January 28, 2021
Dear Neighbors,
The legislative session is now well underway. Committees have begun to hear bills, the Governor unveiled his budget proposal, and conversations about what will (or won’t) get done this year are beginning to take shape. We know that significant challenges lie ahead, but I am committed to representing your voice and our shared values in St. Paul.
Legislative Work Continues
The committees that I serve on (Health and Human Services Finance & Policy, Human Services Reform Finance & Policy, and Technology & Reform) are meeting regularly, and have heard some bills, as well. Human Services Reform recently heard S.F. 119, authored by Sen. Bobby Joe Champion of Minneapolis, which would remove barriers for reformed offenders seeking employment. Health and Human Services also discussed S.F. 193, authored by Senator Michelle Benson of Ham Lake, which would add Minnesota to the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, and provide greater access to licensed psychologists across state lines. We also heard presentations on the Governor’s proposed budget.
Committee deadlines for the legislature were also announced:
- First Deadline is March 12 – when all policy bills must be through all policy committees in either the Senate or House of Representatives.
- Second Deadline is March 19 – when all policy bills must be through all policy committees in both the Senate and the House of Representatives
- Third Deadline is April 9 – when all budget bills must be referred to the Senate Finance Committee
Committee deadlines are put in place to attempt to limit last minute rushes of bills that have not been properly vetted by the legislature or the public.
Clean Car Rules Hearings
Senate Republicans held two hearings last week to once again discuss Governor Walz’s proposed Clean Cars rules, despite having held hearings on the topic within the past year. Both focused on a key climate change initiative to adopt California’s stricter car emissions standards.
Proposed by the governor in September 2019, the initiative involves the state’s adoption of stronger low emission vehicle (LEV) standards and zero emission vehicle (ZEV) standards, following the lead of 14 other states and the District of Columbia. The proposal would require manufacturers to deliver more vehicles to the Minnesota market that produce lower greenhouse gas emissions and more vehicles with ultra-low or zero tailpipe emissions. As of January 2019, only 19 of the approximately 43 electric vehicle models available in the United States were available for sale in Minnesota, so implementing the rules would open up the electric vehicle market for Minnesotans interested in purchasing one.
During the hearing, the MN Pollution Control Agency was able to clarify some of the misinformation currently being circulated by some parties about the rules, including a claim recently published in an editorial by a Republican legislator that the new rule would block the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines by the year 2035 – a claim that is false. Additionally, under the proposed rules, no one would be required to give up their current vehicle, nor would they be required to submit to emissions inspections or purchase an electric vehicle, and Minnesotans would still be allowed to purchase a pick-up truck or other SUV if they choose to do so.
Governor’s Budget Proposal
Governor Walz released his budget proposal on Tuesday. I agree that now is the time to support Minnesotans who have been hit the hardest by the pandemic and to prioritize helping those Minnesotans by “supporting working families, ensuring our students catch up on learning and helping small businesses stay afloat while driving economic recovery.” Key components of the Governor’s budget include:
- $745 million in new funding for E-12 education
- $50 million in forgivable loans for small businesses
- Additional one-time payments from the MN Family Investment Program, benefiting more than 32,000 Minnesota families, including 64,000 children
- Expansion of Minnesota’s Working Family Tax Credit for over 300,000 households
Importantly, Gov. Walz’s proposal would cut taxes for Minnesotans with the lowest income, and only raise them on literal millionaires, and the largest, most profitable corporations, who have seen record profits during the pandemic. I will continue working with the Governor, and my legislative colleagues on making sure that our budget is balanced in a way that is fair and supports our neighbors.
Looking forward, I will be meeting with other legislators from Hennepin County to discuss the County’s priorities for the session, continuing my work on the Blue Ribbon Commission on Information Technology, and meeting with constituents with the Second Chance Coalition. I hope you’ll continue to keep in touch if you have any questions or concerns you’d like to share!
Regards,
Melissa