Minnesota Legislature 4 , CD3 DFL

Walz tells Legislature he could go it alone on spending billions in stimulus money

Under a provision in state law, the governor will get to decide how to spend the state’s federal stimulus funds — unless the House and Senate can agree to spend some of the money in a budget emerging from the 2021 session, and provided Walz agrees to sign such a budget.

Gov. Tim Walz has told the state Legislature that he could decide on his own how to spend the billions of federal dollars heading to Minnesota from the American Rescue Plan.

In a Friday letter [PDF] to the state’s legislative leaders, Walz triggered a section of state law that requires him to give members of an advisory committee of lawmakers, the Legislative Advisory Commission, an opportunity to hold up expenditures of that money.

But because those holds expire when the regular session of the Legislature adjourns on May 17, the governor will get to decide how to spend the money — unless the House and Senate can agree to spend some of the funds in whatever budget compromise emerges from the 2021 session, and provided Walz agrees to sign such a budget. Continue reading.

Climate and Energy Committee hears legislation to help low-income Minnesotans and utilities weather impacts of natural gas price spike

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – On Wednesday, the House Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee heard legislation authored by Rep. Jamie Long (DFL – Minneapolis) that would mitigate the impact of the recent nationwide spike in natural gas prices. The bill provides assistance to low-income Minnesotans who used natural gas during the period when costs skyrocketed. It also provides loans for municipal utilities that were forced to pay unusually high prices for natural gas.

“Many Minnesotans will soon face higher utility bills through no fault of their own,” said Rep. Long. “Families and small businesses that are already experiencing challenges due to COVID-19 could see their bills increase by hundreds of dollars because of the extraordinary spike in natural gas prices that occurred last month. We need to help utilities manage this crisis and mitigate the impact on Minnesotans, particularly the most vulnerable.”

In February, demand for natural gas increased significantly 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 be passed on to consumers, which means Minnesotans may see their heating bills increase. Municipal utility customers could see an impact on their bills this month.

More information is available on the committee’s webpage. Video of the hearing will be available on House Public Information Services’ YouTube channel.

Senate DFL Week in Review: March 5, 2021

Supporting Minnesota’s Working Families
and everything happening in the Legislature this week.

Senate DFLers support working families

As Minnesotans recover from the devastating effects of a global pandemic, they need support at home, in the workplace, and help to stay connected. The Senate DFL recognizes that everyone, from birth through aging, should have access to affordable health care, safe and affordable housing, and economic security. Read more >>

Minnesota continues strong progress in vaccine distribution

Minnesota continued to be among the national leaders in COVID-19 vaccine distribution this week and was helped by the approval of a third vaccine. As the Walz Administration continues to lead vaccine rollout efforts in Minnesota, the state now ranks third in the nation in the percentage of doses received that have been administered. Read more >>

Tide turns on Minnesota legislative session

The nature of Minnesota’s legislative session has dramatically changed.

No longer is there a projected deficit to fix. A modest budget surplus is now in the cards, and a big chunk of money could soon be on its way from the federal government.

Differences over how to craft the next budget remain, but the prospect of a protracted stalemate is diminished. Continue reading.

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.

Rep. Moller and Sen. Latz introduce legislation enabling Extreme Risk Protection Orders to prevent gun violence

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL – Shoreview) and Sen. Ron Latz (DFL – St. Louis Park) officially introduced legislation to provide for Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), an effective tool to prevent tragedies as a result of gun violence. The bill would allow members of law enforcement or a family member to petition a court for the temporary removal of an individual’s access to firearms if a court determines they may be a threat to themselves or others.

“We should all agree that when someone has demonstrated a danger to themselves or others, firearms should be removed from the situation. ERPOs are a proven method to allow proactive, preemptive action to save lives,” said Rep. Moller. “On average, we lose one Minnesotan per day due to suicide by gun, and Minnesotans should have this tool available to them when they recognize a loved one is in crisis. All Minnesotans deserve to be safe in their homes, in their workplaces, at school, and everywhere else in their communities. By enacting an ERPO law in Minnesota, I’m confident we will prevent senseless tragedies.”

“Extreme Risk Protection Orders would equip law enforcement, family members and courts with the necessary tools to step in before warning signs spiral into tragedies,” said Senator Latz. “Often, they are among those who first see or learn of a person in crisis. If law enforcement or family members find a person who poses a significant or immediate danger of bodily harm or death to themselves or other persons by possessing a firearm, a petition for relief – if approved by a judge with due process protections — would require that person to give up their guns while the order is in effect, and help prevent a senseless tragedy from occurring.”

The Minnesota House approved the legislation in 2019, however, Senate Republicans blocked it from becoming law.

