July 1 is an important date for new laws. If a bill contains an appropriation, its effective date is July 1. All other bills that do not name a specific start date become effective August 1. Some of the newest Minnesota laws include:
HF4490, an omnibus agriculture finance bill. Included in the bill is funding for the University of Minnesota’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for testing equipment and supplies related to avian influenza, salmonella, and turkey-related disease response. Also in the
bill is renewal of the tractor rollover prevention grant program which helps eligible farmers and schools retrofit tractors with rollover protective structures.
HF1842, related to renewable energy. It appropriates funding to the Prairie Island Net Zero Project, the Solar Rewards incentive program by Xcel Energy, and to Granite Falls for a hydroelectric generating facility.
HF3100, the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act.
The bill establishes a program for eligible recipients to receive an emergency 30-day supply of insulin from their pharmacy for no more than a $35 copay. For qualifying recipients (those with a total family income at less than 400% of federal poverty guidelines), an emergency 90-day supply can be obtained for no more than a $50 copay. Under this new law, insulin manufacturers will reimburse pharmacies for the cost of complying.
SF1098, the Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act. The bill
requires pharmaceutical companies to report pricing information to the state when those prices exceed increases set out in the bill. It also requires the Minnesota Department of Health to post the information on a public website.
Special Session II
Today, Gov. Walz is announcing that he will be extending the current peacetime emergency on July 13, which triggers the need for a Special Session. Bonding, police reform and police accountability measures are the biggest talked about topics that were left unresolved at the last special session. There is no word on the progress of these, nor on any other issues that may be taken up during the next special session.
We will provide an update of special session in the next Ewald at the Capitol.
They Said It...
A survey by the Minnesota Department of Education asked, "Would you feel comfortable sending your student(s) back to a classroom this fall?" 64.3% of respondents said, "yes", 11.4% said, "no", and 24.3% said "unsure".
