Minnesota House 6 , CD3 DFL

Minnesota House advances summer learning package

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the Minnesota House advanced a bipartisan measure 69-63 to fund a summer learning package for Minnesota students from cradle to career.

“Today’s vote for summer learning is the first step in passing significant investments for education this session,” said Speaker Melissa Hortman. “All Minnesota children deserve a world-class education and every opportunity to succeed. We are going to help our children and students recover from a difficult year and then thrive once this pandemic is behind us.”

“It’s critically important for us to be thinking carefully about strategic investments that put our students first,” said Rep. Jim Davnie, House Education Finance Chair. “The measures and steps we can take now will help our kids bounce back more quickly from the pandemic, academically and emotionally, and be better prepared for their future.”

Minnesota Asian Pacific Caucus Issue Statement on Atlanta Shooting

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – On Tuesday, March 16, a series of shootings took place across several Atlanta massage parlors resulting in the deaths of eight people, several of whom were of Asian descent. While the motives of the shooter have not been made clear, there is a strong possibility that this was a hate crime. The Minnesota Asian Pacific (MAP) Caucus released the following statement:

“This is the tragic result of increasingly hateful, offensive, and inflammatory rhetoric against Asian people that has taken place over the last year. Racist language and attacks on Asian Americans have skyrocketed as a result of COVID-19 misinformation, and racial epithets spouted by our previous president. Asian Minnesotans have felt this increase in hatred as well. We experience hate in many forms every day, leaving us with the fear of, ‘will our community be next?’

We ask that state and federal governments do more to fight disinformation, hateful language, and hate crimes by funding improved data collection and reporting of hate crimes and consistently working to reduce disinformation. Today, we mourn for those who lost their lives due to the hate and fear that has built up in this country. We will continue to fight this hate, but we ask that our friends, communities, and politicians stand up for all Asian Americans to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again.”

House passes Rep. Moller’s Uniform Enforcement of Canadian Orders for Protection Act

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – On Thursday the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the Uniform Enforcement of Canadian Orders for Protection Act, authored by Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL – Shoreview). The legislation expands Minnesota’s recognition of foreign orders for protection to include those issued in Canada.

“When the border is open, many people travel freely between Minnesota and Canada, and this bill will be a tool to help keep people safe on both sides of the border,” Rep. Moller said. “Minnesota has consistently been a leader in standing up for domestic violence survivors, and the Uniform Enforcement of Canadian Orders for Protection Act is another example of our commitment to protecting those who have experienced trauma.”

Currently, Minnesota recognizes and enforces orders issued by other states and tribal governments. Several Canadian provinces already recognize Minnesota’s protection orders. The bill was developed in collaboration with the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) and the Uniform Law Conference of Canada. Six states have enacted this legislation, including North Dakota, Wisconsin, California, Delaware, Nevada, and Washington.

The bill passed the House unanimously. The Senate previously passed the bill, which now heads to Governor Walz for his signature.

Video of the floor session will be available on House Public Information Services’YouTube channel.

House passes Rep. Liebling bill to increase COVID-19 vaccine payment rate for MA enrollees

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today the Minnesota House passed legislation, authored by Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester), to raise the payment rate for administering COVID-19 vaccinations to Medical Assistance (MA) enrollees. Administration of COVID-19 vaccines is more complex than other vaccines such as the flu shot, resulting in higher costs for providers. The bill takes advantage of recent federal action to give providers the higher rate available under Medicare.

“As more doses of COVID-19 vaccines become available, this bill takes advantage of the American Rescue Plan passed by Democrats in the U.S. Congress to help more Minnesotans get vaccinated,” Rep. Liebling said. “Some of the COVID vaccines have unique requirements, including very cold storage. This bill will help cover costs for pharmacies, clinics, and other providers, with the goal of increasing the number of providers administering the vaccine as supplies increase.”

The rate currently paid for Medical Assistance enrollees is $12.84 per dose. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently updated the Medicare rate to an average of $40 per dose. Under the American Rescue Plan, the federal government will provide 100% matching funds for COVID-19 vaccine administration to MA enrollees at the higher Medicare rate.

The bill next goes to the Minnesota Senate for its consideration. Video of the floor session will be available on House Public Information Services’ YouTube channel.

House Education Finance Committee advances summer learning package

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The evening of March 16, the House Education Finance Committee advanced a measure to fund a summer learning package for Minnesota students from cradle to career.

“House DFLers support strong investments in education, starting with funding for summer learning,” said Speaker Melissa Hortman. “We need to help our children and students recover from a difficult year and then thrive once this pandemic is behind us. All Minnesota children deserve a world-class education and every opportunity to succeed. We intend to pass this bill off the House floor next week.”

“The House DFL is taking swift action to get this money out early so families can finalize summer plans, and school districts and community partners can begin planning,” said Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL-Minneapolis), chair of the House Education Finance Committee. “We have a comprehensive summer learning package detailed in our bill that reaches all learners in Minnesota, from children enrolled in summer preschool, to high school seniors making the transition to college, to adult learners who are looking to re-enter the labor market with sharper skills. These funds can be utilized through the 2022 school year, as well. This is a sound investment to help get our students back on track.”

