Category: Minnesota Legislature

House Commerce Committee approves moratorium on non-profit to for-profit HMO conversions; bill includes strong consumer protections

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The House Commerce Committee on Wednesday approved a bill requiring any transition of a non-profit health maintenance organization (HMO) to a for-profit enterprise to be reviewed and approved by the Minnesota Attorney General. The legislation, HF 533, authored by Rep. Jen Schultz (DFL – Duluth) also prohibits a non-profit HMO from using earnings for any purpose other than providing comprehensive health care – giving the Attorney General oversight if a non-profit seeks to transfer assets to a for-profit arm, and extends the moratorium on HMO conversions to 2029.

“Minnesotans expect that money they’ve paid toward health care will go toward just that purpose: providing health care, not enriching insurance company executives and shareholders,” Rep. Schultz said. “The repeal of the for-profit ban was in addition to the $542 million handout insurance companies received from the reinsurance bill. As we work on real solutions making health care more affordable and improving the quality of care Minnesotans receive, the accountability measures in this bill will help ensure that money for health care is spent on people, not going toward corporate profits.”

In 2017, the Republican-led Legislature ended Minnesota’s 40-year ban on for-profit health insurers operating in Minnesota. This policy was repealed without any oversight measures being put in place. Continue reading “House Commerce Committee approves moratorium on non-profit to for-profit HMO conversions; bill includes strong consumer protections”

Minnesota Angel Investment Tax Credit Bill Introduced

From the March 12 morning take:

A coalition of supporters of the Angel Investment Tax Credit (AITC) will submit a letter to Sen. Paul Anderson and Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn this morning to the House Jobs Committee at 8 a.m. VERBATIM: “The AITC, which was first available in 2010 but expired at the end of 2017, resulted in more than $421 million in private investment in Minnesota startup and emerging companies during that time. Data also shows that investment in startup or early stage companies was 80 percent higher, approximately $280 million, in the eight years the Angel Credit was in effect than it was the eight years prior. The AITC is a useful tool for entrepreneurs from all over the state and from many different industries. From 2015-2017, companies owned or managed by women or minorities received more than $30 million in investment through the credit. The clean technology industry received nearly $13 million during the same time frame. In 2017 alone, companies in Greater Minnesota were the recipients of almost $10 million of investment via the credit, one of the highest totals in the history of the program.”  

LETTER: http://bit.ly/2VVQDmv

Minnesota Senate rejects legalizing recreational marijuana

GOP senators shut down legalization debate

Republicans in the Minnesota Senate voted down a measure Monday to legalize marijuana for recreational use, abruptly ending debate on the subject — for now.

State Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, who gave the bill a hearing as chairman of the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, said after the 6-3 vote that testimony from law enforcement, health experts and former Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger persuaded him that legalization is a bad idea.

Republicans also killed a last-ditch effort to create a task force to further study the issue, evidence that Senate Republicans were eager to dispense with the issue for the year.

View the complete March 12 article by J. Patrick Coolican on The Star Tribune website here.

Senate DFL Week in Review: March 7, 2019

WEEK NINE: March 7, 2019

Image

First pieces of legislation pass off Senate floor, advocates rally at the Capitol

The ninth week of the 2019 session wraps up this week, with the legislature having only passed two bills so far. MNLARS funding and a small bonding bill for clean-up of a toxic closed landfill in Andover and technical fixes to construction bonds for Highway 14 and Highway 23 were both passed and signed into law by Governor Walz.

After nine weeks, promises of early passage of a number of agreed upon bills have not transpired. Many of the bills legislative leaders said would pass early, including opioid relief, hands-free driving, full funding for election security, and initiatives to help protect seniors remain unfinished. Continue reading “Senate DFL Week in Review: March 7, 2019”

Minnesota House votes unanimously to end child marriages

Between 2000 and 2010, nearly 250,000 children, as young as 12 years old, were married in the U.S.

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives voted unanimously to end child marriages in Minnesota. Ninety percent of child marriages occur between individuals with a significant enough age gap that, if not for the marriage, a sexual relationship would constitute statutory rape.

“This is a vote to end the exploitation of the most vulnerable Minnesotans,” said Rep. Kaohly Her, chief author of the legislation. “Child marriage is not just an international issue. It happens in the United States, in new immigrant communities as well as communities that have lived in this country for many generations. And it has the nearly universal effect of stunting childhoods and exposing minors to abuse, poverty, and life-long physical and mental health challenges.”

Children who get married are significantly more likely to experience abuse, poverty, adverse physical and mental health outcomes, underage pregnancy, death resulting from childbirth, and to drop out of school . Exceptions in 48 states allow those younger than 18 to marry. If passed, the bill would make marriages for children under 18 illegal in Minnesota and require proof of age during the marriage license application process. Continue reading “Minnesota House votes unanimously to end child marriages”

Minnesota House Equal Rights Amendment Vote

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Last night, the Minnesota House of Representatives was expected to approve the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) bill. If approved by the Senate, there will be a question on the November, 2020, ballot asking Minnesotans to vote on whether our state constitution should be amended to read “equality under the law shall not be abridged or denied on account of gender.”

“Fairness is a fundamental value to Minnesotans. Our state constitution should reflect that,” said chief author Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein (DFL – New Brighton). “The equality Minnesota women and men have fought for in life, in work, in school and in our major institutions shouldn’t be taken for granted. It should be guaranteed.”

