WEEK Ten: Friday, Mar. 15
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
It was a long week at the Legislature especially due to the fact the first deadlines were Friday. Many hearings ran long as we did our best to give important bills time to be discussed and considered for potential advancement. After this week, we will know which bills will move forward or have stopped moving for the year. Just because we didn’t make a deadline doesn’t mean the bill stops. There will be more opportunities to have amendment discussions and to search for other vehicles to move our bills. Below is a link to see what I’ve been working on thus far.
You are always welcome to give me feedback and let me know what matters to you. I hope this information is useful to you, stay safe and warm out there and expect another update next week.
Senate advances bill to provide mental health counseling for farmers
A bill that re-appropriates $70,000 for mental health counseling to support farm families and business operators passed the Senate Finance Committee this week. Approximately $40,000 will be used to provide additional mental health counseling, and $30,000 will be used to provide marketing and coordinate outreach. In comparison, the House has more expansive bill that re-appropriates $100,000 to address similar areas of concern. (SF 251)
Reinsurance program passes off Senate floor
Senator Hoffman’s Statements from the Floor
Minnesota passed a program in 2017 to lower the cost of health care premiums for plans offered on the individual health insurance market. The bill allocated $542 million to insurance companies to help mitigate the risk of high-cost claims. It was a two-year program set to expire this year. (SF 761)
Committee addresses unintended effects of Legislature’s response to great recession
The Legislature, in response to the 2007 foreclosure crisis, prohibited prepayment penalties on subprime loans and defined subprime in statute. (SF 1673)
Teacher license changes would bring more quality teachers into Minnesota classrooms
Studies show that the best way to make sure students succeed in school is to make sure they have well-qualified teachers in their classrooms. A bill heard this week in the E-12 Education Committee would make sure that happens in Minnesota. (SF 1557)
Bill expands outdoor sports and firearms safety in physical education classes
The Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee advanced a bill this week that would establish a grant program to increase archery, trap shooting, hunting, angling, and firearms safety training in physical education classes taught in Minnesota school districts. A primary purpose of the bill is to help get kids off their screens and into the outdoors. The intent is to encourage young people to develop a love for the outdoors and outdoor sports that can last a lifetime. (SF 793)
Funding for Chronic Wasting Disease advances
A bill to spend $4.57 million over the next two years to combat Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was heard in the Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee and forwarded to the full Senate Finance Committee this week. The bill funds the DNR for wildlife disease surveillance and emergency response to combat this contagious and degenerative brain disease that affects deer, elk, moose, and other similar animals. Of the total amount, about $1 million would go toward enforcement response to escaped animals from elk and deer farms. (SF 1729)
Drainage law changes, buffer conflict resolution process forwarded this week
Legislation heard in the Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance Committee advanced this week and addresses drainage systems and buffer issues. (SF 1945, SF 1551)
Medical Assistance and SNAP restrictions would let more Minnesotans slip through the cracks
Senate Republicans are moving legislation that will result in fewer Minnesotans having access to the medical care and food support they need. Two bills that reintroduce asset tests and put up new barriers to access in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and medical assistance program were heard in the Human Services Reform Committee this week. (SF 975, SF 1764)
20-week abortion ban may put more Minnesotans at risk
Legislation heard this week would ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy in the state of Minnesota. Although abortions that occur later in pregnancy account for only about 1% of abortions nationwide, this percentage represents patients who still deserve the right to care that best fits their health needs. (SF 1609)
OLA report finds no evidence of link between childcare fraud and terrorism
The Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) released its report this week regarding fraud in Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). The report responds to accusations voiced in a Fox 9 News article last year, which claimed that daycare providers in Minnesota’s childcare system were defrauding the state for $100 million by illegally collecting CCAP subsidies for far more children than they were actually caring for or, in some cases, at facilities that supposedly cared for no children at all. Fox 9 based its article on the claims of a former Department of Human Services (DHS) investigator, who also alleged that some of the stolen money was being sent out of Minnesota to fund terrorist organizations abroad, specifically targeting Somali immigrant communities – despite a lack of direct evidence to support such a connection.