The bill addresses learning loss by expanding access to tutoring, investing in field trips and hands-on learning, and implementing summer programs for preschoolers, high schoolers, and adult basic education.

“Minnesota is home to some of the worst disparities in the nation,” said Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL-Mendota Heights), chair of the House Education Policy Committee. “We know these have existed long before the pandemic, but now have a real opportunity to level the playing field and make significant progress in addressing the opportunity gap head on with this bill. All of our students deserve the support they need to be successful and thrive.”

The measure also funds student mental health support. A key provision in the legislation prioritizes school districts that have experienced declining enrollment.

The bill’s next stop is the House Ways and Means Committee. More information and materials will be available on the committee’s webpage.

Minnesota Legislature Holds Joint Convention to Elect University of Minnesota Regents

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The Minnesota House of Representatives today elected four regents to govern the University of Minnesota: Ruth Johnson for the 1^st Congressional District; James Farnsworth for the 4^th Congressional District; Kodi Verhalen for the 6^th Congressional District; and Doug Huebsch for the 7^th Congressional District.

There were 20 applications submitted for consideration for the four open seats. Newly elected Regents will serve a six-year term.

Representative Connie Bernardy (DFL-New Brighton), Chair of the Higher Education Finance and Policy Division noted these newly-elected regents bring important skills and strengths to lead a complex university system amid a global pandemic.

“I’m pleased we were able to come together on a bipartisan, bicameral level to elect these new regents. I thank them, the outgoing regents, and the current regents for their service to our state,” said Chair Bernardy.

Limits on ‘no-knock’ warrants advance to House Floor

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Carlotta Madison said what happened to her brother was “horrific.”

Andre Madison died after a no-knock warrant — based on his suspected possession of $5 worth of marijuana — became a chaotic gun battle between Minneapolis police entering the front door of his residence and those entering the rear.

Rep. Athena Hollins (DFL-St. Paul) sponsors HF1762, which would prohibit no-knock warrants when the only underlying crime is suspected drug possession. Continue reading.

Housing panel OKs plan to extend eviction ban beyond emergency pandemic order

Minnesota landlords, generally prohibited from evicting tenants under Gov. Tim Walz’s COVID-19 peacetime emergency orders, could be required to wait 60 days before starting most eviction proceedings in the 12 months after the orders expire.

HF12, sponsored by Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul), would only allow immediate evictions during the 12-month period in the most serious circumstances, such as if a tenant unlawfully destroys property, not for rent nonpayment.

Mortgage lenders would also be required to wait 60 days before filing foreclosures. Continue reading.

Minnesota House unanimously approves legislation that prohibits PERC and helps dry cleaners transition to safer processes

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Monday, the Minnesota House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation to prohibit perchloroethylene, a chemical solvent that is widely used in dry cleaning facilities. The legislation, authored by Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL – South St. Paul), will help dry cleaners transition to safer processes.

“Minnesotans should not be exposed to chemicals that are associated with serious health risks,” said Rep. Hansen. “We are committed to protecting Minnesotans from harmful chemicals, including perchloroethylene. Prohibiting PERC and supporting dry cleaners as they transition to safer alternatives will help keep Minnesota workers, customers, and communities safe and healthy.”

The bill prohibits using perchloroethylene – commonly known as PERC – as a dry cleaning solvent after December 31, 2025. It transfers $510,000 from the state’s Remediation Fund to the Dry Cleaner Fund to help facilities replace PERC and purchase new equipment. Owners and operators of dry cleaning facilities will be reimbursed up to $20,000 for the costs of transitioning to alternative solvents.

The Environmental Protection Agency classifies perchloroethylene as a “likely carcinogen.” The chemical solvent is also associated with neurological effects and damage to the kidneys, liver, immune system, and blood system. Exposure can occur in dry cleaning facilities or in the environment; PERC has been found in air, water, and soil. Minnesotans who work in dry cleaning facilities that use PERC are at the highest risk for exposure, but people who live or work near these facilities or wear dry-cleaned clothing may be exposed to higher levels of PERC than the general population.

Video of the floor session is available on House Public Information Service’s YouTube channel.

House and Senate Energy Committees hold joint hearing to examine impacts of recent spike in natural gas prices

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the House Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee and the Senate Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy Committee held a joint hearing to examine how a nationwide spike in natural gas prices may impact Minnesotans.

“Utility bills may increase significantly because of the extraordinary recent spike in natural gas prices,” said Rep. Jamie Long (DFL – Minneapolis), the chair of the House committee. “This would exacerbate the difficulties many families and small businesses are already experiencing from the pandemic. We are exploring ways our state can help utilities manage this crisis and mitigate the impact on Minnesotans, particularly the most vulnerable. We must work together to protect Minnesotans’ economic security and prevent similar crises in the future.”

Demand for natural gas increased significantly last week due to a cold wave in the southern United States. As a result, the cost of natural gas skyrocketed. Costs climbed even higher when unwinterized infrastructure in Texas and other states froze, reducing the supply of natural gas. While Minnesota’s infrastructure held up well during this period despite subzero temperatures, most of the state’s utilities had to purchase a portion of their gas at a much higher price than anticipated. This cost will later be passed on to consumers, which means Minnesotans may see their heating bills increase.

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