Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee first approved the February 23, 2022 minutes, then took up House File 3251, which would allow a charter school serving at least 90 percent students with a primary disability of deaf or hard of hearing to give enrollment preference to students with that same primary disability. Chair Richardson explained the bill as a way to support Metro Deaf School’s mission and preserve a specialized ASL-English bilingual environment. Metro Deaf School’s executive director, Dr. Susan Lane Outlaw, and board member/parent Sarah Clarkstone testified in support, emphasizing the school’s bilingual model, deaf staff role models, and the importance of keeping deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing students in a setting where they have full access to language and social learning. No member questions were raised, and the committee voted to refer the bill to the General Register; the motion prevailed with 18 ayes and one excused vote. The committee then moved to House File 3401, the Department of Education’s 2022 policy bill, which was laid over for further consideration. Commissioner Heather Mueller described the bill as part of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s education policy package and tied to the Due North Education Plan. She highlighted proposals related to multi-tiered systems of support, universal early childhood screening, data collection for voluntary pre-K and school readiness plus, early learning scholarship priorities for children with incarcerated parents, arts standards, gifted and talented services, Indigenous education, and ethnic studies. She also emphasized discipline and school climate provisions, including reducing exclusionary discipline, expanding mental health and social-emotional learning supports, and addressing culturally responsive practices, tribal consultation on mascots, and American Indian regalia at graduation. Assistant commissioners and department staff then walked through additional parts of the bill, including changes to online learning, PSEO withdrawal timelines, career and technical education terminology, and the definition of students with limited or interrupted formal education. They also described proposals to clarify restrictive procedures, prohibit suspensions for K-3 students, require alternatives to suspension and reporting of pupil withdrawal agreements, strengthen stakeholder engagement on discipline policies, and add cultural responsiveness to school planning and educator development. The department said the bill would also codify social-emotional learning resources and clarify nondiscrimination rules for postsecondary enrollment options. No votes were taken on HF 3401 during the portion provided.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House met, established a quorum, approved the previous day’s journal, adopted committee reports, and received second readings and first readings of multiple bills. The main floor action focused on House File 1315, the CROWN Act, which would expand the Minnesota Human Rights Act’s definition of race to include hair texture and protective styles such as braids, locks, and twists. Representative Agbaje, the bill’s author, and several members spoke in strong support, describing hair discrimination in schools and workplaces, the cultural significance of natural Black hair, and the need for legal protections. Testimony and remarks cited personal experiences, examples of discrimination, support from community and business groups, and the bill’s role in preventing exclusion and promoting inclusion. The bill was passed on a roll call vote of 104 ayes and 25 nays, and its title was agreed to. The House then took up House File 2841, a technical real property bill updating Minnesota’s property registration laws and codifying current practices used by title examiners. Representative Mohler said the changes would make the Torrens registration system more user-friendly and economical, and noted no known opposition. The bill passed on a roll call vote of 130 ayes and 0 nays, with its title agreed to. Finally, the House considered Senate File 1782, a local government bill authorizing wastewater operators to establish a program for inflow and infiltration mitigation work on private property. Representative Freiberg explained that the measure would help address clear water entering wastewater systems, reduce costs, and support existing regional infrastructure. He said the program would be developed through a public process with stakeholder input. The bill advanced after third reading and was being put to a roll call vote as the transcript ended, with members changing votes during the call.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee approved the February 23, 2022 minutes and then heard testimony on House File 2976, a bill to create an Emerging Developer Fund to expand access to capital for developers who have historically been left out, especially developers of color, women, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented communities. The bill was described as a revolving program with two parts: pre-development grants/loans of up to $50,000 and bridge financing of up to $500,000 for land acquisition, construction-related costs, site preparation, and related expenses. The author’s amendment, which added a $10 million appropriation for the program, was adopted by voice vote. Testifiers strongly supported the bill and framed it as a response to structural barriers in lending, lack of wealth, and limited access to networks and seed capital. Peter McLaughlin of LISC said the program would help build wealth and diversify the development ecosystem, and suggested extending the bridge-loan term from five to seven years. Nawal Noor, Dean Devalis, Tamaris Hollingsworth, Abe Damage, Jim Terrell, and Sherry Hansen of AIA Minnesota all backed the proposal, emphasizing that upfront financing is often the main obstacle for emerging developers and that local, community-based