenda as “pardon, conviction, and relief day” and said two bills by Representative Long would be heard, with House File 3464 intended to be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill and a second bill to be sent to the Judiciary Committee. House File 3464, as amended by the A1 technical amendment, would change Minnesota’s pardon process in two main ways: it would create a clemency review commission to screen petitions and make recommendations, and it would revise the voting requirement so a pardon could be granted by the governor plus one other member of the Board of Pardons rather than requiring unanimity. Representative Long argued the current process is too narrow and burdensome, noted a recent Supreme Court decision left the constitutional meaning of the pardon language to the legislature, and said the bill would preserve board discretion while improving access and fairness. Professor Mark Osler testified in support, describing clemency as a bipartisan issue and arguing that Minnesota’s current system is unusually restrictive and difficult for applicants to navigate. He said petition volume has risen, the current unanimity rule discourages grants even in strong cases, and a review commission would help manage the workload. He also said the proposed voting change fits within the Supreme Court’s guidance. Amber Young gave personal testimony in favor of pardons, describing how addiction led to criminal convictions, how she later rebuilt her life, and how her pardon allowed her to volunteer, pass background checks, and pursue family responsibilities. She said the pardon was life-changing and helped her feel whole and productive. A second testifier, Tim Morin, also spoke about the personal and practical benefits of a pardon, emphasizing the ability to participate in family and community activities. The transcript does not show a final committee vote on House File 3464 in this excerpt.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The program focused first on transportation funding, with Sen. Scott Newman arguing Minnesota faces a long-term shortfall in road and bridge needs and promoting bills to dedicate auto parts sales tax revenue to the Highway User Tax Distribution Fund. He said his bill would divert 100% of that tax to roads and bridges, while a related bill by Sen. Jeff Howe would also set aside portions for townships and small cities. Newman said the measures had broad support, passed two committee hearings unanimously, and had no testimony against them, but would still need approval from the House and governor. He also argued gas tax revenue is declining and that the proposals would not fully solve the problem, only help offset a projected future gap. The next segment covered the February state budget forecast, which projected a $9.3 billion surplus for the biennium, an increase of about $1.5 billion from the prior forecast. Democratic lawmakers said the stronger outlook should be used for immediate investments in Minnesotans, including tax relief, education, health care, broadband, and child care, while Republican lawmakers said the surplus shows the state should provide permanent tax relief because families are still struggling with inflation. The discussion emphasized that the surplus creates room for compromise, but also highlighted differing priorities over whether to spend, save, or cut taxes. Sen. Kerry Ruud then discussed a bill to restore “lottery in lieu of taxes” funding for outdoors-related purposes. He said the money was originally intended to support fish and wildlife, parks and trails, and the zoo, but over time some of it was diverted to the general fund during budget crunches. Ruud said the bill would restore the original promise to voters, and he cited support from former Sen. Bob Lessard and concern about “mission creep.” He also said the restored funding would help with park accessibility and basic improvements like paths and restrooms. The final topics were a bill to create a companion animal board and a package aimed at long-term care staffing. Ruud said the companion animal board would focus on the care of pets and rescue animals, separate from the Board of Animal Health’s disease and agriculture mission, and would help address issues raised by the growth in pet ownership and rescue animals. Separately, the Senate Finance Committee considered an interstate nurse licensure compact bill, which passed on a divided vote and advanced to the Senate floor, and discussed employee bonuses for nursing home and assisted living workers as part of a broader long-term care rescue package. Supporters said staffing shortages have worsened during the pandemic and that the measures are needed urgently, though they were described as only temporary fixes.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The discussion focused first on a bill to restore Minnesota’s “lottery in lieu of taxes” funding to its original constitutional purpose for outdoor-related uses. The senator explained that lottery revenues were initially intended to support the game and fish fund, parks and trails, and a small amount for the zoo, but that a larger share had been diverted to the general fund over time, especially during budget shortfalls. She said the bill would reverse that “mission creep,” restore the promise made to voters, and use the state’s current surplus to repay the diverted money. She also emphasized that parks and trails need the funding for maintenance, accessibility improvements, and basic amenities such as paths and restrooms, noting that public use of parks increased during the pandemic. The senator cited former Senator Bob Lessard as a key architect of the original constitutional amendment and said he testified in support of the restoration effort, warning lawmakers not to “tinker with the funds.” She described the issue as one of honoring constitutional dedication and argued that the state now has the fiscal capacity to do so. She said the proposal has broad stakeholder support and would significantly increase the share of lottery-related revenue going to outdoor programs. The interview then turned to a separate bill creating a companion animal board. The senator said the measure would shift responsibility for companion animals away from the Board of Animal Health, which she said should remain focused on agricultural disease and food safety issues such as avian flu and chronic wasting disease. She said companion animals are increasingly viewed as family members, especially after COVID-19, and that a dedicated board could help address rescue animals, service animals, and unsafe conditions for pets. No votes or formal committee actions were mentioned in the transcript.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Senator Scott Newman, chair of the Minnesota Senate Transportation Committee, discussed his warning that the state faces a large future transportation funding gap, estimating an $18 billion shortfall over the next 20 to 30 years if current trends continue. He said the state needs to do more to support roads and bridges, but also airports, ports, rail, and transit, and argued that existing user-fee revenue is not keeping pace with infrastructure needs. Newman described two similar bills moving in the Legislature: his bill would divert 100% of the auto parts sales tax into the Highway User Tax Distribution Fund for roads and bridges, while Sen. Jeff Howe’s version would dedicate 12% each to townships and small cities under 5,000 and the rest to roads and bridges. He said the bills have broad support from labor, business, cities, and construction trades, and that they passed unanimously out of two committee hearings with no testimony in opposition. He said the main obstacle is the normal legislative process, requiring agreement among the Senate, House, and governor. Newman also argued that the gas tax is a declining revenue source because vehicles are becoming more efficient and electric vehicles are more common, and said transportation will still need additional general fund support even if the bills pass. He closed by saying he plans to retire from the Legislature after this session and is treating it like any other session.