Volume 5, Issue 2     —     January 18, 2019

A weekly message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

The second week of the 2019 session kicked off with a legislative press forum with Governor Walz and the four leaders from the Senate and House. There were also a number of press conferences on issues ranging from distracted driving, how the state is dealing with the federal shutdown, and legalizing recreational marijuana use.

I am working on legislation that considers developing a framework to legalize adult use cannabis, and I welcome your thoughts on this topic. It is an issue that touches many areas of government, and if Minnesota is to follow the path of other states who have legalized its use, it is imperative that we are thoughtful, transparent, and responsible with implementation.

Committees also kicked into gear with a busy week of overviews and a few early bill hearings. Some of the topics under discussion this week include HHS fraud prevention investigations, disability waivers, energy storage, education budgets, a farm and agriculture overview, a hearing on disease affecting our deer population, prison sentencing modifications, and an overview on our November budget forecast.

Governor Walz and all four legislative caucuses expressed their commitment to pass some non-controversial bills early in the session, so legislative action is expected to ramp up in the coming weeks.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

Melisa

Bipartisan ‘Hands-Free’ cell phone legislation introduced

Minnesota is one step closer to safer roads thanks to legislation introduced this week prohibiting cell phone use outside of one-touch communications. Modeled after laws present in 16 states and Washington D.C. the ‘hands-free’ cell phone bill would increase safety on Minnesota’s roads for drivers, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

While current law already bans emailing, texting, and using a web browser while driving, this bill would require drivers to use their cell phones in a ‘hands-free’ mode only allowing voice activated commands or other actions that need one touch activation. A driver would not be required to use their phone or other device hands free if they are safely parked out of traffic or for emergencies. The bill would enact the same enforcement and penalties for using a cell phone outside of ‘hands-free’ mode.

Walz Administration plans for shut-down consequences

Governor Walz, Lt. Governor Flanagan, Attorney General Ellison, members from both parties, and leaders from the Minnesota faith community held a press conference this week regarding the federal shutdown and its effects on Minnesotans. Various leaders expressed sentiments of solidarity, and sought to reassure the public that despite difficulties, Minnesotans would feel minimal impacts from the longest federal government shutdown in the nation’s history. Governor Walz and his administration informed Minnesotans that this issue is an urgent, non-partisan priority for the state government.

Minnesota receives approximately $1 billion each month from the federal government across a variety of industries. Within the state government, there are about 3,000 state workers who are payed completely or partially by federal dollars. However, there have been no layoffs, benefits are still being paid, and no services have been stopped at this time. Recipients of food aid in Minnesota receive on average $110 per month, a number which several religious leaders stressed was insufficient.

Opposing marijuana press conferences get heated

One high-level issue at the 2019-20 legislative session is reforming Minnesota’s laws on marijuana, including the potential for decriminalization or full legalization. Two competing press conferences were held this week – one to oppose and one to support legalization.

The first press conference, held by Smart Approaches to Marijuana Minnesota, opposes the further decriminalization and legalization of marijuana. The group has a wide range of professional and community service backgrounds and featured comments from health professionals and members of law enforcement who have economic, safety, and health concerns of commercialized marijuana use.

The second press conference, held by the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), has taken a position that with regulation marijuana legalization can be a major positive for Minnesota and is currently working with legislators in both the Senate and the House on crafting legislation that legalizes recreational marijuana use. Another pro-marijuana organization, Minnesota Campaign for Full Legalization, held its own news conference, which attempted to further counter many of the claims made by opponents.

U of M, Minn State outline budget requests for Higher Education Committee

The University of Minnesota and Minn State this week outlined their biennial budget requests at the first meeting of the Higher Education Committee of the session.

Higher education funding has taken budget hits over the past few years. Last session the committee saw $1 million re-appropriated from other programs and zero additional funding for the U of M. Minn State has fared better but still has made budget cuts due to insufficient funding.

Minn State is requesting $246 million for the coming biennium which is a 17% increase. Minn State is promising a tuition freeze if it receives this funding:

• $37 million for an ISRS Next Gen technology infrastructure project
• $169 million for quality programming and to cover 3% inflationary costs
• $25 million in targeted financial support
• $15 million to address workforce gaps

The University of Minnesota is requesting an additional $87 million, which is a 7% increase. The U of M is hoping to limit tuition increases to 2%. The additional funding would go to staff salary increases, student financial support through the U’s core mission, and enhancing student services such as mental health services and classroom upgrades. The U of M is not promising a tuition freeze this session.

The U of M and Minn State will likely also ask for capital improvement money this session.