Week in Review: May 5-9

House members began meeting with their counterparts from the Senate this week to hash out differences in their budget bills. But they remain without global targets as legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Walz continued to meet this week.

Conference committees that have begun meeting include judiciary and public safety, transportation, higher education, environment and agriculture.

Omnibus budget bills continued to be passed on the House Floor this week, but the health and education budget bills remain in limbo as part of the budget negotiations between legislative leaders and Walz. The omnibus tax bill also dropped this week and is scheduled for a House Floor vote May 13.

Happy Fishing Opener to those who celebrate. Enjoy the summery weather this weekend and here’s a look back at this week:

AGRICULTURE

House, Senate far apart on ag bill, leaving path forward ‘clear as mud’

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18779

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE

House passes amended cannabis policy bill, returns it to Senate

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18765

EMPLOYMENT

Workforce committee advances budget bill with program cuts, shift to competitive grants

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18770

Minnesota House passes compromise workforce, economic development budget bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18781

ENERGY

House passes a much lighter ‘lights-on’ omnibus energy bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18772

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

House passes $2.3 billion ‘lights-on’ omnibus environmental budget bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18766

Environment, natural resources conference committee begins work

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18780               

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

House passes human services budget bill proposing deep cuts

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18767

‘Real reforms’ in human services policy bill that passes House with bipartisan support

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18768

Health finance bill moves to House Floor, but MinnesotaCare funding debate looms

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18771

HIGHER EDUCATION

State grants at center of House, Senate disagreement on higher education budget bills

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18777

HOUSING

House, Senate find common ground on key housing policies despite $72 million funding difference

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18775

MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

Spending gap largest hurdle in reconciling House, Senate versions of veterans bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18774

PUBLIC SAFETY

Judiciary, public safety conference committee begins work

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18773

STATE GOVERNMENT

State government, elections conferees delve into finance, fraud and absentee voting

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18778

Fraud committee eyes stricter rules for monitoring state-funded grants

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18764

TAXES

‘We Can Work it Out’ tax bill advances in House

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18769

TRANSPORTATION

Minnesota House, Senate revving up to bridge gaps in transportation bills

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18776