Week in Review: March 16-20

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.

One week to go until the 5 p.m. March 27 deadline for committees to approve policy bills. A few committees have started to take up those larger packages. The House commerce committee approved the first omnibus policy bill of the session – a liquor policy bill that includes the popular “Grandparents’ Happy Hour” provision to allow nursing homes and assisted living facilities to host happy hours.

Enjoy the weekend before a busy week ahead. Here’s a look back at this past week in the House:

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture committee scratches bill that would ban cat declawing

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19010

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE

‘Grandparents’ Happy Hour’ receives support as panel OKs omnibus liquor bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18994

Capping concert ticket resale prices, adding price transparency get commerce panel approval

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19004

CIVIL LAW

Bill to regulate license plate readers stalls in judiciary panel

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18995

Judiciary panel approves restrictions on social media to protect underage users

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18999

ELECTIONS

House elections committee stalls on absentee ballot voter verification bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19011

EMPLOYMENT

Workers could be shielded from AI-related job loss

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18992

Financial support sought to address nursing workforce needs across Minnesota

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19003

ENERGY

Energy committee zaps bill to limit pay for utility executives

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18998

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund bill nearing final committee approval

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18996

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Expanding foster youth ombudsperson’s investigative power gets committee OK

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19000

Bill would require training for assisted living workers in case of residents’ fall

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19002

Confidentiality protection expansion OK’d for health care providers in wellness programs

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19009

HOUSING

Facing threats on the job, housing staff may receive stronger legal protections

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18997

Proposed legislation aims to give renters credit where credit is due

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19008

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Read all about it: approval given to possibly shorter wait times for e-book access

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19005

PUBLIC SAFETY

Sales of bigger, louder, higher fireworks fizzles out in committee

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19007

STATE GOVERNMENT

Grantee fraud risk rating system policy gets strong committee support

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18993

TAXES

Tax panel considers conforming with feds on ‘Trump accounts’

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18991

TRANSPORTATION

Park in a transit or bike lane and you could get busted by a bus

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19001

Transportation panel sends suicide prevention bill to House Floor

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19006