Tag: Minnesota House

New Legislation to Expand and Improve Hate Crime Reporting Advances in the House

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA –Legislation to expand and improve reporting of hate crimes has advanced out to the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Division. The bill requires updated training for peace officers on crimes motivated by bias and directs the Minnesota Department of Human Rights to consult with the Board of Peace Officer Standards on proposed improvements.

Representative Frank Hornstein (DFL-Minneapolis), the chief author of the bill, released the following statement:

“This important measure will raise awareness of the urgent need to update our hate crime statutes,” said Rep. Hornstein. “It gives law enforcement and communities the tools they need to address this mounting concern. All Minnesotans deserve to feel safe. Our communities should expect no less.” Continue reading “New Legislation to Expand and Improve Hate Crime Reporting Advances in the House”

DFL Party Responds to Daudt’s Promise to Block Bonding Bill

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, Republican House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt declared his intention to block a bonding bill, leaving thousands of Minnesotans out of work, until the state of emergency ends in Minnesota.

Daudt’s declaration comes despite the fact that 76% of the American people support a continuation of the Stay at Home Orders that top medical experts say have saved countless lives nationwide. It also comes despite the fact that over one million Americans have contracted COVID-19 and almost 70,000 have lost their lives in the span of a few short months.

Ken Martin, Chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party released the following statement in response to Minority Leader Kurt Daudt’s promise to block a bonding bill: Continue reading “DFL Party Responds to Daudt’s Promise to Block Bonding Bill”

Minnesota House Week in Review: April 27 to May 1

WEEK IN REVIEW

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A look back at what happened in the Minnesota House of Representatives the week of April 27- May 1

Monday will mark two weeks until the 2020 legislative session must constitutionally come to an end – the first Monday after the third Sunday in May. This year that’s May 18.

What will happen between now and then is even less predictable than usual given the unprecedented circumstances, but the House will certainly be busy if next week’s schedule is any indication. Continue reading “Minnesota House Week in Review: April 27 to May 1”

Top House DFL COVID-19 Priority Bills Advance to House Floor

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the House Ways and Means Committee met remotely to approve top House DFL COVID-19 priority bills. The measures will now be sent to the House floor for debate. Earlier this week, House and Senate DFLers released their economic security agenda to assist Minnesotans during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the future.

House File 4541 , authored by Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL – St. Paul) allocates $100 million to assure thousands of Minnesotans can pay their rent. The funding goes directly to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA). Qualified homeowners will also receive help paying their mortgages, utility bills and property taxes.  The House proposal has broad support, ranging from the Homes for All Coalition, representing 250 Minnesota housing organizations, to the Minnesota Multi-Housing Association, which represents property management companies throughout the state. Continue reading “Top House DFL COVID-19 Priority Bills Advance to House Floor”

House Higher Education Committee Receives Overview on COVID-19’s Impacts on MN Colleges and Universities

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA –Today, the Minnesota House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee held an informational hearing to discuss COVID-19’s impact on Minnesota public and private colleges and universities. Committee members heard testimony from the University of Minnesota, MinnState, and Gustavus Adolphus College.

“The fall-out of COVID-19 is presenting significant challenges for our private and public colleges and universities,” remarked Chair Connie Bernardy (DFL-New Brighton). “Students who have been impacted by the pandemic are our number one priority and they need and deserve our support to stay academically whole. The House will continue to work on strategies and solutions to protect Minnesotans working toward their degree.

As of April 13, MinnState estimates the total direct impact of additional expenses and lost revenues range from $35-40 million for the remainder of the fiscal year. Despite this, the system says the are well-equipped to meet the educational needs of students this summer and fall. Continue reading “House Higher Education Committee Receives Overview on COVID-19’s Impacts on MN Colleges and Universities”

House HHS Finance Division approves wage increase for PCAs, discusses $500 one-time payment for MFIP recipients

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The House Health and Human Services Finance Division Monday discussed two key pieces of legislation to address how the COVID-19 pandemic impacts vulnerable Minnesotans. The first, HF 168 authored by Rep. Jen Schultz (DFL – Duluth), delivers a 15 percent temporary rate increase for personal care assistance (PCA) services during the COVID-19 pandemic and makes other program modifications.

“Minnesotans with disabilities and the elderly are among those most impacted by our current pandemic, and they deserve to receive quality care and services,” said Rep. Schultz. “PCAs provide critical, but challenging services, and with low wages and benefits, it’s extremely difficult to recruit and retain qualified, dedicated individuals to these positions. By boosting wages in our emergency situation, we can help ensure all Minnesotans can be safe, healthy, and live with dignity.”

