Waiting with Sen. Jeff Howe and veterans advocate Jerry Kyser to present to the Property Tax Committee a bill (HF 1323) exempting veterans’ disability benefits from household income when calculating property tax refunds.
House approves bills
As for news from the House floor, here is a look at three of the most notable bills to receive approval this week (None are perfect, but all would bring improvements.):
Opioids: Last year, Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed a bill to fund a response to the opioid crisis out of our surplus. This week, we approved a package of legislation to combat the situation with appropriations for programs and resources to combat and educate citizens about opioids. The funding for these initiatives are paid for by increased fees on opioid manufacturers and wholesalers.
I supported this bill (HF 400) because these drugs reportedly were responsible for 395 deaths in Minnesota in 2017, with a 66-percent from 2010-16. Half of these deaths were caused by prescription opioids like oxycodone and the bill we approved should help turn this trend around.
Distracted driving: The House passed a bill (HF 50) which would bar drivers from holding a cellphone or other wireless communication device while driving, instead requiring drivers to use hands-free devices. If the bill is enacted, Minnesota would become the 18th state in the nation (along with Washington, D.C.) to require the use of hands-free cellphone for drivers who want to make a call.
I voted for this bill because it will help reduce the amount of distracted driving on our roads, something that has become a real problem. Department of Public Safety statistics show distracted driving caused roughly 20 percent of crashes on Minnesota roadways from 2013 to 2017, killing an average of 53 people per year in Minnesota.
Snow days: A bill (HF 1982) to forgive school districts for snow days racked up during this exceptionally cold and snowy winter has passed the House. The bill would allow school districts to count three canceled days in late January of this year toward its minimum 165-day requirement for classroom days. It also ensures hourly staff and companies that contract with districts are made whole, either via compensation or opportunities to make up for missed time.
I was a “yes” vote on this bill because it protects employees and districts themselves from suffering financial damages caused by acts of nature.
Sincerely,
Lisa