Week in Review: Feb. 27 – March 3

TGIF!

A busy week at the House ended with a trio of committee meetings Friday. Representatives serving on those bodies may have been a little bleary eyed after a late-Thursday floor vote to pass a bill that would prohibit cities from enacting laws relating to private sector employment.

Caffeine could be a friend of many members in the next week because the first committee deadline — when committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin — is next Friday. Next week’s schedule is populated with bills during normal committee times and a number of potential after-dinner meetings are on the schedule. How will a projected increase in the state surplus affect the decisions?

Before looking ahead to next week; let’s take a look at what you may have missed this week.

Among the issues addressed were: abortion, cell phone use while driving, fantasy sports, “paper or plastic?,” primary election, school “snow days,” solitary confinement, teacher shortages, transit line operations

Check out the latest gallery from House Photography and stay up-to-date on House news and updates throughout the week at Session Daily.

AGRICULTURE

Bill called ‘clear message’ to farmers on concerns over buffer requirements

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12610

Eliminating ‘unnecessary’ reporting requirement would help farmers

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12584

BUDGET

Stage set for spending showdown at the Capitol as surplus jumps to $1.65 billion

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12593

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE

‘Ban the Bag’ ordinances could be trashed

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12592

Formally recognizing fantasy sports is back for debate

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12594

Hoping to stabilize insurance market, plan would create a cushion for carriers

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12606

Small changes would go a long way in insurance measure passed by House

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12613

House passes MNvest changes that would align state regulations with federal rules

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12616

EDUCATION

Perpich, Crosswinds closures approved by House education committee

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12619

‘Innovative approach’ proposed for teacher shortage situation

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12607

School ‘snow days’ could become ‘E-learning days’

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12608

Task force sought to review ‘cumbersome’ school financing system

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12589

ELECTIONS

State primary move to June proposed, held over

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12599

‘Starting Line’: Should states elect the president by popular vote

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12587

Minnesota Index: Special elections

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12582

EMPLOYMENT

Preemption of local labor ordinances passed by House

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12618

ENVIRONMENT

Environmental Quality Board faces possible elimination

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12588

New DNR bill takes dim view of some boat lights

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12601

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Limiting abortion funding sparks discussion on help for women in need

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12615

People from deafblind community seek greater support services

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12600

Caregivers serving elderly need training on impact of hearing loss

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12604

Home visits could help more pregnant teens and their children

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12597

Early intervention funding sought for those diagnosed with schizophrenia

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12590

HOUSING

House acts to raise bar for housing-development moratoriums

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12614

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Email retention policy needed to bring uniformity

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12591

Iron Range resources board could become advisory-only commission

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12602

MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

Free burial for veterans’ spouses could disrupt VA revenue

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12583

PUBLIC SAFETY

Stronger penalties sought for assaulting hospital workers, firefighters

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12612

More dollars sought to provide legal representation for foster children

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12609

Solitary confinement guidelines sought for state prisons

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12595

Predatory offender registration expansion proffered for certain crimes

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12596

STATE GOVERNMENT

Key to legislative process, committee deadlines loom

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12603

Administrative rule changes could have to wait for Legislature’s OK

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12621

Effort to put task forces under open meeting law narrowed

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12611

Bill aims to clarify when government workers’ data would be public

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12617

TAXES

Funding plan to reimburse lost property tax revenue moves forward

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12585

TRANSPORTATION

Handheld cell phone driving ban gets underway

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12620

Legislators set sights on transportation project selection process

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12605

Special tax district proposed as way to pay transit line operations

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12586

Grant cap could boost smaller local bridge projects, hurt major urban ones

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12598