Category: Minnesota Legislature

Statement from House DFL Leadership on Governor Walz’s Budget

Saint Paul, Minnesota — Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler released the following statements on the budget proposal released today by Governor Tim Walz:

“Minnesotans value providing world-class educational opportunities for all of our children, affordable and accessible health care, and greater economic security,” said Speaker Hortman. “Governor’s Walz’s budget reflects these Minnesota values, and we share these goals. We will review the details of the Governor’s budget and the February economic forecast, then we will begin to craft the House budget proposal over the next several weeks.”

“The Governor’s budget reflects the promises we made on the campaign trail, and what Minnesotans have told us they want,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “This is an honest budget, reflecting the reality that the Minnesota we want requires investment. It is a budget that invests in Minnesotans, no matter what they look like or where they come from. We applaud Governor Walz, and are excited to work on behalf of all of us.”

Education Finance Committee Approves Bipartisan Suicide Prevention Training for Teachers Bill

Suicide is the leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10 and 17

SAINT PAUL, MN – Today, Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL, Mendota Heights) presented legislation (H.F. 813) in the Education Finance Committee to fund suicide prevention training for Minnesota teachers in every school district, charter school, intermediate school district, service cooperative, and tribal school in Minnesota. Under the bill, a nationally recognized provider of evidence-based training on suicide prevention would offer online training for teachers on suicide prevention and engaging students experiencing mental distress.

“We are facing a serious public health crisis in our communities and schools,” said Rep. Ruth Richardson. “We know suicide is preventable and that this public health crisis requires a community-based response. Given the amount of time our kids spend at school, a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention has to start with teachers.”

Suicide is the leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10 and 17.

The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a future education finance division report. Sen. Carla Nelson (R, Rochester) has authored companion legislation in the Senate.

Senate DFL Announces Call of the Senate Podcast

The Senate DFL Caucus has announced the launch of the Senate DFL Caucus’ new podcast, Call of the Senate. You can hear a clip from our great host, Sen. Jeff Hayden here.

We’ve all heard the talking points, now you can go behind the scenes and listen to what makes our Senators tick. We want to engage you, inform you, and entertain you with personal stories from our Senators – they all have fascinating backstories.

You will be entertained with their stories about growing up, their “aha” moments that defined and shaped their perspective on issues and drove them to become public servants. You’ll learn more about what our senators care most about and what they hope to accomplish while serving the people of our great state. Senator Jeff Hayden is our engaging host. The episodes are less than 20 minutes long – perfect for your morning or evening commute. Continue reading “Senate DFL Announces Call of the Senate Podcast”

Consumer-Focused Eldercare Reform Bill to Receive Public Hearing Tuesday

A bill with strong protections against abuse, neglect, assault, and other maltreatment in Minnesota assisted living facilities and nursing homes authored by Rep. Jen Schultz (DFL – Duluth), House Long-Term Care Division Chair, and House Majority Whip Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth), will be considered in the House Health and Human Services Policy Committee on Tuesday. Many of the protections in the bill, HF 90, emerged last year from an Elder Abuse Consumer Workgroup convened by AARP Minnesota and crafted with the assistance of organizations such as Elder Voice Family Advocates and Legal Aid. The bill contains, among other items, licensing of assisted living facilities, the ability for a resident to have a camera in their living space, a prohibition on deceptive marketing practices, and clarification of the rights of residents and their families.

WHAT: House HHS Policy Committee hearing on HF 90, a bill to strengthen the rights and protections of Minnesotans residing in assisted living facilities and nursing homes

WHO: Rep. Jen Schultz (DFL – Duluth) and Rep. Liz Olson, bill authors; Rep. Rena Moran (DFL – Saint Paul), Committee Chair; Commissioner Jan Malcolm, Minnesota Department of Health; Mary Jo George, Associate State Director for Advocacy, AARP Minnesota; Toby Pearson, Vice President of Advocacy, Care Providers of Minnesota; Kari Thurlow, Vice President of Advocacy, LeadingAge Minnesota Continue reading “Consumer-Focused Eldercare Reform Bill to Receive Public Hearing Tuesday”

House Transportation Finance & Policy Committee Invites Community to Feb. 22 Public Hearing

On Friday, February 22, the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee will hold a public hearing to discuss various transportation proposals impacting the St. Cloud region. Bipartisan legislation to extend the Northstar Commuter Rail to St. Cloud will be on the agenda.

“All Minnesotans deserve a multimodal transportation system that will help them stay connected to families and opportunities, no matter where they live in our state,” said Chair Frank Hornstein (DFL-Minneapolis). “We are working to make sure all transportation options are considered for each community’s unique needs, and want to hear from communities statewide about how we can help achieve that goal for families, students, and seniors.”

All members of the community are invited to attend the field hearing and provide public testimony.

What: An official field hearing of the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee

Who: House Transportation Committee Members

When: Friday, February 22, 12:00-3:00 p.m.