The ERA would create a permanent guarantee of gender equality under law, a cause that gained greater urgency when the #MeToo movement exposed stories of pervasive sexism, harassment and discrimination.

“Assumed equality for women is not enough — our state constitution should be clear that we have equal rights,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “It’s been 99 years since women fought for and achieved the right to vote. It’s long past time to pass equal rights amendments to the state and federal constitutions.”

“Women’s equality is a priority for the House DFL Majority, and we are demonstrating that today,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “Minnesota women deserve equal rights in all aspects of life. Moving this forward and putting equal rights into our state constitution is a positive statement about the Minnesota we want to build.”

A Senate companion, authored by Sen. Richard Cohen, awaits a hearing in the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. If ratified, the amendment will take effect on January 1, 2021.

An additional Minnesota House measure (H.F. 71) would call on the Federal Government to adopt a similar resolution to the U.S. Constitution.

Industry fees could be used to offset some insulin costs

Minnesota State Capitol

Insulin producers could be asked to help fund access to the life-saving drug.

“According to some studies, one in four diabetics are rationing their insulin because they cannot afford it,” said Rep. Michael Howard (DFL-Richfield).

He sponsorsHF485 that would establish an insulin manufacturer’s registration fee to fund an insulin assistance program. That program would serve people who earn too much money to qualify for existing public programs, but not enough to afford the cost of insulin on their own.

View the complete March 5 article by Erin Martin on the Minnesota House of Representatives website here.

HF 1, the “Great Start for All Minnesota Children Act,” to receive first House public hearing Thursday

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Thursday morning, the House Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division will hold a public hearing on HF 1, the “Great Start for All Minnesota Children Act.” Authored by Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL – Eden Prairie), HF 1 includes new investments for early childhood education and development, child care, prenatal care, and home visiting. The committee’s discussion will focus on the early care and development component of the bill, including the creation of a “Great Start Fund.” This fund will increase the availability of learning scholarships focused on children from birth to age 3, addressing both Minnesota’s opportunity gap and high child care costs.

The committee, chaired by Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL – Saint Paul) will meet at 8:00 a.m. in Room 120 of the Minnesota State Capitol.

WHAT: Committee hearing on HF 1, the “Great Start for All Minnesota Children Act”

WHO: Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL – Eden Prairie), bill author; Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL – Saint Paul), committee chair; Karla Smith, a parent whose family has benefited from early learning scholarships; Kiarra Zackery, a parent who has benefited from the state Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP); Shareece Gabriel, Child Care Development Director, YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities

WHEN: 8:00 AM, Thursday, March 7, 2019

WHERE: Room 120, Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul

Elections panel to discuss Rep. Klevorn proposal tonight to establish Redistricting Advisory Commission

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Representative Ginny Klevorn (DFL- Plymouth) will present legislation this evening to the House Elections Subcommittee to establish a Redistricting Advisory Commission. The purpose of the commission is to submit recommended legislative and congressional redistricting plans for approval by the legislature following each decennial census.

“Our current redistricting process at the legislature is not working efficiently,” said Rep. Klevorn. “Over the last couple of decades, courts have needed to intervene and it’s been costly in terms of time, resources and public trust. Minnesotans deserve unbiased recommendations with the goal of producing fairly redistricted lines for future elections.”

The commission consists of 12 members of the public and five retired judges. The bill also establishes a series of principles that must be used in drawing district boundaries. The Minnesota Constitution requires that the legislature adopt new congressional and legislative districts following each decennial census.

The next decennial census will occur next year.

What: An Elections Subcommittee hearing to hear discuss HF 1605

When: This evening, Wednesday, March 6, 7:00 p.m.

Where: 500S, State Office Building. 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul

Lawmakers announce “Responsible on Cannabis” approach for key House public hearings

Committees to consider bills impacting marijuana enforcement, CBD, medical cannabis program

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – On Tuesday afternoon, three committees in the Minnesota House are scheduled to hold public hearings on legislation impacting Minnesota’s cannabis policies. As part of the “Responsible on Cannabis Day” event, Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL – Saint Paul), Chair of the House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Division, and Rep. Rena Moran (DFL – Saint Paul), Chair of the House Health and Human Services Policy Committee, are moving forward with a responsible approach to the issues of legalization, enforcement, and the state’s medical cannabis program.

“With as many moving parts as there are on the topic of cannabis, it’s extremely important for us to bring all Minnesotans to the table for a legitimate conversation on the issue,” said Rep. Mariani, chief author of HF 717, which would create a Cannabis Task Force to examine the potential legalization, taxation, and regulation of cannabis production, sale, and use. “Minnesotans have diverse viewpoints about this topic, as do legislators. While we take other steps like those in the bills we’re considering today, a task force will allow us to gather input from regular Minnesotans and affected stakeholders, and puts us on a clear path toward taking whichever steps on this issue are the most viable.”

“It’s clear that our state’s current approach to marijuana isn’t working, and harms Minnesotans in a number of ways,” said Rep. Moran. “From those who can’t access it to treat an illness, to those who have been caught up in the criminal justice system and the unjust racial disparities which come with enforcement, it’s time for Minnesota to move in a new direction, and the bills scheduled for hearings today will allow us to do that.” Continue reading “Lawmakers announce “Responsible on Cannabis” approach for key House public hearings”