The report can be found here: https://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/sreview/ccap.pdf
College Promise would give more students a chance at higher education
A bill heard this week in the Higher Education Committee would provide two years of free college tuition to middle-income Minnesota students, boost college enrollment and encourage students to finish their degrees. Another bill heard creates a community and technical college grant program for Minnesota residents enrolled in a community or technical college to pay for tuition and fees. This program would phase-in the percentage paid until 100 percent implementation in 10 years. (SF 1308, SF 956)
Bill to legalize recreational Cannabis heard
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard a bill this week that would create a system to legalize, sell, and regulate the use of recreational cannabis. (SF 619)
Preemption makes another appearance at the Senate
A bill heard in the Committee on Local Government this week would strip local governments of their power to pass progressive labor benefit policies. While the proposal, known as ‘preemption’, created quite a bit of controversy last biennium, the bill has returned this session; once again, it has received a mixed welcome. (SF 2321)
Family mediation task force established
A bill was heard this week that would create a family law mediation task force to advise and inform the Legislature on the impact of conflict on children during the marital dissolution process and includes recommendations on how to implement conflict resolution procedures. The taskforce would consist of 13 members appointed by the four legislative caucus leaders and representatives from various health and human services stakeholder associations. The report must include recommendations for conflict resolution practices, model standards for programs of practice for family law mediation, and at least two mediation pilot projects. (SF 1829)
Punishing state agencies for tight labor market
A bill was heard this week to require the commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) to determine the number of full-time-equivalent positions by all state agencies and prevent any state agency from adding employees based on that number in fiscal year 2020 and 2021. It would reduce any agency’s operating budget in the next biennium by the amount of salary and benefits left unspent if the agency is unable to fill a job vacancy after 180 days. This would apply to job postings and long-term vacancies during 2019-2021. (SF 2073)
Redistricting commission constitutional amendments considered
Two different proposed constitutional amendments were considered in the Senate State Government Committee this week to alter the redistricting process in Minnesota. The 2020 Census will provide the necessary population data to redraw congressional and legislative district lines to more equally represent where people live. It is also possible that Minnesota may lose one of its eight congressional seats due to higher population growth in other states, which would require more significant alterations to district lines. (SF 582, SF 2255)
Abolishment of daylight savings time considered
Legislation heard this week would put an end to daylight savings time and create perpetual standard time in Minnesota. This bill would eliminate the need to “spring forward” and “fall back” each year. (SF 1416)
Expanding tax relief for Minnesota seniors
The Minnesota Legislature approved a new tax subtraction for a portion of Social Security tax benefits in 2017. It is generally available to seniors earning less than $100,000 in provisional income (income plus one-half of Social Security benefits) and was meant to provide some tax relief to the state’s growing senior population. Beyond this new subtraction, a minimum of 15% of Social Security benefits are fully tax-exempt for all beneficiaries in Minnesota because the state aligns with federal tax treatment. More than half of Social Security recipients pay no taxes on their benefits. (SF 151)
Light rail operators held accountable
A bill was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee this week to subject light rail (LRT) operators to the reckless and careless driving provisions currently in statute, meaning an LRT driver would be guilty of a misdemeanor for reckless or careless driving. If an LRT drivers’ reckless or careless operation of a train causes great bodily harm or death, the driver would be guilty of a gross misdemeanor. (SF 1339)
Temporary prohibition of ditch mowing permits
The Senate Transportation Committee heard legislation this week that would extend the temporary prohibition on MnDOT issuing permits for ditch mowing by one year until April 30, 2020. This bill would allow current mowing and bailing practices to continue but would also provide stakeholders more time to create a new permitting system.(SF 1889)
Committee continues to find ways to honor state’s veterans
The Veterans Committee met this week to discuss a series of bills that would help those that have served the state and country. (SF 2079, SF 1922, SF 331)
A Video Update from Senator Hoffman
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.So come on down, reach out and tell me what matters to you so I can continue working on your behalf. You can reach me by email at sen.john.hoffman@senate.mn, phone by 651-296-4154 or just stop by. I am at 95 University Avenue Suite 2231 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