Tag: Minnesota House of Representatives

United Black Legislative Caucus to Host Event Honoring Black History Month

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – On Tuesday, February 26 the United Black Legislative Caucus will host a screening of the film The Rape of Recy Taylor at the Minnesota History Center. After the film, the Caucus will host a moderated discussion about Recy Taylor’s powerful story and the intersections of sexual assault, race and racism, and injustice that are still prevalent today.

What: Film Screening and moderated discussion with the United Black Legislative Caucus

When: Tuesday, February 26 from 6-8 p.m.

Where: Minnesota History Center, 345 West Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul, MN

Who:

  • Rep. Ruth Richardson
  • Rep. Hodan Hassan
  • Rep. Mohamud Noor
  • Rep. Rena Moran
  • Sen. Jeff Hayden and
  • Sen. Bobby Joe Champion

Tickets are free and available online here.

Legislators and advocates rally to support prenatal care and home visiting

SAINT PAUL, Minn.—Tomorrow, February 21, a bipartisan group of legislators will be joined by advocates from the health care industry, mental health organizations, early childhood coalitions, and supporters for a press conference to announce their support for prenatal care and home visiting programs.

What: Prenatal care and home visiting press conference

Who:

  • Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL—St. Paul), Early Childhood Finance and Policy Committee Chair
  • Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL—Eden Prairie), Early Childhood Finance and Policy Committee Vice Chair
  • Sen. Jerry Relph (R—St. Cloud), Family Care and Aging Committee Chair
  • Rep. Kristin Bahner (DFL—Maple Grove), bill author
  • Rep. Kelly Morrison (DFL—Deephaven), bill authors
  • Sen. Jim Abeler (R—Anoka), bill author
  • Professor Katy Kozhimannil, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
  • Tee McClenty, Northpoint Health & Welness Center
  • Pat Dale, Headway Emotional Health
  • Ann Mullholland, MinneMinds

When: Thursday, February 21 from 9:30 – 10:00 am

Where: Room B971, Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, MN 55155

Low-income Student Driver’s Education Bill Crosses First Hurdle

SAINT PAUL, MN – Today, Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL – Mendota Heights) presented legislation in the Education Policy Committee to expand access to driver’s education for low-income students between the ages of 15 and 19. The bill (H.F. 987) would allow school districts to pay a portion of the cost of enrollment on behalf of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch.

“There was a time when taking driver’s education was considered a rite of passage, and young drivers were often trained for free through the public school system. Today, a driver’s education course can cost around $400,” said Rep. Ruth Richardson. “Driver’s license fees are one of the hidden barriers that prevent low-income students from attaining their driver’s license, and the mobility and opportunities that come with it. This bill is about equal access to education, employment, housing, and services for all.”

In the 1970s, 95 percent of students received driver’s education as part of the public school curriculum. Today that number is just 15 percent. Continue reading “Low-income Student Driver’s Education Bill Crosses First Hurdle”

Statement from House DFL Leadership on Governor Walz’s Budget

Saint Paul, Minnesota — Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler released the following statements on the budget proposal released today by Governor Tim Walz:

“Minnesotans value providing world-class educational opportunities for all of our children, affordable and accessible health care, and greater economic security,” said Speaker Hortman. “Governor’s Walz’s budget reflects these Minnesota values, and we share these goals. We will review the details of the Governor’s budget and the February economic forecast, then we will begin to craft the House budget proposal over the next several weeks.”

“The Governor’s budget reflects the promises we made on the campaign trail, and what Minnesotans have told us they want,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “This is an honest budget, reflecting the reality that the Minnesota we want requires investment. It is a budget that invests in Minnesotans, no matter what they look like or where they come from. We applaud Governor Walz, and are excited to work on behalf of all of us.”

Consumer-Focused Eldercare Reform Bill to Receive Public Hearing Tuesday

A bill with strong protections against abuse, neglect, assault, and other maltreatment in Minnesota assisted living facilities and nursing homes authored by Rep. Jen Schultz (DFL – Duluth), House Long-Term Care Division Chair, and House Majority Whip Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth), will be considered in the House Health and Human Services Policy Committee on Tuesday. Many of the protections in the bill, HF 90, emerged last year from an Elder Abuse Consumer Workgroup convened by AARP Minnesota and crafted with the assistance of organizations such as Elder Voice Family Advocates and Legal Aid. The bill contains, among other items, licensing of assisted living facilities, the ability for a resident to have a camera in their living space, a prohibition on deceptive marketing practices, and clarification of the rights of residents and their families.

WHAT: House HHS Policy Committee hearing on HF 90, a bill to strengthen the rights and protections of Minnesotans residing in assisted living facilities and nursing homes

WHO: Rep. Jen Schultz (DFL – Duluth) and Rep. Liz Olson, bill authors; Rep. Rena Moran (DFL – Saint Paul), Committee Chair; Commissioner Jan Malcolm, Minnesota Department of Health; Mary Jo George, Associate State Director for Advocacy, AARP Minnesota; Toby Pearson, Vice President of Advocacy, Care Providers of Minnesota; Kari Thurlow, Vice President of Advocacy, LeadingAge Minnesota Continue reading “Consumer-Focused Eldercare Reform Bill to Receive Public Hearing Tuesday”

Minnesota House of Representatives to host Sovereignty Day, hear presentations from tribal leaders

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — The Minnesota House of Representatives will hold Sovereignty Day at the Capitol on Monday, February 18, 2019. Sovereignty Day at the Capitol is an educational event for members of the Minnesota House of Representatives that will include tribal history and culture, sovereignty, and the interplay between federal, state, and tribal law. This event will include the leaders of the eleven federally-recognized sovereign nations in Minnesota and Minnesota House members. A portion of the gallery will open to the public on this day as well as a public viewing room in Capitol 120.

Members of the press will be allowed in the House Gallery (West Section) and the chamber alcoves. Video cameras are only allowed in the gallery. Interview requests for tribal leaders can be requested through the respective tribes.

WHO:  Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives, Minnesota’s tribal nations, Lieutenant
WHAT:  Sovereignty Day at the Capitol
WHERE:  Minnesota House of Representatives – House Chamber; Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55155
WHEN:  9:00 am – 4:30 pm, Monday, February 18, 2019.

Agenda

9:00 am – 9:10 am — Gavel in Session, Recess, Pledge, Prayer

9:10 am-9:40 am — Drum Group, Flag procession, Convocation

9:40 am – 10:10 am — Welcome & Introductions from Tribal Leaders

10:10 am – 12:00 pm — Presentations

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm — Lunch

1:30 pm – 2:00 pm — Presentation/Q & A from Members

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm — Tribal Leaders Panel

Discussion of issues of interest to the tribal nations, pending legislation, government to government relations, working with the legislature, sovereignty

3:00 pm – 3:15 pm — Drum closing and final remarks

3:15 pm – 3:30 pm — Closing and Gavel out Session

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm — Reception in Capitol Vault Room (tunnel level of Capitol)

Growing effort to restore felons’ right to vote moves ahead in House

 

Credit: Minnesota House Photography file photo

Rob Stewart is a married father of one — with another child on the way — who’s busy working toward a doctorate degree at the University of Minnesota.

He’s also a convicted felon who served a two-year prison sentence, and then completed probation upon his release, stemming from a conviction for drug possession.

On Wednesday, Stewart was among a widening coalition of Minnesotans pushing to automatically restore voting rights for felons once they’re released from prison. It’s a push that has gained momentum and high-profile supporters this legislative session, with statewide officials like Gov. Tim Walz and Secretary of State Steve Simon saying they back it.

View the complete February 13 article by Jonathan Avise on the Minnesota House of Representatives website here.

Vaping could be kicked outside under proposed change to Clean Indoor Air Act

Clouds of vapor scented like gummy bears and crème brulee could be exiled from indoor spaces by a bill that would exclude the use of e-cigarettes wherever smoking is already banned.

HF349, sponsored by Rep. Laurie Halverson (DFL-Eagan), would modify the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act to include “activated electronic delivery devices” used for vaping under its definitions of “smoking” and include products derived from nicotine, tobacco, marijuana, other plants, and synthetics intended for inhalation.

The bill was approved, as amended, by the House Health and Human Services Policy Division Tuesday and re-referred to the House Commerce Committee. A companion, SF349, sponsored by Sen. Carla Nelson (R-Rochester), awaits action by the Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee.

View the complete February 12 article by Victoria Cooney on the Minnesota House of Representatives website here.

Rescheduled Minn. House Corrections Division hearing at MCF–Stillwater Wednesday

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota House Corrections Division informational hearing at the Minnesota Correctional Facility – Stillwater has been rescheduled for next Wednesday, Feb. 6. The panel, chaired by Rep. Jack Considine (DFL – Mankato) will hear testimony from stakeholders about concerns in state correctional facilities and the resources needed to address them to ensure everyone, personnel and offenders alike, are able to come home safely.

Extremely limited public seating is available to observe the hearing via livestream in the Warden’s House.

The Department of Corrections will provide a link to watch streaming video of the hearing here or here. Continue reading “Rescheduled Minn. House Corrections Division hearing at MCF–Stillwater Wednesday”