In addition to the 15 percent rate increase, PCAs can now be paid for 310 hours of services per month, up from 275. The bill allows parents or legal guardians of a minor PCA recipient or a spouse of a PCA recipient to earn wages for providing PCA services during the peacetime emergency. Continue reading “House HHS Finance Division approves wage increase for PCAs, discusses $500 one-time payment for MFIP recipients”

Week in Review: April 20-24

A look back at what happened in the Minnesota House of Representatives the week of April 20-24

Although there was no floor session this week, House members still spent a lot of time together, remotely, as more than a dozen “virtual” meetings were held.

In addition to debating a number of bills related to the COVID-19 outbreak – including measures to address housing assistance, small-business loans, mail-in voting, virus testing and tax implications – the House also tackled subjects such as energy efficiency, veterans’ issues and child care assistance.

The week to come is already shaping up to be another busy one, beginning Monday when the House Ways and Means Committee has a morning meeting scheduled, one of five that day, to debate three bills and receive an update on federal funding to help combat the pandemic. Continue reading “Week in Review: April 20-24”

House HHS Finance Division receives overview of COVID-19 testing breakthrough

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the Minnesota House Health and Human Services Finance Division held an informational hearing to discuss Minnesota’s breakthrough strategy to drastically increase COVID-19 testing capacity. The plan allows for up to 20,000 tests daily, and the increased capacity will help health officials control the pandemic and support the safe re-opening of Minnesota’s economy.

“This strategy will help our state address the pandemic and move toward normalcy,” said Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester), the division chair. “We need to understand the spread of the virus and how it is progressing so we can effectively isolate those afflicted by COVID-19. This will be possible only by increasing our testing capacity.”

The testing strategy, funded in part by $36 million from the COVID-19 Minnesota Fund provided by the Legislature, is being developed in partnership with Mayo Clinic, the University of Minnesota, and other health care providers in the state. It aims to test all symptomatic people, expand our understanding of how the virus is affecting our population, and effectively fight the disease.

Assistant Commissioner Dan Huff of the Minnesota Department of Health’s Health Protection Bureau presented information about the strategy to the committee. Dr. Bobbi Pritt, co-director of Vector-borne Diseases Laboratory Services at Mayo Clinic, and Dr. Anthony Killeen, Professor and Vice-Chair for Clinical Affairs in the Dept. of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology at the University of Minnesota Medical School, also answered questions for the committee.

Video of the hearing will be available on Minnesota House Public Information Services’ YouTube channel.

Rep. Liebling statement on new COVID-19 testing breakthrough

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Yesterday, Governor Tim Walz announced a new breakthrough strategy in partnership with Mayo Clinic, University of Minnesota, and other health care providers to drastically boost COVID-19 testing capacity.

State Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester), chair of the House Health and Human Services Finance Division, issued the following statement:

“With great hopefulness, the state is partnering with Mayo Clinic, the University of Minnesota, and other health care entities to tap their expertise and move our state through this crisis as quickly as possible. Minnesota is fortunate to have great institutions that are ready to deploy testing and coordinate resources in service to all the people of our state, and I am pleased that we have the resources to partner with them. With this partnership, Minnesota will lead the way on testing for COVID-19 and move toward a well-informed and safe reopening of our economy just as quickly as possible. I will continue working with the Minnesota Department of Health, the Walz administration, and my colleagues in the Legislature to ensure the success of the project.”

Thursday, April 23, 2020, at 12:45 p.m., the House Health and Human Services Finance Division will hold remote hearing to learn more about the testing plan. House Public Information Services will broadcast the hearing on the House website and on YouTube.

Minnesota House Housing Division Approves $100 million to help Renters and Homeowners

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The Housing Policy and Finance Division, chaired by Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul), met remotely today to hear HF 4541. The bill allocates $100 million to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) to assist thousands of Minnesota renters with their monthly payments. In addition, the funding will be used to help Minnesotans pay utility bills and property taxes, and help homeowners pay their mortgages.

“Housing security is one of many critical needs during this unprecedented time,” said Rep. Hausman. “The House proposal to assist renters and homeowners is necessary to lessen the effects the pandemic will have on stable housing and will ease the burden of those who have lost income related to the consequences of COVID-19.”

“Financial uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic is going to make it increasingly difficult for some Minnesotans to ‘stay home’ as they struggle to afford the roof over their head,” said Rep. Howard. “The need for rental and housing assistance has brought together a broad coalition across the housing spectrum, and it’s important Senate Republicans join us at the table to deliver this urgently-needed relief.”  Continue reading “Minnesota House Housing Division Approves $100 million to help Renters and Homeowners”