Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard an informal discussion of several disability and workforce-related bills, with members emphasizing that the goal was to hear the concepts and costs rather than move any bills that day. The chair previewed future hearings on substance use and behavioral health, and said the committee would also continue discussing recovery community organizations (RCOs), including how they are funded and how to reduce administrative barriers so more groups can qualify and serve people. Members repeatedly stressed the need to improve services without letting bureaucracy block access, and noted that any changes would have to be weighed against major fiscal constraints. Testimony on Senate File 3128 focused on workforce supports and service flexibility. ARM representatives described changes to respite care, including restoring more out-of-home respite options for children, allowing foster care providers access to background studies, removing unit-based respite from the CWS framework so counties can set a workable rate, and creating a new unit structure for individualized home supports with training to reduce administrative burden. On Senate File 2968, they supported alternative overnight supervision and argued that licensing requirements are a barrier to expanding the service. They also highlighted appropriations for recruitment and retention, including child care grants, scholarships, retention bonuses, and an ICF rate increase, while several members said wage increases, health insurance, and paid family leave are also needed to retain direct support professionals. A separate bill, Senate File 2772, would raise the weekly cap on reimbursement for parents of minors and spouses who provide care under consumer-directed community supports and the upcoming CFSS program. The bill’s supporters said it would not increase assessed hours, but would let parents and spouses be paid for more of the care already authorized, easing workforce shortages and helping families keep loved ones at home. A parent testifier described the difficulty of finding direct support staff and said the change would reduce financial stress. Another proposal from Lutheran Social Service would direct DHS and stakeholders to develop a formal life-sharing/host-home waiver service; the testimony described host homes as a person-centered model that can improve safety, community integration, and choice, and a resident in a host home said the arrangement had improved his life and relationships. Members responded positively to the testimony and asked for a one-page summary of the different workforce roles and challenges discussed.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Education Finance Committee met remotely on February 17 and approved the minutes from the previous day. The chair framed the week’s discussion around school staffing shortages and introduced a bill aimed at addressing retention and stability for hourly school workers. Representative Emma Greenman presented the proposal, describing it as a change to unemployment insurance law that would allow non-licensed hourly school employees—such as bus drivers, paraprofessionals, education assistants, and lunchroom staff—to use school-year wage credits to qualify for unemployment benefits between school terms. She argued the current exclusion makes it harder to recruit and retain staff and disproportionately affects workers who are often women and people of color. Dave Camper of the Economic Policy Institute testified in support with data and cost estimates. He said school support staff are disproportionately female, more likely to be Black or Hispanic, and more likely to be over age 50. Using Illinois as a comparison, he estimated that if Minnesota followed a similar pattern, about 6,800 employees could claim benefits, with an average summer benefit of about $4,058 and an annual cost of just under $28 million, which he said would be about 1.1% of school district reserves. He also argued that the broader labor market still has fewer jobs than before the pandemic and that workers are often moving to better jobs rather than leaving the workforce entirely. The committee also heard emotional testimony from Melissa Haley, a parent of a student with autism and a genetic disorder. She described how her son’s success depends on consistent relationships with school support staff, especially a paraprofessional named Jesse who supported him through middle school, helped with daily routines, and remained connected to the family. She said the bill would recognize the value of these workers and help preserve continuity and belonging for students. No vote on the bill was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met under House Rule 10.01, took roll, and approved the minutes from February 15. Members also briefly recognized Vice Chair Howard’s birthday before moving to House File 2880. The committee adopted the A1 amendment, which changed the housing infrastructure grant program from a general obligation bond proposal to a general fund appropriation after nonpartisan staff noted GO bonds were not an allowable use for that purpose. House File 2880, titled the Comprehensive Housing Spectrum Act, was presented as a broad housing package from the League of Minnesota Cities. The bill was described as a state-local partnership aimed at addressing housing across