Legislative funding bill heads to governor
One of the first priorities for lawmakers this session was to restore funding to the legislative branch after Gov. Mark Dayton line-item vetoed the House of Representatives and the Senate’s operating budgets. The Legislature has been using its reserve funds and some Legislative Coordinating Commission (LCC) funds to operate after losing their lawsuit to overturn Dayton’s veto.
On Wednesday night, a conference committee adopted a delete-all amendment to HF399 to restore that funding. The bill is clean with no other provisions attached. Under the measure, the Senate, House and LCC would see their funding restored retroactively to July 1, 2017. The Senate would receive $64.4 million over two years and the House would see $64.76 million. The bill requires both the Senate and House to transfer money back to the LCC by June 30, 2018.
Both the House and Senate passed the bill off the floor yesterday, which means it’s on its way to Gov. Dayton’s desk. Dayton has said he plans to sign the bill.
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Next Week at the Capitol
Monday, February 26
10:15 a.m.
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Jim Knoblach
Agenda: Presentation by the Center of the American Experiment on the State of Minnesota’s Economy
1:00 p.m.
House Veterans Affairs Division
Room: 5 State Office Building
Committee Chair: Rep. Bob Dettmer
Agenda:
Veterans Day on the Hill - Monday, March 12, 2018
Introduction of new Adjutant General Jon A. Jensen to Committee
HF2788 (Bob Dettmer) School counselors required to receive training in armed forces career options, school counselors required to inform students of armed forces career options, and school districts encouraged to grant military recruiters access to secondary students.
HF2869 (Jeff Howe) National Guard members provided access to information regarding state-sponsored life insurance program.
HF2907 (Jeff Howe) Data sharing permitted to administer the disabled veteran's homestead market value exclusion.
HF2908 (Anna Wills) Rosemount; U.S. Highway 52 designated as Warrant Office Dennis A. Groth Memorial Bridge.
Informational hearing on Department of Military Affairs bonding requests
Informational hearing on Department of Veterans Affairs bonding requests
3:00 p.m.
Senate E-12 Finance
Room: 1100 Minnesota Senate Building
Chair: Sen. Carla Nelson
Agenda: Minnesota school’s telecommunications status and Internet Access Equity Aid program
Tuesday, February 27
8:15 a.m.
House Civil Law and Data Practices Policy
Room: Basement hearing room
Chair: Rep. Peggy Scott
Agenda: HF2810 (Anne Neu) State agency data request log maintenance and publication required.
HF2815 (Steve Green) Misrepresenting an animal as a service animal made a crime.
1:00 p.m.
Senate Higher Education Finance and Policy
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Michelle Fischbach
Agenda:
Presentation on the University of Minnesota Regent Selection Process. The committee will hear a presentation from non-partisan senate staff as well as members of the Regent Candidate Advisory Committee
3:00 p.m.
Senate E-12 Policy
Room: 1100 Minnesota State Building
Chair: Sen. Eric Pratt
Agenda: S.F. 2465-Anderson, P.: Educational child sexual abuse prevention curriculum expansion to include child sex trafficking prevention in academic standard.
S.F. 2455-Clausen: Teacher training to include dyslexia instructional strategies requirement
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S.F. 2352-Anderson, P.: Office of Legislative Auditor\'s April 2017 evaluation report of the
Minnesota State High School League recommendations implementation.
5:30 p.m.
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
Room: 1200 Minnesota Senate Building
Chair: Sen. Julie Rosen
Agenda:
SF2620
(Rosen)/HFxxxx (O’ Driscoll): 2018 Omnibus Retirement Bill, first consideration.
-LCPR staff overview
-Jill Schurtz, Executive Director, SPTRFA
-Jay Stoffel, Executive Director, TRA
-Doug Anderson, Executive Director, PERA
-Erin Leonard, Executive Director, MSRS
-Eric Nauman, Senate Fiscal Analyst
Wednesday, February 28
12:15 p.m.
February Budget and Economic Forecast released
Room: 15 Capitol
Agenda: MMB will present the February Economic Forecast
1:00 p.m.
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy
Room: 1150 Minnesota Senate Building
Chair: Sen. Jeremy R. Miller
Agenda: Informational hearing regarding DEED’s regional economic development partnerships.
Thursday, March 1
1:00 p.m.
Senate Higher Education Finance and Policy
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Michelle Fischbach
Agenda: Developmental Education Report review from Minnesota State
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Important Links:
- Most recent bill introductions related to higher education (compiled by Government Relations team) can be found HERE (updated Feb.23, 2018)
- 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
