Week in Review: Feb. 23-27

The week wrapped up Friday with the February forecast that will guide legislators’ decisions for the remainder of session. The forecast projects a $3.7 billion surplus for the 2026-27 biennium and a projected General Fund balance of $377 million for the 2028-29 biennium.

Earlier in the week, lawmakers debated gun restrictions, addressed fraud and federal agents’ actions.

After hearing testimony from families impacted by the Annunciation Catholic School shooting last year, the House public safety committee failed to advance HF3433 that would prohibit owning, possessing or transferring semiautomatic military-style assault weapons.

A second discussion in the House state government committee on HF1338/SF856* to establish an Office of Inspector General again didn’t manage to budge the bill out of committee.

And HF3477 failed in the House judiciary committee. It would allow a person to pursue legal action against a state or federal authority who deprives them of their federal or state civil rights.

Enjoy the weekend. Here’s a look at what happened this week:

AGRICULTURE

Ag panel hears plan to expand farm down payment assistance program

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18891

More dairy farmers may qualify for grants through the DAIRI program

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18908

BUDGET

Stable budget outlook projects $3.7 billion surplus now, no deficit in next biennium

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18919

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE

Bill would set guardrails for HOAs, common interest communities

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18893

One year in, BCA, commerce leaders say new fraud unit successfully created

 https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18905

Law enforcement asks legislators to ban cryptocurrency kiosks to curb scams

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18917

CIVIL LAW

Bill to allow legal remedies for civil rights violations by feds fails to advance

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18896

Judiciary panel hears pros and cons of changing laws on private data on property tax assessments

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18914

EDUCATION

House education panel hears bill to fund school safety infrastructure

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18897

Bill would establish grooming a child by a school employee, volunteer as a felony

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18899

School firearm storage bill fails in education committee

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18909

EMPLOYMENT

DEED officials report smooth rollout of paid leave program

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18894

Proposed digital platform could level the playing field for Minnesota youth

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18904

Aligning education and workforce systems is goal of a bill receiving committee approval

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18913

ENERGY

Prospects for DIY solar could brighten under bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18898

GAME AND FISH

More fishing lines per angler under consideration to lure more youth into the sport

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18918

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Requiring disclosure of investigations into possible overpayments gets committee OK

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18887

Held over bill to help treatment of opioid use disorder

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18889

State law change required for compliance with ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18892

Committee hears update, recommendations on child care licensing and investigation

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18900

Bill to release unredacted Optum report on Medicaid fraud moves forward

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18903

Legislators respond to rising food insecurity among children

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18912

Bill aims to expand attorney general’s power to prosecute Medicaid fraud

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18915

HOUSING

Lawmakers advance $10 million plan to cover supportive housing funding gaps

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18911

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Bill to allow local governments to regulate firearms fails in committee

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18906

MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

Adding veterans and military status to Human Rights Act breezes through committee

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18902

PUBLIC SAFETY

Mental health access for first responders sought in laid-over bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18888

Public safety panel fails to advance ban on semiautomatic military-style assault weapons

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18901

Higher potential penalties for assaults on hospital security officers held over by committee

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18910

STATE GOVERNMENT

Some liking shown, but inspector general office bill again fails to get committee approval

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18895

TAXES

Tax credits go under the microscope in commission report

 https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18916

TRANSPORTATION

New technology could force speeders to slow down

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18890

Transportation panel votes to expand inside-the-vehicle video ban

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18907