the full spectrum, with a mix of familiar and new provisions. Key elements included a matching program for housing-related public infrastructure, a real estate excise tax aimed at large corporate investors buying multiple single-family homes, authority for HRAs to impose a small mortgage registry tax, $400 million in housing infrastructure bonds, a housing cost reduction incentive program, expanded tax increment financing flexibility, relocation assistance authority for displaced tenants, additional Challenge Fund resources, a statewide housing infrastructure grant program, funding for naturally occurring affordable housing preservation, $100 million in GO bonds for public housing rehabilitation, and $10 million in state matching grants for local housing trust funds. Testimony from Daniel Lightfoot of the League of Minnesota Cities emphasized that cities need flexible tools and resources because housing needs differ by community. Todd Peterson of Roseau said greater Minnesota cities face severe workforce housing shortages, high infrastructure costs, and large value gaps that make private development infeasible; he supported the bill’s infrastructure funding and authority for local development entities to build housing when the market will not. Sherry Shoquist of Golden Valley said built-out metro cities need preservation tools as much as new construction, warning that naturally occurring affordable housing is vulnerable to investor acquisition and tenant displacement. She supported the bill’s preservation funding, local trust fund matching grants, and other flexible resources. No final vote on the bill itself was taken in the portion provided; after testimony, the committee continued hearing the bill.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee approved the February 15, 2022 minutes and then heard House File 2725, which was moved to the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy Committee. The bill, authored by Representatives Edelson and Albright, implements recommendations from the competency restoration task force created in 2019. It would place Rule 20 competency procedures into statute, set timelines for competency examination reports, create a process for restoring competency and supervising people found incompetent to stand trial, establish forensic navigator positions, and give judges more discretion in handling these cases. The authors and supporters said the bill responds to a growing number of defendants found incompetent to stand trial and to “gap cases” where people do not meet civil commitment standards but still need treatment and support. Testimony from NAMI Minnesota, county attorneys, and county officials emphasized that the task force included a broad range of stakeholders and that the current system leaves some people without services, contributing to repeated jail, hospital, and emergency room use. Supporters said the bill is a needed step toward a more coordinated continuum of care and could improve both public safety and treatment outcomes. County attorneys and county representatives supported the overall effort but said the bill needs changes and additional funding. They raised concerns about keeping criminal cases open longer, the lack of statewide infrastructure for community competency restoration, and the bill’s pretrial supervision provisions, especially for people unlikely to regain competency. Members also questioned who would fill the new forensic navigator role and whether the state should restore more responsibility to DHS; authors and task force witnesses said the position would likely be a hybrid of mental health and court-system experience, possibly including peer specialists, and that the details would need further planning. No vote on the bill was taken in this committee beyond the referral motion.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Public Safety Committee heard House File 3398, a bill by Representative Hollins to sharply restrict no-knock warrants in Minnesota after the killing of Amir Locke. Hollins said the bill would prevent another similar tragedy by limiting no-knock warrants to narrowly defined emergencies, while also standardizing applications, training, and statewide procedures. House Research Jeff Diebel explained that the bill would require a standardized application form, limit no-knock warrants to situations involving a person held against their will and an imminent risk of death or great bodily harm, add reporting and public-data requirements, create penalties for false information, and direct the Attorney General and POST Board to develop training and model policies. Testimony was mixed. Michelle Gross of Communities United Against Police Brutality supported the bill and urged passage without weakening amendments, arguing that no-knock warrants are rarely justified, have a racially disparate impact, and are dangerous in homes where residents may be armed. She cited recent Minnesota data showing 71 applications and 49 executions since reporting began, and said Black people were the subject of a disproportionate share of those warrants. Chief McCarthy of Mendota Heights also supported restricting no-knock warrants and said officers can use other tools, including technology, to reduce risk. He said the bill should be strengthened into a full ban. Law enforcement representatives raised concerns. Dakota County Sheriff Tim Leslie said the Minnesota Sheriffs Association wanted changes but preferred a more targeted approach, especially on the training mandate and the hostage-related exception. Saint Cloud Police Chief Blair Anderson opposed the bill, saying no-knock warrants are sometimes the safest option against violent suspects, that his department had used them without injuries under a new protocol, and that the bill’s emergency language was unnecessary because officers could already act without a warrant in true exigent circumstances. He also argued the training requirement would be burdensome, especially for smaller agencies. The chair indicated the committee would continue with amendments and further discussion, but no final vote or disposition was taken in the excerpt.