developers are better positioned to serve neighborhood needs. Several testifiers suggested refinements, including structuring the funding so it counts as equity in a project’s financial stack and making the bridge loans longer-term. No final committee vote on the bill itself was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee heard Senate File 2573, authored by Sen. Gazelka, which would create a specific carjacking offense in Minnesota law by reclassifying conduct now charged as simple or aggravated robbery. Gazelka argued carjacking has become a crisis, citing high numbers of reported incidents in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and said the bill would add five years to the maximum penalties and impose mandatory minimum sentences of two, four, or six years depending on the degree. He also pointed to a fiscal note he said showed downward departures in robbery cases and argued the legislature should give clearer guidance because prosecutors and judges were not taking violent crime seriously enough. He described a personal observation of a carjacking attempt in Edina as evidence of the danger and urgency. The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association supported the bill. Chief Matt Gottschalk testified that motor vehicle thefts and violent thefts had risen sharply, especially in Hennepin County, and said the proposal would help address a serious public safety problem. Several senators raised concerns about the bill’s approach. Sen. Bingham said downward departures are judicial decisions, not prosecutorial ones, and urged that county attorneys be consulted if the bill moves forward. Sen. Latz questioned whether increasing maximum penalties would deter crime when many carjackings are unsolved and noted the fiscal note did not break down departures specifically for motor-vehicle robberies. He also objected to mandatory minimums as inconsistent with individualized sentencing and warned the bill would eliminate probation, parole, work release, and supervised release for affected offenses. Committee counsel explained that the A3 author’s amendment was a technical cross-reference update to ensure the new carjacking offense was treated like existing robbery crimes throughout the statutes. The amendment was adopted by voice vote. The committee did not take a final vote on the bill; members indicated it would be laid over for possible inclusion in a larger measure, and the chair noted the fiscal analyst or guidelines commissioner could return later to clarify the data assumptions.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Republican legislators responded to Minnesota’s February budget forecast, which showed a projected $9.3 billion surplus, up from $7.7 billion, by arguing the state is overcollecting taxes and should provide permanent, ongoing tax relief rather than one-time rebates. They said the forecast also showed about $5 billion in structural surplus in the current biennium and $6 billion in the tails, and used that to argue for permanent reductions in income taxes, including on Social Security income, as well as broader relief for working Minnesotans and senior citizens. The speakers criticized the governor’s proposal as a one-time, election-year check that would not reduce future collections, and contrasted it with the Republican plan, which they said would lower taxes every year and put more money in paychecks. They also rejected targeted approaches such as limiting relief to certain workers, saying all working Minnesotans are essential and should benefit. In response to questions, they said the state’s reserve and cash flow accounts are full and that there should still be money left on the bottom line after tax relief. The discussion also touched on other budget items, including unemployment insurance trust fund funding and a bonding year, but the main focus remained tax policy. When asked about a possible gas tax holiday and prior Democratic support for gas tax increases, the speakers called temporary tax cuts gimmicks and reiterated support for permanent reductions. The briefing ended with questions about Ukraine, where the legislators said they stand with the people of Ukraine and support a peaceful resolution, while declining to commit to a specific boycott proposal without seeing it.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard House File 2168, as amended, which would establish a Minnesota grape and wine council and create a related grant and promotion structure for the state’s grape and wine industry. Representative Haley and testifiers from Round Lake Vineyards and the Minnesota Grape Growers Association said the bill is intended to support a growing agricultural sector, expand marketing and education, and help fund research and promotion through a tax/fee structure aimed at out-of-state wine shipments. They argued the proposal would level the playing field because Minnesota wineries already pay taxes and licensing costs that out-of-state direct shippers do not, and they described the industry’s growth in acreage, employment, and agritourism. The Department of Agriculture said it supported the concept of the bill and noted the fiscal note would include a half-time staff position to administer the program. Representative Miller raised concerns about the tax provisions, the bill’s complexity, and whether Minnesota wineries would be affected, while also questioning whether membership in the proposed council would be mandatory. Testifiers responded that the bill would not compel membership, that Minnesota producers already pay the tax, and that the measure is meant to close a loophole for out-of-state direct shipments and generate revenue for promotion and education. Other members emphasized fairness and the need for better tracking of direct-shipped wine sales, and one member suggested future consideration of increasing the number of cases Minnesota wineries may ship out of state. The committee adopted the author’s amendment updating dates in the bill, then voted on Representative Anderson’s motion to recommend House File 2168, as amended, be referred to the Committee on Commerce Finance and Policy. The motion passed 11-1, and the bill was sent on to the Commerce Committee.