Week in Review March 31-April 4

It was the week of the policy bills. Here’s what was approved ahead of Friday’s first and second committee deadlines:

• Omnibus cannabis bill
• Omnibus commerce policy bill
• Omnibus education policy bill
• Omnibus elections policy bill
• Omnibus health policy bill
• Omnibus human services policy bill
• Omnibus public safety policy bill
• Omnibus state government policy bill

However, the week began with House leaders announcing committee budget targets and the House Ways and Means Committee approving a budget resolution.   

Have a great weekend before next week’s financial flurry before the April 11 deadline for most committees to approve appropriation bills.

A reminder that the Easter/Passover break will begin April 11 at noon with the Legislature in recess until April 21 at noon.

Here’s a look back at the week:

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture committee lays over governor’s updated budget proposal

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18691

BUDGET

House leaders release committee budget targets

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18670

Ways and Means Committee OKs House budget resolution

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18684

COMMERCE AND BUSINESS

House committee weighs bans on pet shops selling cats, dogs

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18673

House commerce panel beings work on omnibus cannabis bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18687

Commerce panel OKs omnibus cannabis bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18695

Commerce policy bill advances in House

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18699

EDUCATION

Education policy bill tackles teacher shortages, student health

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18682

Bill seeks $96.5 million annually to secure funding for early learning scholarships

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18683

Education policy bill advances to House Floor

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18692

ELECTIONS

Omnibus elections policy bill clears committee, heads to House Floor

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18693

EMPLOYMENT

Workforce committee considers funding boost to youth employment programs

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18675

Proposed changes to environmental regulations help stall miners unemployment bill in committee

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18686

House panel considers bill extending unemployment benefits to striking workers

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18702

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Bill proposes more scrutiny for water usage at large data centers

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18705

ENERGY

Legislation proposes state policies on large data centers

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18677

GAME & FISH

House environment panel considers year-round bass fishing season

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18679

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Bill proposes fines, state teams to fix mental health assessment delays

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18672

House legislation takes multi-pronged approach to combatting homelessness

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18689

House health committee approves ‘lean, mean’ policy bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18696

House committee approves human services policy bill addressing fraud, mental health care

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18698

HIGHER EDUCATION

Residency requirement proposed for Minnesota college aid program

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18678

Bill proposes state higher education savings plan for newborns

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18704

HOUSING

Legislators hear bill aiming to close racial gap in homeownership

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18680

MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

State funding sought as federal cuts threaten veteran meal program

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18688

House bill seeks $5 million for Black veterans support program

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18690

PUBLIC SAFETY

House public safety committee begins work on omnibus policy bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18681

House GOP bill proposes clawing back $42 million in violence-prevention funding

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18694

STATE GOVERNMENT

Tribute to House’s longest-serving female member proposed with grant program name change

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18671

Omnibus state government bill aims to tighten reins on fraudulent spending

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18676

State government policy bill heads to House Floor

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18697

Bill aims to amend state constitution with explicit equal rights guarantees

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18701

As Minnesota’s senior population grows, lawmakers see need for healthy aging push

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18703

TAXES

Conversions from commercial to housing in Minneapolis, St. Paul could get a boost from TIF

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18674

Taxes committee considers governor’s sales tax changes, other proposals

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18685

DFL bill proposes new tier for state’s wealthiest to offset potential federal cuts

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18700