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard House File 3283, as amended by a technical A1 amendment that was adopted by voice vote. Representative Kotyza-Witthuhn presented the bill as an expansion of Minnesota’s dependent care credit into a refundable Great Start Child Care and Dependent Care Credit for families with children under age five. She said the bill is intended to help families with high child care costs, support workforce participation, and respond to the state’s child care shortage. The chair noted the fiscal estimate, including a cost of about $203.5 million in 2023 and about $211.3 million in fiscal year 2025, and clarified the credit amounts and income phaseouts. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive. Parents and providers described child care costs that rival or exceed mortgage payments, long waitlists, difficulty finding infant care, and the strain of balancing work, student debt, and family responsibilities. Several witnesses said the bill would provide meaningful relief and help keep parents in the workforce. Child care providers also said the credit could help families and could indirectly support better compensation and stability in the child care sector. One testifier noted the bill should be part of broader, more universal child care solutions, and another suggested the age definition should be adjusted so families with fall-born children are not disadvantaged. Representative Miller asked whether parents who stay home with their children would benefit under the bill, raising the question of whether the proposal addresses families outside the paid workforce. The chair thanked the testifiers and indicated the committee would proceed to member questions. No final committee vote on the bill itself was taken in the portion provided; the bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee was called to order, a quorum was established, and the minutes from February 16 were approved. Members then received a DHS update on legislative changes and program implementation in economic assistance, child safety, permanency, and child support, followed by questions from members. In economic assistance, DHS highlighted MFIP changes including a one-time $435 COVID relief payment to about 28,000 families, the return of annual cost-of-living adjustments, expanded phone access for applications and interviews, changes to monthly reporting, and updated treatment of self-employment income. DHS also described efforts to reduce SNAP error rates through new staff, training, and a county/tribal quality-assurance tool. Additional updates covered tribal access to food shelf funding and emergency assistance, higher minimum Community Action Program allocations, treatment of unemployment insurance for high school students, homelessness funding for shelter renovations and emergency services, and a new statewide report on homeless youth. In child safety and permanency, DHS reviewed Family First Prevention Services Act implementation, including new definitions, QRTP certification and court-review requirements, aftercare policy development, accreditation reimbursements, and training for county and tribal staff. The division also reported on Northstar federal compliance changes, the tribal training and certification partnership, foster care licensing guidance, and a new reporting rule for substance use in pregnant women. In child support, DHS described implementation of child support task force recommendations: updated support guidelines, elimination of interest on arrears, changes to credit reporting procedures, authority to transfer certain child support cases to tribal courts, and a new immediate appeal right for good-cause decisions. Members asked about QRTP medical and educational services and the overall number and demographics of children in out-of-home placement; DHS said medical and educational practices remain in place, QRTPs must have 24-hour nursing, and about 15,000 children experience out-of-home placement annually, with American Indian children and children of African heritage overrepresented.