First committee deadline tomorrow
Hundreds of bills have been heard in committee so far this week, as both Senate and House committees work to meet tomorrow’s bill deadline. As a reminder, this is the first committee deadline. In order for policy bills to advance, committees must act favorably on them in the house of origin. The next deadline is Friday, March 29, when committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body. The final committee deadline is Friday, April 12, when committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
The Senate and House higher education committees have had long agendas this week as they too work to meet tomorrow’s deadline. Most of the bills they’ve heard have been laid over for possible inclusion in the committee’s higher education omnibus bill. Committees traditionally hear multiple bills throughout session and in the end put together one large omnibus bill that then moves forward. Once we have a better idea of what the House and Senate higher education omnibus bills look like, we will provide those details. The House and Senate will very likely put together different bills, so a conference committee will be appointed to work through the differences and at the end of session, produce one higher education bill. It is still early in the process, but we will keep you updated as the omnibus bills start to come together.
Higher Education highlights from President Trump’s 2020 budget
Earlier this week, President Trump released his 2020 fiscal year budget. Included in the budget are a number of provisions that would affect many current students and recent graduates. Below are a few higher education highlights:
Education Department Budget
: Trump’s 2020 fiscal year budget would cut Education Department funding by about $8.5 billion or 12 percent.
Income-Driven Repayment Plans
: The plan would narrow the numerous income-driven repayment plans to one. Those plans cap people’s bills at a percentage of their income. Under that option, students’ monthly payments would be limited to 12.5 percent of their discretionary income, compared with 10 percent now. Remaining debt would be canceled after 15 years for undergraduate students, and 30 years for graduate students.
Federal Work Study Program
: The federal work study program faces cuts under Trump’s proposal. The budget has a $500-million request from the department for federal work-study programs, which is $630 million less than in last year's budget.
Pell Grants
: Pell Grants would be expanded to cover short-term training programs.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
: The public service loan forgiveness program is eliminated in the proposed budget.
Subsidized Student Debt
: The budget eliminates subsidized federal Stafford loans, in which interest doesn’t accrue on the loans while borrowers are in school or in economic hardship.
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At the Capitol
Thursday, March 14
8:00 a.m.
House Capital Investment
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mary Murphy
Agenda:
HF1460 (Claflin) South St. Paul; Concord Street corridor infrastructure funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF1076 (Morrison) Spring Park; water and sewer infrastructure funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF1161 (Marquart) Mahnomen; clean water and drinking water infrastructure funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF178 (Layman) Deer River; sewer and water system improvement funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF1479 (Sandstede) Floodwood; wastewater system improvements funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF274 (Fischer) Willernie; public infrastructure funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF2119 (Murphy) Two Harbors; new wastewater treatment plant loan or grant funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF1081 (Hansen) Forests for the future program funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
8:00 a.m.
House Jobs and Economic Development Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tim Mahoney
Agenda:
HF 2161
(Mahoney) Dual-training occupation competency grants expanded to include next generation technology
HF 914
(Mahoney) Special revenue fund financial institutions account funding provided.
HF 1504
(Davnie) Youth skills training program modified
HF 650
(Xiong, J) AmeriCorps Promise Fellows program funding provided
HF 1019
(Lien) Small business development center services funding provided
8:30 a.m.
Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy
Room: 1100 Senate Building
Chair: Sen. Bruce D. Anderson
Agenda:
S.F. 1322-Lang: Counseling and Case Management, Outreach, Referral and Education (C.O.R.E.) program appropriation.
S.F. 2147-Anderson, B.: Commissioner of veterans affairs duties clarification.
S.F. 1922-Anderson, B.: American Allies Day establishment.
S.F. 2079-Newton: Veterans expanded definition expansion for identifier on state-issued identification cards
8:30 a.m.
Senate Taxes
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Roger C. Chamberlain
Agenda:
S.F. 1663-Rosen: Nonprofit tickets or admissions sales and use tax exemption clarification.
S.F. 1065-Nelson: Minnesota State High School League events admission sales tax exemption sunset date elimination.
S.F. 419-Housley: Refundable film production individual income tax credit.
S.F. 1817-Howe, J.: Farm machinery sales and use tax exemption definition modification to include grain bins.
S.F. 304-Rest: Business entity income tax option to file as a C corporation.
S.F. 1522-Rest: Partnership audits adjustments reporting requirements establishment.
S.F. 151-Dziedzic: Public pension plans income tax subtraction authorization.
9:45 a.m.
House Education Policy
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Cheryl Youakim
Agenda:
HF761 (Erickson) - Pupil transportation for certain homeless students authority assigned, and money appropriated.
HF1111 (Hassan) - Postsecondary education enrollment options eligibility clarified.
H1711DE1 Amendment (Omnibus Bill)
9:45 a.m.
House Agriculture and Food Finance and Policy
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair:
Rep. Jeanne Poppe
Agenda:
HF 1733 (Poppe) Omnibus Agriculture Policy bill (amendments and vote out)
HF 1339 (Ecklund) Shade tree replacement planting funding provided
HF 395 (Hansen) Funding for forest pest response
HF 1546 (Lippert) Beginning farmer tax credit modified (added from Tuesday)
11:00 a.m.
Senate in Session
1:00 p.m.
Senate Higher Education Finance and Policy
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Paul Anderson
Agenda:
S.F. 1308-Dziedzic: College promise grant program creation; Minnesota accelerated study in associates programs development and implementation requirement; appropriation.
S.F. 956-Isaacson: Community and technical college grant program establishment and appropriation.
S.F. 2319-Abeler: Loan repayment assistance program of Minnesota debt relief to attorneys grant appropriation.
3:30 p.m.
House in Session
Monday, March 18
1:00 p.m.
Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy
Room: 1150 Senate Building
Chair: Sen. Eric R. Pratt
Agenda:
S.F. 1666-Miller: Bridges to Healthcare grant appropriation.
S.F. 1825-Miller: Venture SE Minnesota Diversification revolving loan program creation and appropriation.
S.F. 2166-Rarick: Minnesota Grocers Association Foundation grant for the Carts to Careers initiative appropriation.
S.F. 947-Rarick: Building and construction contracts retainage requirements modification
Tuesday, March 19
8:00 a.m.
House Jobs and Economic Development Finance Division
Room; 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tim Mahoney
Agenda:
HF 1184
(Koegel) Relating to economic development; appropriating money for redevelopment grants and demolition loans
HF 1185
(Claflin) Relating to economic development; appropriating money to the Minnesota job creation fund
HF 1186
(Stephenson) Relating to economic development; appropriating money to the Minnesota investment fund
HF 414
(Stephenson) Business competitive grant funding provided, and money appropriated
HF 1781
(Mahoney) Minnesota investment fund use modified, and report required.
HF 5
(Halverson) Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (Pending Referral)
HF 6
(Mahoney) Wage Theft prohibited
HF 11
(Lesch) Sick and Safe time
5:00 p.m.
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
Room: G3 Capitol
Chair: Rep. Mary Murphy
Agenda: TBA
5:30 p.m.
Room: TBD
Chair: Rep. Tim Mahoney
Agenda:
HF 5 (Halverson) Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (Pending Referral)
HF 6 (Mahoney) Wage Theft prohibited
HF 11 (Lesch) Sick and Safe time