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee began by welcoming Marshall High School FFA officers and advisor, who introduced themselves and were thanked for their participation and interest in agriculture. Members noted that FFA parliamentary procedure is used in legislative work and asked how many students were on track to become state farmers. The committee then took up three confirmation motions for the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. Dean Compart, who described his family’s breeding-stock and pork business and his three years as board chair, was confirmed after members discussed avian influenza risks, biosecurity, and the need to keep Minnesota livestock healthy. Dr. Jessica Kopi and Fox and Dr. Peggy Ann Hawkins were also confirmed by voice vote, with members praising their qualifications and experience. Next, the committee heard Senate File 2936, which would expand the county fair sales tax exemption to cover advance ticket sales and clarify that exempt proceeds go directly to county agricultural societies rather than county or city owners of fairgrounds. Testimony from the Minnesota Federation of County Fairs said the current exemption has helped improve fairgrounds, but the bill would remove confusion and better support maintenance and improvements. The bill was laid over and then passed on a voice vote to the tax committee. Finally, the committee heard Senate File 2937, a $1.5 million appropriation request for University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Lab equipment. Testimony from the lab director and Minnesota Pork Producers emphasized the lab’s role in animal health, disease surveillance, and outbreak response, especially amid avian influenza concerns and the risk of African swine fever. Members discussed how the new equipment would differ from a prior investment, with witnesses explaining it would add flexibility and surge capacity, including higher-throughput PCR testing. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Minnesota Management and Budget released its February forecast, projecting a stronger budget outlook for the current biennium. Officials said the state’s general fund balance is now expected to be about $9.3 billion, an improvement of roughly $1.5 billion from November, with revenues forecast to top $57 billion. They attributed the increase mainly to higher income, consumer spending, and corporate profits, while spending was revised down by about $270 million, largely due to changes in education and health and human services. The budget reserve was unchanged, and officials emphasized that much of the improvement is one-time money rather than ongoing structural growth. State economist Laura Kalambokitis reviewed the U.S. and Minnesota economic outlook, noting continued recovery from the pandemic but also significant risks from inflation, supply chain disruptions, labor force participation, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. IHS Markit’s forecast raised expectations for 2021 growth and corporate profits, but lowered near-term GDP growth and increased inflation expectations for 2022. Kalambokitis said the war could push up energy and commodity prices and unsettle financial markets, with possible effects on Minnesota producers and consumers, though Minnesota has limited direct trade exposure to Russia and Ukraine. On the revenue side, the forecast increased general fund receipts for fiscal years 2022-23 by $1.252 billion, including higher individual income tax, sales tax, and corporate tax collections. Budget Director Anna Minge explained that spending changes were relatively small, with lower E-12 education costs from fewer pupils and reduced special education transportation and compensatory aid, and lower health and human services costs from the federal public health emergency extension and reduced child care assistance use. In Q&A, officials said the state’s debt capacity remains affordable and sustainable, described the surplus as partly one-time and partly structural, and clarified that Minnesota’s employment is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels, while U.S. labor force participation is not expected to fully recover within the forecast horizon.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Governor Walz discussed Minnesota’s updated budget forecast with MMB officials and said the state is in a strong position, while acknowledging uncertainty from the war in Ukraine, inflation, fuel prices, and the ongoing COVID-19 recovery. He argued the forecast creates room to provide both immediate relief and longer-term cost reductions for Minnesotans, including investments in education, health care, child care, and infrastructure, while avoiding new ongoing spending that could create future deficits. A major focus was on using surplus funds for one-time payments, including direct rebate checks, which Walz said could be increased to about $500 per individual and $1,000 per couple, and could be distributed before summer if the legislature acts. He also urged lawmakers to prioritize replenishing the unemployment insurance trust fund and approving hero pay for frontline workers, saying both had bipartisan support and should be handled together. He said these measures would provide stability and relief without jeopardizing long-term budgeting. Walz also addressed questions about Russia and Ukraine, saying Minnesota should consider additional actions such as reviewing state investments tied to Russia, but he opposed expelling Russian students and emphasized that sanctions should target the Russian government and oligarchs rather than citizens. On tax policy, he said there is room to discuss tax cuts, but he opposed across-the-board cuts that would benefit higher-income Minnesotans and said any reductions should be structured to focus on working families and exclude top brackets. He said the legislature should move quickly, but carefully, and that his team would revisit the numbers and likely issue a supplemental update.