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Commissioner Grace Arnold and Department of Commerce staff presented the findings of a weatherization working group that met over seven large meetings and additional subgroups to develop recommendations for Minnesota’s Weatherization Assistance Program. The discussion reviewed the federal program’s purpose, the types of measures it covers, and its benefits, then focused on three main barriers: limited and inflexible funding, inequitable access for renters and certain housing types, and workforce/supply-chain constraints. The commissioner said the group produced about 20 legislative recommendations and 45 program-level recommendations, with major themes centered on stable funding, workforce development, and broader outreach to underserved households. Testifiers from the Center for Energy and Environment, CenterPoint Energy, and Minnesota Housing supported the report and emphasized the need for long-term, flexible state funding to supplement federal and utility dollars. They said flexibility would help address pre-weatherization repairs, training, mentorship, outreach, and other barriers that federal funds do not cover. Minnesota Housing and the university researchers discussed challenges in serving larger multifamily buildings and noted that other states use specialized or centralized approaches to improve multifamily weatherization. CenterPoint also said weatherization is especially important in Minnesota’s climate and that some areas lack utility programs to supplement federal assistance. Members asked about comparisons with other states, the risk of over-weatherization, homeowner complaints about contractor quality, income eligibility, and whether the program could be abused by homeowners who later sell improved homes. Staff responded that the program uses audits, quality control inspections, callbacks, and a complaint process, and that the program primarily serves very low-income households, with prioritization often around households averaging about $18,000 in annual income for a family of four. The committee also discussed renter access, especially in multifamily buildings, and staff said the report includes possible solutions such as pre-weatherization support and help with owner contributions. No vote was taken in the portion provided.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard House File 1968, a bill designating April 2 as Autism Awareness Day in Minnesota. Representative Novotny introduced the bill, and Representative Freiberg explained that his identical bill was brought forward because of confusion over multiple versions and coordination with Senate authors. Both lawmakers emphasized that the measure is meant not only to raise awareness but also to promote autism acceptance and reduce stigma, including rejecting false claims that vaccines cause autism. Freiberg also noted his personal connection as a parent of a child with autism. Carly Molot testified in support of the bill, identifying herself as a person with autism and describing how supports have helped her understand and navigate challenges. She said people with autism should not be viewed as different and stressed that they are contributing members of society. After her testimony, the chair noted support for continuing her advocacy. The committee adopted the A1 amendment, described as a technical correction changing a code reference from 10.51 to 10.52. With no questions from members, the chair renewed the motion to refer House File 1968, as amended, to the General Register. The motion passed on a roll call vote of 12 ayes and one abstention.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 208, which would create a companion animal board. Before discussion, members adopted the A22 delete-all amendment by voice vote, replacing the bill text and making the bill conform to the author’s preferred shape. Representative Freiberg said the bill would establish a state board focused on companion animals, including licensing, regulation, welfare, education, and collaboration with public, private, and nonprofit partners, while leaving the Board of Animal Health’s authority over zoonotic disease unchanged. Supporters testified that Minnesota has agencies focused on livestock and wildlife but no dedicated companion-animal body, and argued the new board would provide expertise, coordination, and a place for cities and organizations to turn for guidance on issues such as breeder and shelter standards, community cats, access to veterinary care, pet food support, and local pet-store or doggy-day-care questions. Testifiers included Ann Olsen of Animal Folks, Dr. Graham Bracha of Animal Humane Society, and Pat Trunjin, who all supported the bill and described gaps in current state and local resources. Representative Nash and others raised concerns that the proposal could affect agriculture, rulemaking, and existing agencies, and Elaine Hansen of the Minnesota Pet Breeders Association and Dr. Nancy Peterson of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association opposed the bill, warning it could create unnecessary government, conflict with current animal-health oversight, and affect breeders and disease-control programs. After testimony and questions, the chair said there were too many remaining issues and amendments to finish the bill that day. House File 208 was laid over for future consideration rather than advanced to a final vote.