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Week in Review: March 16-20

By Lisa Kaczke
Capitol visitors stop to view the House Chamber and watch Chief Clerk Pat Murphy prepare for the March 18 floor session. (Photo by Andrew VonBank)
Capitol visitors stop to view the House Chamber and watch Chief Clerk Pat Murphy prepare for the March 18 floor session. (Photo by Andrew VonBank)

In true Minnesota spring fashion, this week started with a blizzard and ended with temps reaching 60 degrees at the Capitol.

The snowstorm on Sunday made for tough driving conditions on Monday, prompting committees to be canceled and some lawmakers to attend the floor session remotely. Additionally, the House didn’t have any activities Thursday for the Eid break.

Despite a shorter week, a smattering of bills received approval in committees this week. The House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee approved HF4250 to rein in resale ticket prices. HF3169, which seeks to improve bridge infrastructure to reduce suicides, is on its way to the House Floor with the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee’s approval.

Bills also continue to receive the heave-ho from committees on tied votes along party lines. The House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee said no to HF1857 that would ban the declawing of cats unless needed for a therapeutic purpose. Consumer-grade fireworks won’t be legalized anytime soon after the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee voted it down.
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Recent Dailies

Week in Review: March 16-20
By Lisa Kaczke
Capitol visitors stop to view the House Chamber and watch Chief Clerk Pat Murphy prepare for the March 18 floor session. (Photo by Andrew VonBank) In true Minnesota spring fashion, this week started with a blizzard and ended with temps reaching 60 degrees at the Capitol. The snowstorm on Sunday made for tough driving c...
House elections committee stalls on absentee ballot voter verification bill
By Graham Johnson
Rep. Duane Quam Minnesota is one of eight states that allows residents to permanently receive absentee ballots. Rep. Duane Quam (R-Bryon) is pushing for added assurance that ballot casters ...
Agriculture committee scratches bill that would ban cat declawing
By Tim Walker
Ronald Gaskin, owner of Main Street Veterinary Service, testifies March 18 before the House agriculture committee in support of a bill sponsored by Rep. Andy Smith, left, that would prohibit elective cat declawing. (Photo by Andrew VonBank) A veterinarian for 42 years, Ronald W. Gaskin said declawing cats has been “done in ignorance” for more than 70 years. “I have seen firsthand the functional damage caused by...
Confidentiality protection expansion OK’d for health care providers in wellness programs
By Winter Keefer
Rep. Liz Reyer Last year, the Legislature invested $250,000 into the Treat Yourself First Campaign to work toward lessening stigma around health care workers seeking mental health services and...
Proposed legislation aims to give renters credit where credit is due
By Margaret Stevens
Rep. Samakab Hussein A class of credit-invisible Minnesotans — disproportionately low-income residents and people of color — could gain a higher profile for building wealth. Sponsored by Rep. Sa...
Sales of bigger, louder, higher fireworks fizzles out in committee
By Tim Walker
Edina Fire Chief Andrew Slama testifies March 18 in opposition to HF3547. Sponsored by Rep. Chris Swedzinski, it would legalize consumer-grade fireworks. (Photo by Michele Jokinen) This country’s 250th anniversary on the Fourth of July will be a big deal. So, should fireworks used to celebrate the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence also be...
Transportation panel sends suicide prevention bill to House Floor
By Rob Hubbard
Erich Mische, CEO of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, testifies March 18 before the House transportation committee in support of HF3169, sponsored by Rep. Bjorn Olson. (Photo by Michele Jokinen) Editor’s Note: The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s hotline can be reached by calling 988.   A minute can be all it takes to stop a suicide. That’s what Trish Merelo, co-chai...
Read all about it: approval given to possibly shorter wait times for e-book access
By Graham Johnson
Rep. David Gottfried The average wait time for e-books at Rochester public libraries is 10 weeks. Unlike physical copies, e-books can be read by many readers simultaneously, so why do readers re...
Capping concert ticket resale prices, adding price transparency get commerce panel approval
By Lisa Kaczke
Adrianna Korich-Bruce, senior director of ticketing at First Avenue Productions, testifies before the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee March 18 in support of HF4250, sponsored by Rep. Erin Koegel, left. (Photo by Andrew VonBank) Bill Childs attends an average of 54 concerts a year. “Getting out to see so many bands is really important to me personally. … It’s important for people’s mental health, an...
Financial support sought to address nursing workforce needs across Minnesota
By Margaret Stevens
Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar Minnesota is on track to face a shortage of more than 30,000 nurses by 2030 as more nurses retire than become licensed. Nursing educators warn the gap is already straining care ...
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