WEEK IN REVIEW
A look back at what happened in the Minnesota House of Representatives the final week of the 2020 session
The 2020 regular legislative session came to an end in the early hours of May 18 as the House and Senate each adjourned sine die.
But lawmakers are far from finished with their work, as bonding, additional funding to battle COVID-19 and taxes are major issues that remain unresolved. There is already talk of a June special session and legislative leaders will be back at work Tuesday, when the recently formed Select Committee on Minnesota’s Pandemic Response and Rebuilding has a 12:30 p.m. meeting scheduled.
What happens next is anyone’s guess, but here’s what happened over the last week of the session.
Check out the latest gallery from House Photography and stay up-to-date on House news and updates throughout the week at Session Daily.
AGRICULTURE
House gives farmers, lenders more time to prevent foreclosures, repos
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15323
Omnibus supplemental agriculture finance bill receives unanimous House approval
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15322
House passes omnibus agriculture policy bill
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15312
BONDING
$2 billion bonding bill falls six votes short in House
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15331
$2 billion bonding bill headed for House Floor vote
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15311
CIVIL LAW
House unanimously passes omnibus judiciary civil policy bill
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15321
Banks and credit unions could have more tools to protect vulnerable adults
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15320
House gives OK to changes in harassment laws deemed unconstitutional
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15314
EDUCATION
House passes omnibus education policy bill that includes anti-vaping measures
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15340
EMPLOYMENT
House passes bill allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to operate amusement rides
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15325
ENERGY
Fluorescents are out and LEDs in, if House-approved bill becomes law
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15335
Solar power, net zero goal part of omnibus energy package that passes House
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15330
Cleaner, cheaper energy the aim of energy package passed in House
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15309
Pared down Renewable Development Account bill headed to floor
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15306
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Wide-ranging environment policy, spending bill passed by House
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15336
More than $100m OK’d for conservation projects in omnibus legacy bill
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15329
Minneapolis neighborhood takes fight with city to Legislature
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15326
Minnesota a signature away from becoming first state to ban TCE
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15319
Revised Legacy bill heads to House floor
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15310
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
House passes omnibus health care bill, sends it back to Senate
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15333
House OK’s amended COVID-19 Minnesota Fund deadline extension
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15313
HIGHER EDUCATION
Omnibus higher education policy bill heads to governor
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15337
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Cities and counties could receive part of more than $600 million in COVID relief
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15324
PUBLIC SAFETY
‘Modest’ public safety, corrections policy bill OK’d in House
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15338
Early release, more rape kit testing part of $22 million public safety bill OK’d in House
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15332
Ways and means committee adds appropriation amounts to public safety COVID-19 bill
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15318
Limitations on drone use, electronic warrants by law enforcement clear House
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15317
House gives OK to bill mandating how cops conduct photo lineups
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15315
STATE GOVERNMENT
Socially distant but emotionally resonant — retirement speeches highlight friendships, look to future
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15342
As session ends, Legislature leaves much unresolved — but leaders say that could yet change
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15341
House approves adding hair provisions to definition of race in Human Rights Act
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15328
State grant extension due to COVID-19 gets passed by House
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15327
Select committee formed to continue work on pandemic response following session
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15316
Pay raises are part of state employee contracts passed by a divided House
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15308
The year the House was tied, and how the two parties made peace … until they didn’t
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15307
TRANSPORTATION
Soon-to-expire MN driver’s licenses get reprieve under transportation package headed to governor
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15334