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate was called to order under a call of the Senate, a quorum was established, and the chamber proceeded with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the daily roll call. The body received executive and official communications with no action required, then adopted the printed committee reports and moved through second reading of several Senate files and first reading of introduced bills, including a referral change for Senate File 3259 to the Housing Finance and Policy Committee. Senate Resolution Nos. 101 through 103 were referred to the Rules and Administration Committee, and a package of authors’ motions was adopted. On special orders, the Senate considered Senate File 1782, a local government bill described as allowing the Metropolitan Council to work with private property owners, townships, and other political subdivisions on inflow and infiltration problems in sanitary sewer systems through voluntary loans and grants. Senator Osmek presented the bill, Senator Anderson asked about township and county input, and Osmek said he had received no opposition and that the measure had been publicized previously. After third reading, the bill passed 66-0 and its title was agreed to. The Senate then took up Senate File 2957, a retirement-related technical fix concerning nurses who returned from retirement during the pandemic and the phased-retirement hours cap. Senator Kiffmeyer said the bill would correct a technical issue and avoid financial burden on those nurses. The bill was read a third time and passed 66-0, with the title agreed to. The chamber also heard announcements recognizing staff member Dana Elling for 25 years of service, and Senator Miller moved adjournment until Monday, February 21 at 11 a.m.; the motion prevailed and the Senate adjourned.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee received a presentation from MMB Commissioner Jim Showalter and Assistant Commissioner Jennifer Hessemer on state debt management and federal funds. Hessemer reviewed the November debt capacity forecast, noting roughly $4.4 billion in outstanding general obligation bonds, $2.2 billion in trunk highway bonds, $1.6 billion in annual appropriation debt, and about $2.8 billion in authorized but unissued debt. She explained how debt service is forecast in the budget, including assumed future bonding bills based on a 10-year rolling average, and described the state’s debt issuance patterns, market conditions, and refinancing strategy. She also said the state generally issues debt in late summer to early fall and uses a 10-year call structure for new bonds. Members asked about whether the state should issue authorized but unissued bonds sooner to lock in lower rates, how long bond authorizations remain available, the difference between general obligation and appropriation bonds, and how state rates compare with Treasury rates. Hessemer said the authorized but unissued debt is tied to projects already underway and is already reflected in the budget, that projects generally have about four years to encumber funds, and that appropriation bonds are used when projects do not fit constitutional limits for GO debt. She estimated appropriation bonds cost about 50 basis points more than GO debt if tax-exempt, or about 1 percentage point more if taxable. She also explained the 2020 bond-sale “blackout period” as a securities-law disclosure window before and after bond issuance, and said the 25-day post-sale period protects investors by requiring updated disclosure if the state’s financial picture changes. Hessemer said the state’s 2020 refinancing saved more than $100 million, and that while no refinancing was done in 2021, MMB expects additional candidates this year and continues to monitor the market. She identified tobacco securitization bonds, with about $350 million outstanding, as a current refinancing candidate before the September 1 principal payment date, while stadium debt was not yet callable until June 1, 2023. She also said inflation does not directly affect fixed-rate state debt, though it can affect project costs. The presentation then began a discussion of capital investment guidelines, which are intended to guide future bonding decisions and measure the state’s tax-backed debt against policy targets and rating-agency expectations.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate File 3139, which would add utility bills as an additional document that can be used to prove residency for Real ID purposes. Senator Pratt raised concerns that utility bills can be fraudulent and are not always a reliable proof of address, especially with modern utility setups. The bill’s testifier said the proposal was intended to respond to constituent requests and acknowledged document-fraud concerns. With no further questions, the bill was laid over. The Department of Public Safety then presented its supplemental budget request. Commissioner John Harrington described the department’s broad responsibilities across public safety and transportation-related functions and outlined several funding requests. These included $1.89 million to cover State Patrol costs from responding to protests and other unplanned events, and a DVS request related to increased license plate production and mailing costs. He also discussed proposals for body-worn camera reimbursement, statewide law enforcement recruitment, and expanded death benefits for first responders, including coverage related to cancer and PTSD-related suicide. Members asked about extending the life of license plates, and the chair said he would follow up with written questions on the budget items. DVS Director Pong Zhang presented three additional proposals: collecting race and ethnicity data tied to driver’s license, permit, and ID applications to improve transparency in traffic citation data; adding two positions for auditing access to sensitive MNDrive data; and installing cameras at 24 locations, with some reimbursement for deputy registrars, to address aggressive customer behavior. State Fire Marshal and Pipeline Safety Director Jim Smith then asked to update state pipeline safety civil penalty language to align with federal standards so Minnesota would remain eligible for federal grant funding. He said the current state penalties are lower than federal provisions and that PHMSA had warned the state about noncompliance. No votes were taken during the budget presentations, and the committee moved on to the Metropolitan Council presentation.