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Week in Review: Feb. 27-March 3

A State Capitol visitor lounges near the Minnesota Supreme Court chamber March 1. (Photo by Catherine Davis)
A State Capitol visitor lounges near the Minnesota Supreme Court chamber March 1. (Photo by Catherine Davis)

The session’s first committee deadline is one week from today. By next Friday, committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin, although the deadline does not apply to major appropriation and finance bills. Those still have another month to move before the third deadline on April 4.

But with Minnesota Management and Budget’s February budget forecast released earlier this week and budget targets likely soon to follow, lawmakers will have all the information available to chart the state’s economic path for the next two years.

Images of the Week: Feb. 27-March 3

A significant step on the journey could be taken Monday when the House meets in session at 3:30 p.m. with two bonding bills on its Calendar for the DayHF669 and HF670. Those may not be the last bonding bills of the session, but they are a major package of investments after the Legislature did not pass a bonding bill in either 2021 or 2022.  

You can find Monday’s complete House schedule here. Have an enjoyable weekend, and here’s a look back at what you may have missed over the last few days.

 

AGRICULTURE

Bill offering assistance to small meat processors could fix a weak link in food chain

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17743

 

Ag committee considers bill to put more local food on school lunch trays

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17735

 

Ag bill aims to reduce financial risk of launching new soil health practices

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17719

 

BUDGET

State’s projected budget surplus holds steady at $17.5 billion

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17708

 

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE

Sports betting bill gets a win with first committee approval

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17710

 

CONSUMERS

Bill to ban price gouging during public emergencies clears House

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17746

 

CIVIL LAW

Stuck in neutral at legislature for years, MN’s Equal Rights Amendment supporters push again for passage

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17737

 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Bill proposes $10 million to fund organization working to reduce racial economic gap

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17732

 

EDUCATION

House lawmakers hear appeal to significantly hike spending on school safety

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17751

 

Republican proposal to fund training of special education teachers garners bipartisan support

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17728

 

House bill to require ethnic studies in Minnesota schools clears first committee stop

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17721

 

ELECTIONS

As lawmakers face increased threats, bill could allow candidates to keep home addresses private

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17724

 

Votes are in: Plan to protect election officials gets a win in committee

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17722

 

EMPLOYMENT

House panel advances proposal to tackle wage theft in construction industry

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17747

 

Proposal would lessen or eliminate penalties for receiving unintentional unemployment overpayments

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17727

 

House panel OKs bill to prohibit employers from asking applicants about past salaries

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17714

 

ENERGY

More clean energy projects could tap into CERTs’ wisdom with funding boost

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17733

 

Buildings the state’s next focus for lowering emissions

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17718

 

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Environment panel approves bill to phase in boating education, permit requirements

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17734


HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Prescription drug carve-out seeks to save rural pharmacies at risk of closure

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17741

 

House lawmakers consider package of measures to ease child care workforce ‘catastrophe’

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17736

 

MN lawmakers seek solutions to state’s mental health staff shortages

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17729

 

Grants proposed to help expand dental provider access to Minnesotans on public programs

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17715

 

More help may be on the way for kinship caregivers

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17713

 

Bill seeks to promote self-advocacy for people with intellectual, developmental disabilities

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17711

 

HIGHER EDUCATION

House, Senate hearing recommends four candidates to serve as U of M regents

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17723

 

HOUSING

House lawmakers OK over $200 million for homeless services in ‘Pathway Home Act’

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17744

 

Bill seeks $75 million to help preserve Ramsey County’s homeless prevention efforts

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17742

 

Housing mediation program could resolve disputes out-of-court

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17720

 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Lawmaker proposes help to locate public land survey monuments

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17748

 

MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

Panel hears governor’s military and vets budget bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17709

 

PUBLIC SAFETY

House passes bill to close loophole in MN's ‘Peeping Tom’ law

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17745

 

Legislation would alter practices in MN’s juvenile detention centers

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17740

 

Sponsor says bill to cap probation terms at five years would relieve state’s ‘overburdened’ system

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17717

 

STATE GOVERNMENT

‘Ban the box’ prohibition could be extended to board, commission appointments

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17738

 

Lawmakers may require future state construction projects to utilize greener building materials

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17726

 

TAXES

Minnesota’s hotels could get a boost from tourism improvement districts

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17750

 

Renter’s credit could become a spring thing under tax bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17725

 

Governor’s tax proposals include cuts, credits and checks

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17716

 

TRANSPORTATION

Ride the rails from Minneapolis to Duluth? House panel considers $194 million ask for Northern Lights Express

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17749

 

As public safety concerns mount, lawmakers consider measures to put Metro Transit back on track

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17739

 

Transportation committee considers $100 million for Corridors of Commerce

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17712


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