Updates from the Government Relations team are sent periodically during the legislative session.                                                  
Legislative Update - May 11, 2017
Higher Ed Conference Committee Report stays on the table

As the Senate and House recessed late on Tuesday, all plans indicated that the two chambers would continue to hear and adopt the remaining omnibus bills, which included the higher education bill.

But on Wednesday, the Senate was short a member. Sen. Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) left Saint Paul to be with her ill father. The Senate Republicans have a one-seat majority.

Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa, conceded that his party would be unable to pass any budget bills until Nelson returned. “We can’t pass any budget without 34 Republican votes,” he said. It’s unclear when that process could resume, or for that matter when Dayton and legislative leaders will start talking budget again.

Omnibus bills must be heard in the body where the bill originated before the other body can hear it. The higher ed bill is a Senate file - which means the Senate must hear the bill first before it can be sent over to the House for any action.

It is unknown when or if the Senate will move on the higher ed bill.

However, the House was able to move forward on their bills. Omnibus bills concerning transportation and taxes were adopted off the House floor. In the $1.1 billion tax bill, one provision would create a first-in-the-nation student loan tax credit. 

Dayton did not take action Wednesday on five budget bills — including those for health and human services, environment and education — that reached his desk the night before. The governor has three days to sign or veto those measures.
Everyone is at the Capitol
It's the time of year at the Capitol when there are school buses lined up with grade school students on end-of-the-year field trips. Gatherings in the rotunda and of course reporters, lobbyists and lawmakers running from here to there.

This year, the Capitol has a new guest - follow the adventures of the Capitol Turkey ( @mnlegturkey).
On Tuesday, he can be seen looking in the doors of the State Office Building checking on negotiations.
#FundtheFuture
On Wednesday, a group of university students walked up the front steps of the State Capitol after a four-day 100 mile walk to promote higher education affordability. Organized by Students United, students left Mankato at 7:30 a.m. Sunday morning to make the trek to the capitol city.

To view more pictures from their walk, visit @Students7United.
This Week at the Capitol

Due to the fluid nature of the legislature, schedules may change. Meetings that will be streamed live, can be found HERE.


Thursday, May 11

10:00 a.m.
House in Session

  • S. F. No. 482, (Senate Authors: Nelson, Wiklund and Clausen. House Authors: Peterson, Liebling, Schomacker, Zerwas, Albright and others. Companion to H. F. No. 643.) A bill for an act relating to health licensing; clarifying title protection and grounds for disciplinary action; making technical changes;  
  • S. F. No. 527, (Senate Authors: Kiffmeyer, Benson, Eaton, Schoen and Clausen. House Authors: Haley; Albright; Schomacker; Murphy, E.; Zerwas and others. Companion to H. F. No. 733.) A bill for an act relating to health occupations; modifying the nurse practices act; clarifying licensure requirements for advanced practice registered nurses; 
  • S. F. No. 1353, (Senate Authors: Rosen, Clausen, Schoen and Benson. House Authors: Dean, M.; Schomacker; Zerwas and Murphy, E. Companion to H. F. No. 1314.) A bill for an act relating to health occupations; establishing requirements for the practice of telemedicine; 
  • S. F. No. 1844, (Senate Authors: Kiffmeyer, Abeler, Benson, Eaton and Clausen. House Authors: Zerwas; Murphy, E.; Pierson; Quam; Lohmer and others. Companion to H. F. No. 2177.) A bill for an act relating to health and human services; adding advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to certain statutes;

10:00 a.m.
Senate in Session

  • S.F. 1598(Hall)Domestic assault by strangulation impact on custody, parenting plans and parenting time modification
  • S.F. 1694(Ruud)General John Vessey Day June 29 designation
  • H.F. 1702(Relph)McKenna's Law; juvenile justice; children 10 years and over right to counsel disclosure; waivers of counsel to be in writing; notice to counsel requirement
  • S.F. 359(Utke)Home and community-based services setting and licensing requirements and planning and case management requirements under waiver modifications and individualized home supports addition; child foster care background studies modifications
  • S.F. 550(Westrom)Environment and natural resources trust fund appropriation and receipt of fund money requirements modification
  • S.F. 847(Dibble)HIV/AIDS comprehensive strategic statewide plan requirement

**At the call of the chair**
Senate Finance
1200 Minnesota Senate Building
SF545 (Rosen) - Miscellaneous retirement provisions modifications

Friday, May 12

10:00 a.m.
House State Government Finance
5 State Office Building
Agenda: TBD

TBA
House in Session
The following bills have been designated by the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration
H. F. No. 399, (Authors: Anderson, S.; Gunther; Petersburg; Knoblach; Erickson and others. Companion to S. F. No. 603.) A bill for an act relating to public employment; clarifying limits on severance pay to highly compensated public employees; 

H. F. No. 470, (Authors: Cornish and Johnson, B. Companion to S. F. No. 1098.) A bill for an act relating to public safety; creating the crime of tampering with a public safety motor vehicle; establishing criminal penalties; 

  • H. F. No. 697, (Authors: Sundin, Swedzinski, O'Driscoll and West. Companion to S. F. No. 811.) A bill for an act relating to state and local government; allowing Indian tribal officials to take a leave of absence when elected to public office;  
  • H. F. No. 1001, (Authors: Vogel, Peppin, Fabian, Daudt, Theis and others. Companion to S. F. No. 745.) A bill for an act relating to administrative rulemaking; requiring agencies to determine the impact of a proposed rule on the cost of residential construction or remodeling; requiring notice to the applicable legislative committees; permitting a legislative committee to require approval of a rule by law; 
  • H. F. No. 1620, (Author: Garofalo. Companion to S. F. No. 1456.) A bill for an act relating to economic development; temporarily modifying the restrictions on use of Minnesota investment fund local government loan repayment funds. 
  • H. F. No. 1725, (Authors: Drazkowski, Backer, Baker, Quam, Hertaus and others. Companion to S. F. No. 1499.) A bill for an act relating to motor vehicles; amending certain weight limitations for vehicles transporting milk; requiring an analysis of certain deficient bridges; 
  • H. F. No. 2080, (Authors: Nornes and Bernardy. Companion to S. F. No. 943.) A bill for an act relating to higher education; appropriating money for an education debt relief grant. 
  • S. F. No. 1399, (Senate Authors: Abeler, Osmek, Newton and Hoffman. House Authors: West, Fenton, Howe and Nash. Companion to H. F. No. 1519.) A bill for an act relating to local government; modifying the business hours of license bureaus; 

Important Links:

  • Most recent bill introductions related to higher education (compiled by Government Relations team) can be found HERE (updated 4/24/17)
  • 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@minnstate,edu
Bernie Omann – Bernie.omann@minnstate,edu
Jim Grathwol – jim.grathwol@minnstate.edu