Week in Review: Jan. 17-20

The third week of the 2017 session wrapped up Thursday night with passage of a health insurance premium relief bill. A conference committee is expected to begin work early next week on differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. House Speaker Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) said he’s aiming to have the bill to Gov. Mark Dayton by next Thursday.

It was only a three-day week for legislators because of Monday’s observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, yet a couple of higher-profile issues were addressed. A bill for Sunday off-sale liquor transactions is headed to the House Floor after a decisive committee vote and the pros and cons of agricultural buffer zones were addressed at a joint committee hearing.

Other issues addressed this week include: teacher licensure, taxing Social Security benefits, biodiesel mandates, Twin Cities transit funding, officer training and even candidate fundraising raffles.

Before looking ahead to next week; let’s take a look at what you may have missed this week.

Check out the latest gallery from House Photography and stay up-to-date on House news and updates throughout the week at Session Daily.

AGRICULTURE

Buffer controversy grows once again at Capitol

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12401

Farm income levels projected to fall yet again

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12380

State on target to meet biodiesel mandate

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12393

CONSUMERS

Sunday liquor bill sails through committee, heads again to House Floor

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12387

EDUCATION

State’s teacher licensure system in need of overhaul, report says

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12381

Perpich Center facing major problems, legislative auditor says

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12400

State’s new voluntary pre-K said to serve over 10,000

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12382

ELECTIONS

Bill would OK candidate fundraising raffles

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12402

EMPLOYMENT

Minnesota Index: Jobs, jobs, jobs

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12383

ENERGY

Solar panels in committee’s crosshairs

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12388

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

BWSR officials hail ‘big day’ for Minnesota conservation

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12394

FAMILY

With Greater Minnesota beset by child care crisis, lawmakers seek fixes

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12398

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

House passes $315 million health insurance relief package

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12404

Mental health task force delivers final report to HHS committee

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12378

HIGHER EDUCATION

Starting Line: Helping students understand their loan bottom line

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12389

State’s private colleges contribute $1.9 billion to economy, panel hears

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12385

Higher ed committee reviews college career readiness offerings

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12397

PUBLIC SAFETY

Officer training requirements, funding concerns shared with House panel

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12403

Judicial Branch successes — and concerns — shared with public safety panel

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12379

Slower growth expected in state’s increasing prison population

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12395

STATE GOVERNMENT

Fiscal notes: Answering the question, ‘How much will it cost’

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12386

TAXES

Committee offers hopeful talk about tax relief on Social Security payments

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12396

Retailers seek allowance for being ‘state’s sales tax partner’

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12399

Some snowbirds seek escape from taxes, not just Minnesota cold

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12384

Simplification of state’s property tax system is a division goal

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12392

TRANSPORTATION

Big changes brewing for Twin Cities transit funding?

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12390