Updates from the Government Relations team are sent periodically during the legislative session.                                                  
Legislative Update - May 10, 2016
Conference Committee presentations continue

On Monday, the conference committee waded through hundreds of pages comparing House and Senate versions of the omnibus supplemental budget bill come down to a $453.5 million difference in bottom lines. While the House is proposing just under $3.2 million in net supplemental spending for the biennium, the Senate proposal would spend an additional $456.7 million, just short of Gov. Mark Dayton’s $494.5 million proposal.

With joint budget targets yet to be established, Monday’s first meeting of the conference committee on HF2749 consisted of little discussion as nonpartisan fiscal analysts walked conferees through the broadband, education and health and human services differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.

Conferees met late Monday evening and began reviewing K-12 policy differences between the House and Senate bills. The committee is scheduled to meet again today at 1:30 p.m. or at the call of the chair in the Minnesota Senate Building.

The Senate proposal would increase spending across the board, but under the House proposal, spending would increase only in the areas of environment, transportation and jobs and energy. The House set budget targets of zero for education, higher education and health and human services, and called for budget reductions in agriculture, public safety and state government.

This week at the Capitol

Tuesday, May 10

8:15 a.m.
House Ways and Means
Room: 1200 Minnesota Senate Building
Chair: Rep. Jim Knoblach
Alternate Chair: Sen. Richard Cohen
Agenda: Presentation by NCSL: Joint budget target setting in other states.

8:30 a.m.
Senate Taxes
Room: 1100 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Chair: Sen. Rod Skoe
Agenda:
H.F. 3931-Skoe: Omnibus tax bill. 11:00 a.m.
Senate in Session

Special Orders:

 S.F. 1075 (Saxhaug) Hunting and fishing licenses online applications for anatomical gifts donation.
 H.F. 2954 (Champion) Unfair practices in motor vehicle distribution regulation.
 S.F. 2881 (Carlson) Consumer-directed community support budget methodology existing exception sunset extension.
 S.F. 3047 (Jensen) Individual health plans conversion non-renewal by health plan carriers' authorization.
 H.F. 2870 (Dahle) Community corrections subsidy program universal county participation.
 S.F. 1440 (Rosen) Prescription monitoring program modifications.
 S.F. 3368 (Koenen) Temporary use of certain rights-of-way permit requirements modification.
 S.F. 3175 (Tomassoni) Bullion product dealers' regulation authorization.
 S.F. 2802 (Ingebrigtsen) Eyelash extension services regulation.
 S.F. 2385 (Dibble) Metropolitan council staggered terms requirement; nomination committee membership expansion; council member qualifications clarification; equity advisory committee establishment.
 S.F. 2405 (Marty) Electric vehicle promotion program establishment.

1:30 p.m. or at call of the chair
Conference Committee on H.F. 2749

Room: 1200 Minnesota Senate Building

Chairs: Sen. Cohen and Rep. Jim Knoblach

Conferees: Senate: Cohen, Fischbach, Saxhaug, Wiger, Lourey – House: Knoblach, McNamara, Dean, Garafalo, Loon

Agenda: HF2749 (Cohen) Omnibus supplemental appropriations bill
 

Wednesday, May 11  

9:00 a.m.
House in Session

Important Links:

  • Most recent bill introductions related to higher education (compiled by Government Relations team) SPREADSHEET (updated 4/20/16)
  • Committee schedules can be found HERE
  • Many committee hearings and floor sessions are streamed live via the web or broadcast on television. More information and a schedule can be found HERE

Government Relations team:

Jaime Simonsen – Jaime.simonsen@so.mnscu.edu
Bernie Omann – Bernie.omann@so.mnscu.edu
Jim Grathwol – jim.grathwol@so.mnscu.edu