Dear Friends and Neighbors,
It has been a busy special session as our various omnibus bills are coming to agreement. Each day brings news of deals being finalized as we move forward.
For my part, the Health and Human Services bill is in final negotiations. Thus far it is agreed to (for now!) enhanced funding for a variety of services, including but not limited to:
- Substance Use Disorder treatment
- Disability Services
- PCA (Personal Care Assistant) Services
- CCAP (Child Care Assistance Program)
- Home Care Providers
- Expansion of Telehealth Services
I am absolutely proud of my colleagues for coming together to discuss these important issues and what needs to happen to increase our states accessibility and address the needs of our vulnerable populations. We may be able to finally stabilize our cares services with proper pay, affordably and efficiently reach people for various services through telehealth and help people beat substance use disorder. It has been a long road but I look forward to a final deal being reached for all of Minnesota.
Stay in touch and I’ll do what I can to keep you informed,
John
Energy
The budget for the Energy Committee was among those finalized this week, with significant improvements made to the legislation from when it was originally passed out of the Senate.
The general fund appropriations included that provide funding for projects such as closed captioning services for legislative coverage, settling a state obligation that will allow solar to be placed on the closed Anoka-Ramsey Landfill, establishing an Energy Transition Office to support communities and workers impacted by closed energy facilities, and establishing the Natural Gas Innovation Act.
In addition to the general fund appropriations, the bill also includes spending from the Renewable Development Account for projects that promote the startup, expansion, and attraction of renewable energy projects and companies. Because these projects are supposed to be located within Xcel Energy service territory, the agreement included additional general fund spending for certain projects to ensure they would be available to Minnesotans and communities across the entire state.
Included among these projects:
- Funding for solar projects at schools and state colleges and universities. Forty percent of the funding for schools located within Xcel Energy service territory is prioritized for those schools that provide free and reduced-price lunch for 50% or more of their students
- A pilot project in North Minneapolis that would establish a clean energy career training center to provide training pathways into the clean energy job sector for students and young adults in underserved communities
- A revolving loan account for conservation improvements to state-owned buildings
- Two studies: one to examine the environmental impacts of certain construction materials and the economic feasibility of prioritizing their use in state buildings, and one that generates weather model projections for the entire state for agricultural purposes
- Research funding for the University of St. Thomas for expanding microgrid testing and hands-on educational opportunities to university students and students of partnering community colleges
- Funding for the University of Minnesota for research and development of energy storage systems that utilize ammonia from renewable energy sources and other sources of clean energy.
The bill also includes several policy changes that were among DFL priorities, including an extension of the Cold Weather Rule period by several weeks, to cover October 1 through April 30, and a framework known as the Minnesota efficient technology accelerator that would enable certain nonprofits to work with businesses and utilities to accelerate the adoption of emerging efficient technologies.
At the time this was written, the Senate had debated several of the key provisions within the bill, with DFLers taking the opportunity to highlight how much work is left to be done to ensure a clean energy future for Minnesotans. The House is anticipated to pass the legislation late in the week, and it will then need to be sent to the Senate for the body’s approval before it is able to become law. (HF 6/SF 19)
Higher Education
Senator Hoffman speaks to a provision in the Higher Education bill brought by his daughter, Hope. This provision directs MN State to continue expanding their credit for prior learning system while increasing its accessibility and pro-actively informing students of its availability.
Higher education agreement provides more system funding, program aid for students
The Higher Education Funding and Policy Agreement provides a 50% funding increase over the original Senate budget bill passed in May.
The working group agreement target of $100 million provides funding to the University of Minnesota and MinnState systems, the state grant program, Hunger Free Campus appropriation, money to recruit more students of color into teaching, and a new program to provide higher education opportunities for children who have been in foster care. (SF 18)
Other highlights include:
- Increased state grant funds will help more students.
- The Assigned Family Responsibility (AFR) and Living and Miscellaneous Expenses (LME) percentages changes will also provide additional state grants dollars to more students and result in higher grant awards for low-income students and their families.
These changes will have the following impact:
- 2,782 new student grant recipients
- Average grant increase: $87
- 46% of new students will be from families with incomes below $40,000
- Average grant for these students: $67
- MinnState cannot increase tuition by more than 3.5% in the next two academic years. MinnState administration has agreed to this provision.
- College Possible program will receive increased funding to expand its reach in Minnesota.
- Z-degree textbook program gets a boost to help students afford college educational materials.
- A new grant program will provide funds for foster care students to afford college tuition.
- Hunger Free Campus designation and grant programs will help students who face emergencies stay on track and in college.
- Two grant programs and a new scholarship program will help bring more students of color into teacher prep programs and Minnesota classrooms.
Finally, the University of Minnesota and MinnState received increased appropriations to fund programs for students. The increases were substantial compared to what the Senate Republicans had proposed in the original bill. Even though the funding increased, Minnesota remains far behind its statutory commitment to fund two-thirds of higher education costs and students one-third.
Thank You!
It is my greatest honor to represent you the citizens of Brooklyn Park, Champlin and Coon Rapids here at our great state capitol. In addition to representing you, I absolutely enjoy it when you come visit. You must schedule with our office to arrange an appointment before any arrival, and we also do Zoom meetings! So reach out and tell me what matters to you or schedule an appointment so I can continue working on your behalf. You can reach me by email at sen.john.hoffman@senate.mn or by phone at 651-296-4154. I am at 95 University Avenue Suite 2235 in the Minnesota Senate Building.