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate debated and passed Senate File 2575 on a mostly party-line divided vote, 37-30. The bill requires school districts to notify parents at the start of the school year that curriculum is available for review, and to provide that material immediately and at no charge when requested. Supporters argued the measure responds to increased parent involvement in education and reinforces existing statutory access rights. They said parents have been asking for more transparency and a greater voice in what is taught, and framed the bill as a simple way to improve trust and partnership between families and educators. Opponents said the bill could encourage burdensome data requests and create an unfunded mandate for school districts. They argued districts already face resource constraints and should instead focus on needs such as smaller class sizes and special education. Despite those objections, the bill passed and the title was agreed to.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Minnesota House leaders reacted to a new state budget forecast showing a $9.3 billion surplus, up from $7.7 billion earlier in the year. Democratic leaders said the focus should be on helping Minnesotans with everyday costs, improving economic security, and investing in communities and public safety, while Republican leaders said the large surplus should be used to permanently reduce taxes. The forecast was also described as coming amid uncertainty from inflation, the pandemic, and the war in Ukraine. The House Preventative Health Policy Division approved House File 2156, sponsored by Rep. Athena Hollins, which would ban conversion therapy for vulnerable adults and people under 18. Supporters described conversion therapy as dangerous and discredited, while opponents raised concerns about divided testimony and possible unintended consequences. Rep. Susan Akland voted against the bill, saying she was worried the proposal could harm one group while trying to protect another. The bill passed 7-4 and was sent to the House Health Finance and Policy Committee. The House also passed House File 3035, sponsored by Rep. Frank Hornstein, directing the Legislative Auditor to conduct a special review or program evaluation of the Southwest Light Rail Transit project. Supporters said the audit was needed because of new reports of cost overruns, delays, and a completion date now projected for 2027. Some Republican members argued the project should be scrapped entirely. The proposal passed 129-1 and was sent to the Senate.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 3464 for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill and first adopted the author’s A1 amendment by voice vote. Representative Long said the bill would modernize Minnesota’s pardon process in two ways: creating a clemency review commission to screen petitions and make recommendations, and changing the Board of Pardons voting requirement so a pardon could be granted by the governor plus one other board member rather than requiring unanimity. He cited the sharp increase in pardon petitions and said the bill responds to a recent state Supreme Court decision interpreting the constitutional language on pardons. The chair said the bill would not be voted on that day, but would be considered later for inclusion in the larger bill. Professor Mark Osler testified in support, describing clemency as a bipartisan issue and arguing that Minnesota’s current process is unusually narrow and intimidating because petitions must be heard personally by the governor, attorney general, and chief justice. He said the unanimity requirement makes Minnesota an outlier and can discourage grants even in strong cases. He supported the review commission as a way to manage the workload and said the proposed voting change fits within the constitutional limits identified by the Supreme Court. He also said increased public attention to clemency and high-profile examples have likely contributed to more applications. Two people who had received or sought pardons also testified about the personal impact of the process. Amber Joachim described overcoming addiction, rebuilding her life, and receiving a pardon that allowed her to volunteer, pursue family responsibilities, and pass background checks. Tim Morin said he became a firefighter, EMT, business owner, and mentor after his conviction, but that his pardon request was denied despite support from two board members and the victim’s family; he argued the current system gives too much weight to a single vote and should better reflect rehabilitation and future opportunity. After testimony, members began questions, including concerns about the fiscal note and how the proposed commission would be funded and structured.

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House took up House File 3035, a bill directing an audit of the Southwest light rail/Green Line Extension project. Representative Hornstein, the bill’s author, said the measure was prompted by major cost overruns and delays, including a reported $200 million overrun and later additional increases, and that the bill would authorize a detailed Legislative Auditor review with 17 specific directives. He emphasized bipartisan support and said the special review was already underway, while a broader program evaluation would likely be available in early 2023. Representative Daudt questioned the timing, and Hornstein said the special review was in progress and the larger audit would not likely be completed until the first quarter of 2023. Members then offered several amendments. Representative Petersburg’s amendment would require the Metropolitan Council to provide twice-yearly status updates on future costs and completion-date changes. Representative Torkelson offered an amendment to the amendment to pause or stop the project until funding for the remainder was identified, but the Speaker ruled it not germane; the House upheld that ruling on a roll call vote, 70-63. Representative Heinrich offered a similar amendment to pause funding on Southwest and all light rail projects until the audit was complete; that too was ruled not germane and the House again upheld the ruling, 69-63. Representative Quam later offered an amendment to pause funding and terminate Southwest light rail after the audit, but the House again sustained the Speaker’s ruling, 69-63. Representative West then offered a narrower amendment requiring immediate notice to legislative leaders if costs rose more than 5 percent or the schedule slipped by six months or more. The Speaker initially ruled it out of order, but the House reversed that ruling on a 132-0 vote and adopted the amendment. The House then adopted the Petersburg amendment as amended, also by a 132-0 vote. During final debate on the bill, opponents argued the project was a waste of money and cited Northstar commuter rail ridership and subsidy figures as evidence of broader transit inefficiency, while supporters framed the bill as a transparency and accountability measure. The transcript ends with the bill having received third reading and debate continuing.