Updates from the Government Relations team are sent periodically during the legislative session.                                                  
Legislative Update - February 15, 2017
Republican Anne Neu wins House District 32B Special Election

Higher Education

Republican Anne Neu bested Democrat Laurie Warner by 462 votes in yesterday's special election in Chisago County for the Minnesota House. Neu received 53.22% of the vote and Warner received 46.73%. Today’s win by Neu increases the House Republican majority from 76 seats to 77 seats.

The special election was called after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that then-Rep. Bob Barrett, a Republican running for re-election, did not meet the legal requirements for residency and preemptively nullified the November results for House District 32B.

Neu, a widowed mother of five, has served on the North Branch Planning Commission and as vice president of Minnesota Excellence in Public Service Series, an organization that trains conservative women to run for office.

Once Chisago County election officials certify the results in the coming days, Neu will be sworn in as the newest member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Minnesota State presents at Monday's Ways and Means

On Monday, Vice Chancellor Laura King gave a presentation to the House Ways and Means committee. Members received a broad overview of Minnesota State's budget.

The presentation can be found HERE. Vice Chancellor King begins at the 59.28 mark.
Minnesota State to present budget requests in front of committees

Next week, Minnesota State will have the opportunity to present the budget request to both the House and Senate Higher Education committees. Information to watch the committee hearings live will be shared next week.

Wednesday, February 22
3:00-4:45 p.m.
House Higher Education and Career Readiness Policy and Finance Committee

Thursday, February 23
1:00-2:30 p.m.
Senate Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee

This week at the Capitol


Wednesday, February 15, 2017

8:15 a.m.
Basement Hearing Room
House Subcommittee on Aging and Long-Term Care
Agenda: HF803 (Baker) – Senior care workforce innovation grant program established, and money appropriated
HF804 (Kiel) – Health professional loan forgiveness program and employee scholarship modified, administration of medications by licensed personnel authorized, and money appropriated
HF823 (Schomacker) – Elderly waiver program reformed, and money appropriated  

10:15 a.m.
10 State Office Building
House Public Safety and Security Policy and Finance
Agenda: HF346 (Cornish) - Peace officers required to receive training in crisis response, conflict management, and cultural diversity; peace officer training reimbursement funding reformed and increased; reimbursement grants for pathway to policing programs provided, Peace Officer Standards and Training Board authorized to collect peace officer race data for limited purpose, and money appropriated.  

12:00 p.m.
Senate in Session  

12:15 p.m.
House in Session  

1:00 p.m.
5 State Office Building
House Education Finance
Agenda: HF379 (Swedzinski) - Southwest Minnesota State University additional school employee participation authorized for special education teacher program, and appropriation extended.
HF689 (Erickson) - School district science, technology, engineering, and math course funding provided; and money appropriated.    

3:00 p.m.
5 State Office Building
House Higher Education and Career Readiness Policy and Finance
Agenda: HF306 (Davnie) – Instructional material exemption modified
HF319 (Lien) – Loan forgiveness program for individuals working in greater Minnesota established, report required, and money appropriated
HF320 (Lien) – Higher education scholarship contribution tax credit allowed, reports required, and money appropriated
HF802 (Daniels) – Senior care career opportunities educational material development funding provided, and money appropriated
HF882 (Davids) – Education loan subtraction for discharge provided  

3:00 p.m.
120 State Capitol
House Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance Agenda:
HF653 (Gunther) – Minnesota business development public infrastructure grant program funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated
HF1020 (Hamilton) – Refundable workforce housing tax credit established, and report required
HF1035 (Ecklund) – Cook County Higher Education Board funding provided, and money appropriated    

Thursday, February 16, 2017 - Students United Advocacy Day!  

8:15 a.m.
10 State Office Building
House Education Innovation Policy
Agenda: HF734 (Haley) – Education partnerships enhanced, youth development promoted, education partnerships coalition fund established, and money appropriated.
HF1048 (Erickson) - Commissioner mandates reduced; and schools empowered with relation to innovation zones, world's best workforce, advanced academic credit, and textbooks loaned to nonpublic students
HF905 (Kresha) – School disciplinary actions modified
HF998 (Grunhagen) - Minnesota's special education system cost-benefit analysis required, and report required.
HF652 (Kresha) - School district authorized to renew an annual food service management contract up to three additional times.  

8:15 a.m.
200 State Office Building
House Health and Human Services Reform
Agenda: HF865 (McDonald) - Housing support services created, and human services commissioner required to seek necessary federal waivers.
HF866 (McDonald) – Minnesota supplemental aid modified
HF898 (Hamilton) - Parenting with a disability support services pilot project, report required, and money appropriated.
HF743 (Albright) - Health professional training site grant program established, and money appropriated.
HF744 (Albright) - Comprehensive health care workforce council and workforce plan created, and money appropriated.
HF1169 (Albright) - Legislative Health Care Workforce Commission extended, work plan for the commission specified, and money appropriated.
HF1167 (Schultz) – Temporary preceptor credit established, and report required  

1:00 p.m.
15 Capitol
Senate Higher Education Finance and Policy Agenda:
S.F. 119-Dziedzic: Summer academic enrichment program grants appropriation.
S.F. 943-Fischbach: Loan repayment assistance program grant appropriation to provide debt relief to attorneys  

Important Links:

  • 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