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Committee met on February 28, 2022, to hear Senate File 3472, authored by Senator Dames, which would continue Minnesota’s reinsurance program and support the state’s 1332 waiver request. Senator Dames explained that the bill would reenact the existing reinsurance structure, with claims paid by insurers up to $50,000 and reinsurance covering claims through $250,000, and said the proposal was intended to demonstrate legislative commitment to moving forward with reinsurance. He also described the bill’s estimated two-year cost, the use of funds from the premium security account, and related impacts on premium taxes and the Basic Health Program/1332 waiver funding. Assistant Commissioner Peter Bricky of the Department of Commerce testified that the department supports extending the program and said federal regulators had indicated the state’s waiver submission was incomplete, requiring legislative authorization for the program to exist in 2023 by April 1. He said the department believes the governor’s budget assessment model is a more stable long-term funding approach than the Senate’s proposed mechanism and noted possible impacts on MinnesotaCare funding. Testimony in support also came from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the Minnesota Council of Health Plans, and the Minnesota Association of Health Underwriters, all of whom said reinsurance has lowered premiums, stabilized the individual market, and helped maintain coverage for Minnesotans, including small business owners and people with high-cost medical conditions. During questions, Senator Port asked about the Basic Health Program trust fund and lost federal revenue; Bricky said he could not give precise figures but estimated operational impacts in the governor’s budget at just under $5 million per year and said total lost federal revenue from the program was approaching more than $500 million. Senator Dames responded that prior legislation had reduced withdrawals from the health care access fund and said those changes could offset some costs. Senator Kent asked what reinsurance does, and Dames said it functions as a high-cost claims backstop rather than a tool to directly lower underlying health care costs. The committee then voted to pass SF 3472 and re-refer it to the Health and Human Services Committee by voice vote, and the meeting adjourned.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Senate DFL Leader Melissa Lopez Franzen discussed how to use Minnesota’s projected $9.5 billion to $10 billion surplus, emphasizing help for workers and families rather than broad tax cuts. They highlighted priorities such as paid family leave, earned sick time, affordable child care and health care, stronger schools, bonuses for frontline workers, and investments in higher education, broadband, and public safety. Both framed the surplus as an opportunity to provide immediate relief while also making prudent fiscal choices because of ongoing uncertainty from the pandemic, inflation, and the war in Europe. A major point of disagreement with Republicans was how to distribute surplus dollars. The DFL leaders criticized proposals they said would favor higher-income Minnesotans or large corporations through the tax code, and instead backed one-time rebates, targeted property tax relief for seniors, and direct payments to frontline workers, including a proposed $1,500 per worker. They also said Representative Paul Marquart was working on a property tax refund proposal focused on seniors and Social Security income subtraction. The leaders also addressed unemployment insurance and education. Hortman said the House had passed frontline worker legislation and that the Senate had advanced an unemployment insurance bill, but she accused Senate Republicans of refusing to compromise on doing both. On education, they said teacher stress, mental health needs, staffing shortages, and wraparound services should be addressed with new funding, and they criticized Senate education proposals they said did not tackle the core problems. No formal votes were taken in the exchange, but the leaders described committee review as the path for bills such as a gas tax holiday and other proposals to move forward.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate began with a brief recognition of former state Senator Jen Olson, who offered remarks about public service, the importance of the chamber, and her gratitude for being able to return after a serious surgery. The body then proceeded with the daily prayer, pledge, and roll call, establishing a quorum. House messages were received, including notice that Senate File 2774 on human services had passed the House with no further action required. The main floor action centered on Senate File 2957, a retirement bill. Senator Kiffmeyer moved to concur with House amendments, explaining the only change was a date update from 2022 to 2023 and that the bill would help hospitals by allowing retired emergency care, ICU, and other workers to return to service. Senator Rosen confirmed the pension commission had reviewed and approved the measure. The Senate adopted the concurrence motion, and after a roll call with Rule 40.7 votes noted, the bill passed with 66 ayes and no nays. The title was agreed to. The Senate also received notice of House File 2900, and moved through routine business: adoption of committee reports, second reading of several Senate files, and first reading/referral of House bills, including referrals of Senate File 3484 and 3544 to Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance, and Senate File 3500 to Higher Education Finance and Policy. During announcements, members promoted a tribute event for Senator Tomassoni, observed a moment of silence for Ukraine, shared a Mardi Gras king cake announcement, and thanked colleagues for get-well wishes. The session ended with a motion to adjourn until Wednesday, March 2nd at 12 noon, which was adopted.