In the 19 states which have adopted them, plus the District of Columbia, laws enabling ERPOs – also known as “red flag” laws – have demonstrated success in preventing community violence, mass shootings, suicide, and domestic violence. A 2019 study found 21 cases in which ERPOs were used to remove guns from individuals who had threatened mass shootings in California. In the first three months of Maryland’s ERPO law, firearms were successfully removed from four separate individuals who threatened mass shootings.

ERPOs are also an especially effective tool to prevent suicides. Nationwide, the success rate of suicide by gun is nearly 90%, extremely higher than other methods. In Minnesota, 79% of all firearm deaths are due to suicide. A study of Connecticut’s law estimates for every 10 to 20 guns removed via ERPO, one life is saved.

In the House, the bill will be referred to the Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform Policy and Finance Committee. In the Senate, it has been referred to the Judiciary Committee. A copy of the legislation can be accessed here.

House committees hold hearings on electric vehicles and transportation

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the House Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee and the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee both held hearings on electric vehicles and transportation.

“In Minnesota, transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions,” said Rep. Jamie Long, Chair of the Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee. “In order to combat climate change, we need to find clean and convenient ways for Minnesotans to travel in their communities and throughout the state. Investing in electric vehicles and other bold solutions will help protect our air and our planet for generations to come.”

“Today we heard bold and visionary strategies to electrify the transportation sector,” said Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL – Minneapolis), Chair of the Transportation Finance and Policy Committee. “Electric vehicles are a key part of addressing the climate crisis and creating jobs in the clean energy economy.”

House Public Safety Committee discusses Rep. Moller bill to update state criminal sexual conduct code

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Thursday, the House Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform Committee approved legislation authored by Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL – Shoreview) to comprehensively update Minnesota’s criminal sexual conduct (CSC) statute. In 2019, Rep. Moller successfully championed legislation to create a working group to fully examine the current law, which is full of contradictions, loopholes, and other shortcomings which all create barriers for survivors to receive justice. That working group has completed its final report, and Rep. Moller’s bill reflects those recommendations.

“This bipartisan bill is a major step toward the systemic change survivors are counting on to deliver justice, hold offenders accountable, and come closer to our shared goal of ending sexual violence,” Rep. Moller said. “Thank you to the working group members for taking on this challenge, and most importantly, to the brave survivors who have continued to tell their stories, highlighting how the criminal justice system has failed them. They share their stories in public knowing it won’t likely change the outcome regarding their own case, but don’t want the same thing to happen to someone else.”

The bill makes a wide variety of changes including:

House Education Policy Chair Richardson Statement on Anti-Trans youth bill introduced by Senate Republicans

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Senate Republicans heard legislation February 3 targeting transgender youth whose assigned sex at birth is different from their true gender. The Senate Republican-controlled Education Committee heard a bill which would prohibit schools from allowing any student whose “sex is male” from participating in girls’ sports.

Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL-Mendota Heights), chair of the House Education Policy Committee condemned the measure and released the following statement in response:

“For Minnesota to be a state with world class education we must ensure an inclusive school experience for students of all genders with equitable access to the activities that support their learning and well-being. As the House Education Policy Chair, I am committed to using my gavel to expand opportunity, not restrict it on the basis of transgender status. Our committee will not give Senate Republicans’ bill a hearing because it would have a harmful and exclusionary impact on children in our schools.

All of our students in Minnesota deserve every opportunity to be successful in and out of the classroom and that includes participating in extracurricular activities and sports. We ought to be celebrating the contributions our students are making to their school teams among their peers, not denying or restricting their opportunities based on transgender status.”

Minnesota Lawmakers Announce Bipartisan Hometown Heroes Act

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – On February 4, a bipartisan group of legislators announced new efforts to deliver vital supplemental state health assistance to Minnesota’s 22,000 firefighters. The Hometown Heroes Act, authored by Rep. Cheryl Yoaukim (DFL-Hopkins) and Sen. Jeff Howe (R-Rockville), would address the alarmingly high incidence of cancer, cardiac issues, and emotional trauma facing these frontline workers.

“Our firefighters face unique challenges, especially with the ongoing pandemic,” said Representative Youakim. “They have higher incidences of cancer, cardiac issues and now more than ever, trauma. This bill would not only deliver quality health care assistance our firefighters need but takes a proactive approach with the necessary awareness training they deserve.”

“I, unfortunately, have watched many of my fellow firefighters suffer and die from cancer and heart disease,” said Senator Jeff Howe. “If we don’t take care of the folks we call when we’re in trouble, how can we expect them to be there when we need them? I’m passionate about this subject, and I’m honored to be carrying this bill.”

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