Week in Review: March 23-27

Phew, we made it to the first and second committee deadlines.

Committees had jam-packed agendas this week as policy bills needed to be through most committees by today.

Remember, the deadlines do not apply to the House Capital Investment, Ways and Means, Taxes, and Rules and Legislative Administration committees.

A few omnibus policy bills received the green light from committees. The omnibus policy bills on cannabis (HF4203) and human services (HF729) are on their way to the House Ways and Means Committee and the omnibus policy bills for commerce (HF4188) and public safety (HF3990) are on their way to the House Floor.

The bill to create an Office of Inspector General, HF1333/SF856*, is moving again after it was stuck in the House State Government Finance and Policy Committee for a month. It received bipartisan support from the committee, although some of it was tepid.

Lawmakers continued to push bills to address their priorities this session, namely fraud, affordability, immigration enforcement and gun violence.

HF3562, which would change the state’s tax calculation formula for vehicle purchase and registration, failed on a tie vote in the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee. An attempt to ban “ghost guns,” HF3407, failed on a tie vote in the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee.

House committees were able to wrap up their work Thursday and didn’t need to schedule meetings for Friday (unlike the other chamber that shall not be named). After a six-hour floor session Thursday night, the House adjourned for its Easter/Passover break.

The House will resume activity April 7. Enjoy the break, eat some jelly beans or matzo ball soup, and here’s a look back at what happened this week:

AGRICULTURE

Eggs past their ‘sell by’ date may be headed to food shelves

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19013

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE

Bill would regulate services allowing employees early access to wages

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19019

Commerce committee defeats omnibus cannabis policy bill – for now

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19036

Second time’s a charm for omnibus cannabis bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19041

Cryptocurrency kiosk ban heads to House Floor as part of commerce package

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19039

CIVIL LAW

Panel advances bill to regulate ‘deeply problematic’ AI in psychotherapy

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19021

EDUCATION

Skilled trades classwork could equate to student grants and scholarships

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19024

House education committee stalls over funding for anonymous reporting system bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19025

Teachers may be required to complete dyslexia training for licensure

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19035

Retention funding bill seeks to keep educators in classrooms

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19046

ELECTIONS

Voters could receive statewide general election official voting guides by 2027

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19034

EMPLOYMENT

Seating mandate draws support for comfort, concern for compliance

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19020

Small-business carveout for paid leave fails, opponents say it would strip benefits from many

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19031

Support for local journalists headlines panel conversation on internship plan

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19042

ENERGY

Thermal energy could become a utility-scale thing under bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19023

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Boating restrictions needed to help wild rice recover, supporters say

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19048

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Licensure compact plan to allow morticians from outside Minnesota to practice here still has life

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19016

Bill aims to codify ‘kickbacks’ in state law definition of fraud

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19017

Not enough committee appetite to prohibit SNAP purchases of chips, candy and Coke

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19026

Medical assistance coverage of weight loss drugs can continue for now

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19033

Minnesota won’t adopt safety net for people losing SNAP under ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19040

Committee approves omnibus human services bill without debate

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19045

HIGHER EDUCATION

Effort to expand campus firearm restriction authority fails in committee

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19028

Bill would tie state financial aid to post-degree earnings

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19047

MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

Support given to no permit fees for home upgrades to accommodate veteran with a disability

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19029

Commanders Task Force seeks statutory codification after 38 years of activity

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19030

PUBLIC SAFETY

Public safety panel fails to advance bill prohibiting possession of ‘ghost guns’

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19027

Public safety policy package bill sent to House Floor

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19038

STATE GOVERNMENT

House votes to repeal César Chávez Day week before its annual date

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19014

Office of Inspector General bill moves forward — although reluctantly for some members

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19022

Criteria compliance requirement to get state grants clears committee

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19043

TAXES

Tax panel considers creating a new exemption for school supplies

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19018

Digital ads would be tax-free no more under bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19032

Vehicle registration tax cut bill crashes in committee

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19037

Tax committee considers tax break on day care costs

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19044

TRANSPORTATION

All aboard for K.C. and Fargo? It could happen

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/19015