Sen. Hoffman , CD3 DFL

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: June 20, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

It has been a busy special session as our various omnibus bills are coming to agreement. Each day brings news of deals being finalized as we move forward.

For my part, the Health and Human Services bill is in final negotiations. Thus far it is agreed to (for now!) enhanced funding for a variety of services, including but not limited to:

Substance Use Disorder treatment
Disability Services
PCA (Personal Care Assistant) Services
CCAP (Child Care Assistance Program)
Home Care Providers
Expansion of Telehealth Services

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: May 21, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I wanted to touch base and share some of the details as we move forward with the timeline previously shared regarding the deadlines to have our budget omnibus bills ready. To recap:

May 28th: Spreadsheet for omnibus bills done by 5pm.

June 4th: Language for omnibus bills prepared by this date.

June 14th: Expected day of special session being called to finish budget work.

Approaching that May 28th deadline next week, the actual budget numbers each committee is working with are listed below:

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: May 17, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Legislative Session closed today but it is not the end. There will be a special session to bring the budgets together and signed into law. Speaker Hortman put it perfectly when she said today at the press conference announcing budgets and special session, “I would say that you aren’t driving the same car or talking on the same phone as in 1973, and it may be time to recognize that you don’t need the same legislative calendar as 1973. None of us really relish the once every 30 days legislative sessions, but we are not doing the same work as the legislature was when we set our 120-day legislative calendar. That is a reform issue for another day.”

According to the Minnesota State Constitution, “The legislature shall meet at the seat of government in regular session in each biennium at the times prescribed by law for not exceeding a total of 120 legislative days. The legislature shall not meet in regular session, nor in any adjournment thereof, after the first Monday following the third Saturday in May of any year. After meeting at a time prescribed by law, the legislature may adjourn to another time. “Legislative day” shall be defined by law. A special session of the legislature may be called by the governor on extraordinary occasions. Neither house during a session of the legislature shall adjourn for more than three days (Sundays excepted) nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be assembled without the consent of the other house.”

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: May 15, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Session is coming to a close and we have yet to have budget targets for our committees. This means that we will be coming together in special session, likely June. We must complete our budgets and come to an agreement in June because if we do not and enter July, we risk a government shutdown of state services in Minnesota.

I am confident we will come to agreement on the many important issues before us and that we will move forward together. This does give us more time to work on these issues and ensure we have completely and thoroughly vetted every budget and each bill before passing it.

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: May 8, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Welcome to Week 18 E News. As we enter into the conference committee mark ups of the House and the Senate bills we must remember why we do what we do and that is for and about the betterment of the State of Minnesota and the citizens we represent. As I spend time in the Health and Human Services Committee I am reminded once again, that our work in this committee must be first and foremost about the individuals we are charged to protect and enhance. This committee as well as the Education committee must put the needs of the individuals first and leave egos and personalization out of any and all arguments. Having said that, you have my commitment to keep that a focus on the work at hand. Today is Saturday and we are in the Health and Human Services conference committee detailing the differences between the House Bill and the Senate Bill. We are keeping focused on the matter at hand and not getting personalized. So far so good, please continue to let those of us in the committees to remember that. I am honored to be able to be on this committee and have found that the input from others is being affirmed, valued and appreciated. I was able to make comments regarding those provisions regarding disability services especially Waiver Re-Imagine and the menu of service delivery. The 17th of May will be the last day of the constitutional session and I am committed to working hard to make sure we are getting our work done and will do so in a bipartisan manner. Common sense and pragmatism should be the rule of these committees.

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: April 30, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We are in the final stretch. All of the Senate Omnibus bills have been voted on and left the floor for conference committee. Conference committees are where the house and senate will come together to negotiate over each set of bills by topic (Transportation, Health and Human Services, Taxes etc.). These will be going on for the next week at least and potentially longer.

Once these bills leave conference committee they have to return to the floors of the house and senate to be approved before the Governor can sign them. We must have them all ready to go before May 17th as that is the day according to our constitution that session ends. Also, since this is a budget year, meaning all State agencies get their 2 year budgets in order, we must get them funded or we face potential shut downs. We all need to work together to assure we do the work entrusted to us and that our work gets done and done on time.

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: April 23, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Floor session is in full force and more omnibus bills have made it past the floor and are heading to conference committee. Conference committee is where members of the house and senate on related committees come together to negotiate the final version of each omnibus bill and eventually send back to the respected floors for final vote to be sent to the Governor.

While session is swiftly approaching its end there is still an incredible amount of work to be done. I am grateful to be here working for all of you to make sure we create a better Minnesota and ensure our local communities are taken care of.

Senate Passes Transportation Omnibus Bill with funding for North Metro Projects

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA – On Thursday, the Minnesota Senate passed the HF 1684, the transportation omnibus budget bill, by a vote of 40 to 26. The bill contains nearly $7 billion in funding for a range of transportation projects, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and the Department of Public Safety.

“The transportation bill passed today includes much needed funding for transportation projects throughout the north metro, including $12 million in funding for Highway 10, for Highway 65, and for the Ramsey Gateway Project,” said Senator John Hoffman. “These necessary upgrades will improve traffic flow, safety, and will create hundreds of jobs for our community. I’m proud to vote yes for this bipartisan package.”

Approximately $42.5 million in funding is included for these projects. This includes $7 million in grants to the city of Blaine for a local road intersection at 99th Avenue Northeast and marked Trunk Highway 65 and associated local road improvements.

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: April 21, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

On Tuesday April 20, Derek Chauvin was found guilty on the charges second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. This verdict does not come lightly, as the eyes of the world have been upon Minnesota and will continue to be.

Nothing can bring George Floyd back, but today was an important structural piece towards accountability. It is also abundantly clear that one conviction will not address the feelings of so many Minnesotans, who feel and have witnessed that the system is not working equally for everyone. We also know that over 50 percent of all use of force incidents involve a person with a disability.

Each of us have a role to play in pursuit of a more just world, and this is especially true for us at the Minnesota Legislature. We must work together to deliver the changes necessary to make sure every Minnesotan feels safe in their community. With just one month left in this legislative session, we must build on our work from last summer. We must also remember that George Floyd was someone who struggled with recovery yet found time to volunteer to be a mentor to homeless youth even taking them to see the Twins play baseball.

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: April 12, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Once again, our community is in a state of shock at the death of an unarmed black man in an encounter with law enforcement. Daunte Wright should be alive today, but instead his life was cut tragically short in a matter of seconds. My condolences and heart goes out to his family, his friends, and our entire community as we grieve over his death.

It has not even been a full year since the murder of George Floyd, and with the eyes of the world on Minnesota, another black man has been killed by a system that is not working. It is up to each of us to play a role in taking the steps necessary to achieve true accountability and reform, and to ensure that justice comes.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: