Updates from the Government Relations team are sent periodically during the legislative session
Legislative Update: March 18, 2019
Lawmakers return to St. Paul this week for another long week of committee hearings. Now that committees have met the first bill deadline, legislators and staff have two weeks to meet the second bill deadline on March 29. This is when committees must act favorably on bills, or companion bills, that met the first deadline in the other body.


The Senate and House higher education committees have long agendas again this week, taking up issues that includes community health workers curriculum, notifying students with disabilities of postsecondary education options, textbooks, the state grant program, workforce development, debt relief, concurrent enrollment teachers, Hunger Free Campus Act, and emergency assistance grants. The complete agendas can be found below. As a reminder, the House Higher Education Finance and Policy committee meets Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m., and the Senate Higher Education Finance and Policy committee meets Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:00 p.m.
 
Last week the Legislative Salary Council voted on a proposal to raise lawmakers’ salaries from $45,000 a year to $46,500 for all 201 legislators. Two years ago the Council raised legislative salaries from approximately $31,000 per year to $45,000. Prior to this increase, legislative salaries had not been increased in nearly two decades. The Council is appointed by the Governor and Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. The Council will send its final recommendations to the Governor and Senate and House leaders to incorporate into the budget discussions.
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This Week at the Capitol



Monday, March 18


9:45 a.m.
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Lyndon Carlson
Agenda:
HF 682 (Pelowski) Disaster contingency account money transferred
HF1408 (Koegel) Peace officer citation issuance from work zone flagger report authorized, work zone use of wireless communications devices prohibited
HF85 (Brand) Emergency medical services regulatory board required to propose guidelines authorizing patient-assisted medication administration
HF286 (Hornstein) Rail carrier minimum crew size required, and criminal penalties imposed
 
11:00 a.m.
Senate in Session

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


3:00 p.m.
Senate E-12 Finance and Policy
Room: 1100 Senate Building
Chair: Sen. Carla J. Nelson
Agenda:
S.F. 2347-Nelson: Prekindergarten to grade 12 education budget appropriations.
S.F. 1270-Anderson, P.: Alternative teacher preparation program grant eligibility modification and appropriation.
S.F. 1820-Anderson, P.: Alternative teacher compensation aid increase; program waiting list and program aid proration elimination; appropriating money.
S.F. 1625-Anderson, P.: Independent school district #270, Hopkins; fund transfer.
S.F. 1787-Nelson: Postsecondary enrollment options (PSEO) information availability to students deadline modification; postsecondary enrollment in online courses requirements modification; transportation aid for pupils enrolled in postsecondary enrollment options calculation modification.
S.F. 2116-Nelson: Prekindergarten through grade 12 education provisions modifications.

3:00 p.m.
House in Session
 
Tuesday, March 19
 
7:30 a.m.
House Capital Investment
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mary Murphy
Agenda:
HF1319 (Bahner) Maple Grove; highway 610 project local road connections funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF1342 (Christensen) Washington County Trunk Highway 36 and County State-Aid Highway 15 interchange construction funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF1697 (Koegel) Anoka County; East River Road interchange improvements at Trunk Highway 610 funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF2109 (Haley) Red Wing; rail grade separation project funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF1793 (Ecklund) Koochiching County; Falls International Airport funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF1071 (Morrison) Deephaven; bridge funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF2295 (Lippert) Northfield Regional Transit Hub funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF1606 (Hornstein) Bus rapid transit lines funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF648 (Bierman) Apple Valley; Red Line 147th Street Station skyway project funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF942 (Gunther) Martin County veterans memorial funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF2105 (Lee) Minneapolis; outdoor performance venue funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF1627 (Dehn) Minnesota Shubert Center for Dance and Music funding provided, 2014 appropriation cancelled, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF1484 (Hausman) Hennepin County Children's Theater Company funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF872 (Mariani) St. Paul YMCA facility funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF2176 (Ecklund) Babbitt Recreation Area campground construction funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF2140 (Ecklund) Silver Bay; multimodal trailhead center funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF2496 (Christensen) - Oak Park Heights; 60th Street realignment and related improvements funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
 
8:00 a.m. (Note: will continue at 5:30 p.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