Sincerely,
Senator John Hoffman
If you have any questions or concerns feel free to call my office at 651-296-4154 or by e-mail at jhoffman@senate.mn
Environment
Legacy Finance Omnibus Bill agreement positioned to pass the Legislature
An agreement reached among the Legacy Finance Committee leadership brought the bill one step closer to becoming law this week. If passed, the legislation would appropriate funds from the four ‘legacy’ funds that were established by Constitutional Amendment approved by Minnesota voters in 2008. The four funds – the Outdoor Heritage Fund, the Clean Water Fund, the Parks and Trails Fund, and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund – were established to provide ongoing support to projects across the state that protect and enhance water quality, provide access to the arts, preserve Minnesota’s rich history and cultural heritage, and maintain our parks and trails.
The legislation is typically noncontroversial and is widely celebrated for the deep investments it makes in projects and heritage that reflect Minnesota’s values for protecting and enhancing our environment and outdoor recreation as well as the rich culture and history that makes our state such a special place. This year’s bill is no different – it contains the recommendations from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council; provides equitable funding for state parks, Greater Minnesota regional parks, and metro parks; largely includes the recommendations from the Clean Water Council; and provides sizeable investments in many different arts and history projects, including $5 million in competitive grants for community identity and heritage programs.
The House is expected to take up the Legacy bill late in the week and, once passed, will send it to the Senate for a chamber vote. If approved by both bodies, it will be sent to the governor for his signature. (HF 13)
Agriculture
The 2021 Agriculture Omnibus Budget Bill this week saw vast improvements.
The pandemic has been difficult for everyone across the state, but especially so for our farmers. The state’s meat processing plants struggled as workers contracted COVID-19 and plants had to be closed for cleaning and quarantine, leaving farmers with nowhere to send their animals to be processed. Financial problems cropped up with the economic downturn, and the mental health of farmers suffered even more – all this on top of trade wars, global competition, and the other challenges our farmers face every day.
The bill has provisions allowing us to invest in mental health resources for farmers, biofuels, emerging farmers, and urban agriculture, and more.
The bill moved forward this week and Senate DFLers will continue to fight for Minnesota’s farmers as we head into negotiations and work to pass a budget during special session. (SF 25)
Commerce
Commerce budget focused on consumer protection.
Among the most impactful is a new Student Loan Borrowers Bill of Rights. The new law will require loan services to obtain a license to lend in Minnesota and imposes several requirements on them, including:
- Requires timely responses to borrowers’ written communication
- Requires servicers to apply overpayments as instructed by the borrower
- Requires servicers to apply partial payments in a way that minimizes late fees and the negative impact on the borrower’s credit history
- Requires servicers to evaluate borrowers for income-driven repayment program eligibility before placing them in forbearance or default
- Prohibits servicers from engaging in unfair or deceptive practices; from attempting to mislead a borrower; from knowingly misapplying payments; from providing inaccurate information to a consumer reporting agency
- Allows the Commerce Commissioner to examine student loan servicers as necessary and take action against a licensee, including barring a person from servicing loans
- Applied student loan contracts executed on or after Aug. 1, 2021
The bill also provides the Department of Commerce authority to enforce current laws surrounding children’s toys containing toxic chemicals. Currently, the Department receives many complaints about this matter but has no real authority to enforce corrective action. There also will be a new Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention Pilot Program in Minnesota, providing funding to targeted areas to mark cars’ catalytic converters with unique identification numbers to deter thieves.
The bill still contains a problematic new barrier to requiring health insurance companies to cover certain treatments or conditions. However, the agreement no longer contains an expensive, short-sighted reinsurance extension that would have cost taxpayers at least another $150 million without any guarantee of meaningful health care reform. The federal American Rescue Plan will make insurance premiums more affordable for individuals purchasing on the open market this year, and DFLers remain committed to prioritizing long-term health care reforms in the future.
At the time of this writing, the Senate had debated the bill and continues to wait for the House of Representatives to officially send the bill for final passage. It is expected to be signed by the governor once House Republicans allow work to progress. (HF 6/SF 19)
Information and Resources
State Government
Governor
651.201.3400 | http://mn.gov/governor
Attorney General
651.296.3353 | www.ag.state.mn.us
Representative Melissa Hortman (36B)
651.296.4280
Representative Zack Stephenson (36A)
651.296.5513
Driver’s Licenses
651.297.3298 | drivers-license-information.aspx
MN Energy Assistance Program
800.657.3710
https://mn.gov/commerce/eap.jsp
Election Information
651.215.1440 | https://www.sos.state.mn.us/
Emerald Ash Borer Prevention
and Detection
(MN Dept. of Agriculture)
pestmanagement/eab/eabbiocontrol
651.201.6684
Local Government
City of Champlin 763.421.8100
City of Brooklyn Park 763.424.8000
City of Coon Rapids 763.755.2880
Anoka County 763.421.4760
Federal Government
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
612.727.5220 | https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/
U.S. Senator Tina Smith
202.224-5641 | https://www.smith.senate.gov/HomePage
U.S. Congressman Dean Phillips (3rd CD)
202.225.2871 | https://phillips.house.gov/