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee heard Minnesota State’s presentation on its budget and capital priorities. Trustee Roger Moe and Chancellor Davinder Malhotra described the system’s size and student population, emphasized Minnesota State’s role in workforce development, and said the system is seeking a $60 million supplemental operating request and a $292 million bonding request. They framed the request as support for campus stability, affordability, student success, and infrastructure needs, and pointed to campus bonding tours and projects such as the Anoka-Ramsey nursing renovation as examples of the impact of prior investments. Vice Chancellor Bill Mackey broke down the supplemental request into $30 million for campus support and $30 million for equity and affordability, including a tuition freeze, mental health resources, student basic needs, and $2 million for workforce-gap programming in high-demand fields. System Director Paul Shepard focused on mental health and basic needs, describing efforts to expand tele-mental health, peer support, crisis response, and a partnership with United Way 2-1-1 to create a centralized basic-needs resource hub for students. He said the work is intended to help students facing food, housing, transportation, child care, technology, and emergency financial challenges. Members asked how the $30 million campus-support allocation would be distributed and how the supplemental request relates to the fiscal health of individual institutions. Mackey said Minnesota State uses an allocation model based on enrollment, program mix, institutional services, facilities, and a student-success component, and that flexibility for program growth comes from other system funds rather than the core appropriation. In response to questions from Senator Putnam, he said the supplemental request helps institutions absorb inflation and enrollment fluctuations, while declining enrollment and pandemic-related pressures have especially affected two-year colleges. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: On February 17, 2022, the Technology and Reform Committee received a presentation from the Minnesota Department of Human Services on its IT infrastructure and supplemental budget request. Deputy Commissioner Chuck Johnson described DHS as a very large, IT-dependent agency with a roughly $22 billion annual budget, more than 375 applications, and systems used by tens of thousands of county, tribal, state, and health care workers to serve about 1.7 million Minnesotans. Greg Palin of Minnesota IT Services then reviewed four major legacy systems: MMIS for Medicaid claims and payments, MAXIS for eligibility and case management, PRISM for child support enforcement, and METS for health care eligibility and enrollment. He explained that MMIS, MAXIS, and PRISM were built internally, while METS was developed with IBM as a customized product. The committee chair asked for clarification on whether the systems were internally built or contractor-provided. The presenters highlighted the scale and functions of each system, including MMIS processing tens of millions of claims and payments, MAXIS handling many agency interfaces, PRISM processing child support payments and locate requests, and METS supporting eligibility, enrollment, and consumer access for public and private health coverage. They also described recent improvements made during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as changes to pharmacy and MinnesotaCare processes, P-EBT support, text messaging, automation for Minnesota Supplemental Aid, and improved interfaces and reporting. The department said these changes were aimed at maintaining security, reliability, and compliance while supporting urgent policy changes. Johnson and business transformation officer Jeff Jorgensen then shifted to modernization plans. They said DHS wants to move from aging, paper-heavy, siloed systems toward integrated, person-centered service delivery with online access, document sharing, and better data integration for consumers, counties, and tribes. They said Gartner Consulting completed an assessment in fall 2021, aligned with the Blue Ribbon Council’s IT modernization playbook, and recommended starting with eligibility and enrollment because it is the front door to most services and has major pain points. Jorgensen said the department’s proposal requests $77 million to continue the work, expects to leverage federal funds, and is organized around five initiatives. The discussion emphasized iterative development, partnerships with counties, tribes, and multiple vendors, and using best-of-breed cloud-based tools rather than relying on a single monolithic system.