8:00 a.m.
House State Government Finance Division
Room: Basement Hearing Room
Chair: Rep. Michael Nelson
Agenda:
HF 1975 (Nelson) State solicitation process and best final offer modified
HF 1974 (Nelson) Outdated budget-related language updated
HF 1935 (Nelson) Administrative law judge salaries modified
HF 1607 (Claflin) Velodrome for track cycling funding provided
HF 1428 (Dehn) Secretary of State attorney fees awarded in Minnesota Voter Alliance v. Mansky
 
9:45 a.m.
House Education Finance Committee
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair:   Rep. Jim Davnie
Agenda:  
HF 194 (Murphy) Special education funding increased for school districts, tuition bill backs to resident school districts reduced, and local optional revenue and operating referendum revenue added to general education revenue for charter schools.
HF 1162 (Wolgamott) Special education funding increased.
HF 1025 (Carlson, L) Forecasted positive general fund balances required to be allocated to restore special education aid payment percentage.
More bills may be added and the agenda order may change.
 
9:45 a.m.
House Agriculture and Food Finance and Policy
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Jeanne Poppe
Agenda:
HF 2200 (Poppe) Governor's Ag Budget bill (informational)
HF 484 (Dettmer) Metropolitan ag preserve expiration modified
HF 2344 (Vang) Urban agriculture grant funding provided, and money appropriated
HF 1608 (Brand) Center for Rural Policy and Development grant funding
HF 18 (Fabian)/HF 93 (Grossell) Wolf/elk depredation funding
HF 1630 (Tabke) Wolf-livestock conflict prevention grant pilot program 
HF 857 (Green) Wild turkey depredation 
HF 1136 (Hamilton) Agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer funding

9:45 a.m.
House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. John Lesch
Agenda:
HF300 (Pinto): Judicial jurisdiction for public procurement action disputes specified.
HF769 (Carlson): Public Employment Relations Board data modified, and money appropriated.
HF495 (Noor): Residential lease requirements amended.


1:00 p.m.
Senate State Government Finance and Policy and Elections
Room: 1200 Senate Building
Chair: Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer
Agenda:
S.F. 2333-Johnson, M.: State auditor supplemental audits county billings restriction and refunds appropriation.
S.F. 2334-Johnson, M.: State auditor disputed billings resolution procedure establishment.
S.F. 2329-Eichorn: Wild Rice Stewardship Council establishment and appropriation.
S.F. 1496-Jasinski: Motor vehicle titling and registration provisions modifications; vehicle registration task force creation.
S.F. 998-Koran: Cities and towns professional private consultants hiring process establishment.


1:00 p.m.
Senate Higher Education Finance and Policy
Room: G15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Paul T. Anderson
Agenda:
S.F. 2297-Abeler: Community health workers curriculum Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) development requirement.
S.F. 2257-Abeler: Office of higher education requirement to notify students with disabilities of postsecondary education options; Minnesota Independence College and Community grant appropriation.
S.F. 378-Bigham: Higher education institutions eligibility for the state grant program
modification.
S.F. 2214-Draheim: Inclusive access pilot program for distribution of postsecondary textbooks authorization and appropriation.
 

2:30 p.m.
House Higher Education Finance and Policy
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Connie Bernardy
Agenda:
HF0993 - Pryor: Workforce development scholarships modified, and money appropriated.
HF1904 - Lee: Higher education grant stipends modified.
HF2363 - Moller: Education debt relief grant funding provided, and money appropriated.


5:00 p.m.
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
Room: G3 Capitol
Chair: Rep. Mary Murphy
Agenda:
HF2373 (Murphy, by req.); SF2491 (Rosen): State Auditor's Volunteer Fire Relief Association Working Group bill.
LCPR19-030: Implementing the recommendations of the Fire State Aid Work Group.
HF2310 (Sundin); SF2366 (Rarick): PERA Statewide Volunteer Fire Plan; Authorizing the termination of plan participation and coverage; distribution of benefits.
HFxxxx; SFxxxx ( Revisor #19-4692 ): PERA Phased Retirement Program; Eliminate sunset and annual renewal requirement.
HFxxxx; SF2490 (Jasinski): PERA; Revising the City of Minneapolis municipal contribution related to the former Minneapolis firefighters and police relief associations.
HF549 (Dettmer); SF1444 (Anderson, B.): PERA; Military service credit purchase provisions.
HFxxxx; SFxxxx ( Revisor #19-4622 ): MSRS administrative bill.
Fossil fuel investments:
The State Board of Investment’s approach to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policy, including climate change investment risk and other topics: Mansco Perry, Executive Director, State Board of Investment.
HF2329 (Long); SF2276 (Pappas): State Board of Investment; Mandating a report on the risks posed by fossil fuel investments.
HF2294 (Long); SF2277 (Pappas): Requiring the State Board of Investment to divest fossil fuel investments.
 
