Greetings,
We are one week away before the first and second committee deadlines in the Minnesota Legislature. In the commerce committee in which I co-chair, we will be hearing bills that would help make health insurance in Minnesota more affordable.
LIQUOR BILL CLEARS COMMERCE COMMITTEE
This week lawmakers approved the liquor bill, which is a common occurrence every two years. It includes 15 to 20 provisions that help communities or address issues that the State of Minnesota did not anticipate. The bill includes a provision allowing nursing homes and assisted living facilities to serve wine to their residents without a liquor license. Current state law does not allow these facilities to serve alcohol. This bill corrects that inconsistency.
BONDING BILL DISCUSSION BEGINS
Every two years, the legislature discusses a capital investment bill that helps fund needed construction projects around the state. I am offering a number of local provisions for the committee to consider. They include funding for the Medical Arts Campus in Sartell, Benton County Road 1 improvements near the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School, and the well replacement in Sauk Rapids due to the detection of PFAS in the water. All of these asks do have a regional benefit or are an unexpected expense in the case of the Sauk Rapids wells.
ENDING HOUSING STABILIZATION SERVICES
The House unanimously approved a bill that would remove the Housing Stabilization Services program from state law. The program was created to help eligible recipients find housing. Investigations into it later found bribes, phony billing, falsifying records and billing people who were dead. In four years, the cost of Housing Stabilization Services jumped from $2.5 million a year to more than $100 million.
Making this change is a necessary first step towards identifying areas – whether the amount lost is large or small - where we can close fraud. The bill now heads to the Minnesota Senate for further action.
KEEP IN TOUCH
As always, I'm continuing to support constituent needs. Feel free to contact me anytime at rep.tim.odriscoll@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-7808.
Have a good weekend,
Tim