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee met remotely and first approved the minutes from its February 21 meeting. The committee then took up House File 3420, a drought relief bill for agriculture that would provide $5.1 million in grants to affected farmers and $5 million for Rural Finance Authority disaster loans. Chair Hanson offered and the committee adopted a DE2 amendment that added related drought-response language, including funding for DNR well interference, public water supply grants, tree watering and replanting, and seedling replacement. Representative Garofalo said he would vote no because of policy concerns, but the bill was ultimately approved on an 18-11 roll call and recommended to the general register. The committee next considered House File 3598, the governor’s drought relief package for agriculture and the DNR. A DE1 amendment was adopted to add the agriculture language onto the DNR bill. Members then questioned administrative costs, grant caps, how quickly money would reach farmers, and how the public would learn about the grants. DNR and agriculture officials said administration costs were about 2.5 percent for the DNR side and up to 6.5 percent for the agriculture side, that the agriculture grants would be capped at $10,000 per recipient, and that payments would likely begin six to eight weeks after enactment because of the application and randomization process. Committee members also discussed why randomization was used instead of proration and how the DNR grants would be targeted to communities for water conservation and reforestation needs.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard House File 2976, a bill to create an Emerging Developer Fund aimed at expanding access to capital for developers who have historically been left out, especially BIPOC, women, disabled, and other underrepresented developers. The bill was described as creating two financing tools: a pre-development fund of up to $50,000 and a bridge fund of up to $500,000 for land acquisition, construction-related costs, developer fees, and site preparation. The author said the bill is intended to support community-led development, including both housing and commercial projects, and to promote economic revitalization in underserved areas. An A1 amendment was adopted to add a $10 million appropriation to the program. Testifiers broadly supported the bill and described barriers faced by emerging developers, including lack of family wealth, limited balance sheets, short track records, and difficulty meeting bank underwriting requirements. Peter McLaughlin of LISC said the organization has been working with emerging developers of color and sees the bill as a way to build wealth and diversify the development ecosystem, though he suggested extending the bridge-loan term from five to seven years. Nawal Noor, Dean Dovolis, Tamaris Hollingsworth, Abe Damage, Jim Terrell of Fortis Capital, Sherry Hanson of AIA Minnesota, Muhammad Lawal, and Russ Adams all backed the proposal, emphasizing the need for upfront capital, the value of local and community-based developers, and the importance of keeping development benefits in impacted neighborhoods. Several testifiers said the funding could help projects move forward that otherwise stall before entitlement or financing. A few testifiers offered suggestions rather than opposition: Hollingsworth said the fund should be structured so it shows up as equity in a project’s financial stack, and McLaughlin recommended a longer repayment term for bridge loans. No votes on the bill itself were taken in the portion provided, but the committee did adopt the $10 million amendment and continued hearing testimony from supporters.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee met on February 28, 2022, to continue discussing literacy and reading achievement in Minnesota, with no votes taken. Jill Seth reviewed data showing declines in third-grade MCA reading proficiency from 2014 to 2021 and drops in Minnesota’s NAEP reading scores for fourth and eighth graders from 2013 to 2019. Committee members emphasized concern about low literacy rates, especially for students of color, and framed the discussion around finding solutions rather than debating the science of reading itself. The committee then heard from Alex Luisi of the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB), joined by board members Dr. Payne and Brian Rappy. Luisi said PELSB reviews teacher preparation programs for scientifically based reading instruction, uses reading experts and a dyslexia specialist in the review process, and relies on the MTLE elementary reading subtest, which he said has a 94% pass rate over the past five years. He argued the main issue is a disconnect between preparation and classroom implementation, noting that teachers may enter districts using different curricula and may need more professional development, including LETRS training, to bridge that gap. Senators pressed Luisi on why many teachers report never having received science-of-reading training despite statutory requirements, and why NCTQ has reported that 74% of teacher preparation programs fail to explicitly cover all five components of scientifically based reading instruction. Luisi responded that PELSB believes its approved programs meet statutory requirements, but acknowledged the problem lies “everywhere,” including in the board’s renewal requirements, and said the board is working on strengthening reading renewal rules rather than proposing new legislation. Members repeatedly expressed confusion and concern that the statutory requirements, board approvals, and teacher experiences do not appear to align, and the committee discussed whether additional legislative action may be needed to ensure teachers are ready to teach reading on day one.