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
 
Wednesday, March 20
 
8:30 a.m.
Senate Finance
Room: 1200 Senate Building
Chair: Sen. Julie A. Rosen
Agenda:
S.F. 2307-Chamberlain: Trichloroethylene (TCE) emissions response account and stakeholder group creation; TCE emissions fines disposition.
S.F. 75-Osmek: Cell phone use while driving provisions modifications; texting while
driving penalties increase; improper use of wireless communications devices while driving crimes are not payable offenses; criminal vehicular operation crime expansion; driver education and driver's manual to cover distracted driving requirement.
S.F. 445-Ingebrigtsen: Security screening systems addition to ionizing radiation-producing equipment fees; examination requirement exemption; appropriation.
S.F. 1004-Ingebrigtsen: License reinstatement diversion pilot program permanency authorization (pending referral).
S.F. 307-Limmer: Disaster contingency account funds transfer.
S.F. 111-Limmer: Criminal sexual conduct crimes provisions modifications.
 
 
9:45 a.m.
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Jim Davnie
Agenda:
HF 1207 (Olson) Independent School District No. 709, Duluth; special education formulas modified, fiscal year 2016 base adjusted, and money appropriated.
HF 1559 (Youakim) Paraprofessionals paid orientation required, paraprofessional training funding provided, and money appropriated.
Informational hearing - HF 814 (Edelson) School-linked mental health grants, section 245.4901 - Subdivision 5
HF 732 (Jurgens) School-linked mental health grants funding provided, and money appropriated. (See attached author's amendment.)

2:30 p.m.
House Higher Education Finance and Policy
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Connie Bernardy
Agenda:
HF2427 - Bierman: Postsecondary institutions offering graduate training to concurrent enrollment course teachers, report required, and money appropriated.
HF2366 - Pryor: Hunger Free Campus Act established and designation requirements established, campus food shelves at Minnesota State community and technical colleges required, grant funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF706 - Dehn: University of Minnesota's Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach Engagement Center funding provided, and money appropriated
 
2:30 p.m.
House Education Policy Committee
Room: State Office Building Room 5
Chair: Rep. Cheryl Youakim
Agenda:
HF1369 (Christensen) - Public schools required to maintain monthly utility consumption data.
HF2259 (Backer) - Independent School District No. 846, Breckenridge; postsecondary enrollment options with higher education institution agreement allowed.
 
3:00 p.m.
Senate E-12 Finance and Policy
Room: 1100 Senate Building
Chair: Sen. Carla J. Nelson
Agenda:
S.F. 355-Jensen, S.: Mental health education instruction requirements modification.
S.F. 2139-Jensen, S.: Education shared time aid applicable location of services modification.
S.F. 546-Anderson, P.: Sanneh Foundation grant.
S.F. 1647-Anderson, P.: Parent-child home program appropriation.
S.F. 939-Nelson: Education partnership program modification and appropriation.
S.F. 1772-Clausen: Specialized instructional services program alternative delivery student participation modification.
S.F. 1273-Ruud: Permanent school fund compensation appropriation for certain lands based on general fund forecast
 