Where: St. Cloud City Hall, 400 2nd Street South, St. Cloud, MN 56301

Individuals and groups that wish to provide testimony to the committee may do so by contacting John Howe at john.howe@house.mn.

House DFL Majority Releases New Episode of Minnesota Values Podcast

House DFLers today released a new episode of the Minnesota Values Podcast. Co-hosts Jamie Long and Liz Olson interview Rep. Kelly Moller of Shoreview about HF 10.

Click here to listen to the new episode on SoundCloud.

About the Minnesota Values Podcast

The Minnesota Values Podcast is a new show that takes you behind the scenes at the State Capitol for a conversation about how House DFLers are putting Minnesotans’ values into action. Co-hosts Jamie Long of Minneapolis and Liz Olson of Duluth will bring you new episodes on a recurring basis throughout session. Subscribe and listen on iTunes, Stitcher, or at soundcloud.com/mnValuesPod.

Speaker Hortman on Quickly Passing Legislation to Access Help America Vote Funds

Yesterday, Speaker Hortman gave the attached letter to Senator Gazelka outlining the House’s interest in quickly passing legislation to allow the Secretary of State to access the full amount of federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds available.

View the letter below:

Senate DFL Week in Review: February 14, 2019


Minnesota Senate abuzz with events and committee hearings

It was another busy week in the Senate with several press conferences, including the announcement of the Increase Teachers of Color Act and African American Family Preservation Act, a joint Senate and House press conference on Chronic Wasting Disease, one on public safety, and another on college affordability. Other topics covered in press conferences held this week include protecting net neutrality, a ban on conversion therapy, and a memorial in honor of the one-year anniversary of the Parkland school shooting. Legislative leaders and Governor Tim Walz also laid out a new set of deadlines that they say will help in achieving an orderly end to the legislative session.

With the first committee deadline only four weeks away, committee schedules ramped up and heard more high-profile bills such as opioid reforms, elderly abuse, school safety, and firefighter PTSD legislation. The Office of Legislative Auditor also released their MNLARS report this week.

One of the main jobs of the 2019 session is passing a two-year budget. Gov. Walz is expected to announce his budget proposal on Feb. 19 and lawmakers will receive the February budget forecast on Feb. 28. This information will frame the basis of formulating the state’s two-year budget. Continue reading “Senate DFL Week in Review: February 14, 2019”

Minnesota House of Representatives to host Sovereignty Day, hear presentations from tribal leaders

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — The Minnesota House of Representatives will hold Sovereignty Day at the Capitol on Monday, February 18, 2019. Sovereignty Day at the Capitol is an educational event for members of the Minnesota House of Representatives that will include tribal history and culture, sovereignty, and the interplay between federal, state, and tribal law. This event will include the leaders of the eleven federally-recognized sovereign nations in Minnesota and Minnesota House members. A portion of the gallery will open to the public on this day as well as a public viewing room in Capitol 120.

Members of the press will be allowed in the House Gallery (West Section) and the chamber alcoves. Video cameras are only allowed in the gallery. Interview requests for tribal leaders can be requested through the respective tribes.

WHO:  Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives, Minnesota’s tribal nations, Lieutenant
WHAT:  Sovereignty Day at the Capitol
WHERE:  Minnesota House of Representatives – House Chamber; Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55155
WHEN:  9:00 am – 4:30 pm, Monday, February 18, 2019.

Agenda

9:00 am – 9:10 am — Gavel in Session, Recess, Pledge, Prayer

9:10 am-9:40 am — Drum Group, Flag procession, Convocation

9:40 am – 10:10 am — Welcome & Introductions from Tribal Leaders

10:10 am – 12:00 pm — Presentations

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm — Lunch

1:30 pm – 2:00 pm — Presentation/Q & A from Members

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm — Tribal Leaders Panel

Discussion of issues of interest to the tribal nations, pending legislation, government to government relations, working with the legislature, sovereignty

3:00 pm – 3:15 pm — Drum closing and final remarks

3:15 pm – 3:30 pm — Closing and Gavel out Session

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm — Reception in Capitol Vault Room (tunnel level of Capitol)

Growing effort to restore felons’ right to vote moves ahead in House

 

Credit: Minnesota House Photography file photo

Rob Stewart is a married father of one — with another child on the way — who’s busy working toward a doctorate degree at the University of Minnesota.

He’s also a convicted felon who served a two-year prison sentence, and then completed probation upon his release, stemming from a conviction for drug possession.

On Wednesday, Stewart was among a widening coalition of Minnesotans pushing to automatically restore voting rights for felons once they’re released from prison. It’s a push that has gained momentum and high-profile supporters this legislative session, with statewide officials like Gov. Tim Walz and Secretary of State Steve Simon saying they back it.

View the complete February 13 article by Jonathan Avise on the Minnesota House of Representatives website here.