6:30 p.m.
House Capital Investment
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mary Murphy
Agenda:
HF2158 (Quam) Oronoco; wastewater infrastructure funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF2326 (Persell) Bemidji; drinking water well construction grant funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF408 (Poppe) Austin; Cedar River Watershed District funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF383 (Marquart) Flood hazard mitigation grant funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF1600 (Marquart) Buffalo-Red River Watershed District flood hazard mitigation funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF948 (Backer) Barnesville; Buffalo-Red River Watershed District flood hazard mitigation funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF1158 (Backer) Redpath impoundment flood hazard mitigation project funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF1079 (Morrison) Reinvest in Minnesota reserve program funding provided, working grasslands easements acquired, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF1593 (Considine) Mankato; Minnesota River-Mankato watershed water quality mitigation funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF1828 (Lien) Moorhead; flood hazard mitigation funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF2030 (Nornes) Otter Tail County; flood hazard mitigation project reimbursement grant funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF2431 (Lien) Multi-county flood hazard mitigation grant funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF960 (Edelson) Washburn Center for Children new facility funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF409 (Hassan) St. Paul; Family Tree Clinic funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF1854 (Hansen) Dakota County; pedestrian and bicycle trails funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF2528 (Murphy) Rice Lake; water, sewer, and utilities extension funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.

Thursday, March 21
 
8:00 a.m.
House Capital Investment
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mary Murphy
Agenda:
HF2118 (Koegel) Blaine; National Sports Center funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF613 (Huot) Rosemount Armory funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF2085 (Nornes) Otter Tail County; Department of Human Services building purchase funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF1929 (Torkelson) Minnesota rail service improvement program funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF423 (Brand) Greater Minnesota child care facility grand program funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF2040 (Brand) St. Peter Regional Treatment Center Minnesota sex offender program facilities Phase 2 improvements funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF2328 (Huot) Minnesota Zoo funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF1596 (Olson) Duluth Lake Superior Zoo Main Building predesign and design funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF2291 (Boe) Carver County; Lake Waconia Regional Park funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF2292 (Urdahl) Hutchinson; Otter and Campbell Lake restoration funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF2163 (Lillie) Metropolitan Council regional park and open-space land acquisition and improvement funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF311 (Dettmer) Scandia; Gateway Trail from William O'Brien State Park to Scandia predesign and design funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF353 (Murphy) Public television station equipment grants funding provided, and money appropriated.


8:00 a.m.
House State Government Finance Division
Room: Basement hearing room
Chair: Rep. Michael Nelson
Agenda:
HF 136 (Stephenson) Internet service providers serving Minnesota customers and those under contract to the state or political subdivisions prohibited certain activities, and monetary fines authorized
HF 1863 (Lillie) State employee salaries money appropriated in the event of nonappropriation
HF 893 (Huot) Certified public accounting provisions modified
HF 1644 (Long) U.S. Census employees allowed access to multiunit residential facilities, and Census 2020 Mobilization Partnership program established, money appropriated
HF 2053 (Cantrell) Office of Enterprise Sustainability created


8:00 a.m.
House Jobs and Economic Development Finance Division
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tim Mahoney
Agenda:
HF 1693 (Noor) Goodwill Easter Seals funding provided
HF 1505 (Dehn) Summit Academy OIC GED and employment program
HF 1168 (Christensen) 180 Degrees grant
HF 1464 (Lippert) Youthprise Opportunity Reboot initiative grant
HF 2419 (Robbins) Coworking spaces broadband connection pilot grant program

9:45 a.m.
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Jim Davnie
Agenda:
HF 692 (Poppe) Pupils enrolled in career and technical education courses extended time use expanded.
HF 73 (Gunther) Pupils enrolled in career and technical education courses extended time use expanded.
HF 246 (Bennett) Vocational enrichment program established, and money appropriated.

1:00 p.m.
Senate Higher Education Finance and Policy
Room: G15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Paul T. Anderson
Agenda:
S.F. 888-Eichorn: Postsecondary homeless students emergency assistance grants authorization and appropriation.
S.F. 1225-Bakk: Minnesota State two-year colleges supplemental aid appropriation.
S.F. 1851-Anderson, P.: Workforce development scholarship program provision clarification.
I mportant Links
  • Bill introductions as of March 15 2019 can be found HERE
  • 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:
Bernie Omann –  Bernie.Omann@MinnState,edu
Melissa Fahning - Melissa.Fahning@MinnState.edu
Tina Firkus - T ina.Firkus@MinnState.edu