Ewald at the Capitol

First Committee Deadline

Today marks the first committee deadline, where bills must be acted upon favorably in policy committees of their house of origin. Both the House and Senate held additional floor sessions on Wednesday to process bills for their next committee. Meanwhile, the Governor, House and Senate leadership are continuing to negotiate on the Unemployment Insurance Fund and Frontline Worker pay. The House is holding out on replenishing the unemployment insurance fund to gain bargaining power to increase the scope of frontline worker bonuses. The Senate has already passed a bill to replenish the unemployment insurance fund and are opposed to increasing frontline worker bonuses. Governor Walz is hoping that the two bodies will find a way to link the issues and take action.

Senate Advances Paid Leave Proposal

On Monday, Senator Julia Coleman (R – Waconia) unveiled the Senate’s paid leave plan. The plan would allow for the creation of family leave insurance, a product that is currently not allowed in state law. Workers with a newborn or sick family member would take paid time off through a private insurance plan. Businesses would be incentivized to participate through tax credits. $50 million would be set aside for businesses with less than 50 employees who could qualify for up to $3,000 per employee. SF3885 has already passed the Senate commerce committee on Monday.

This is an alternative plan to the House proposal that would offer 12 weeks of paid leave through a state-managed fund that employers and employees would pay via payroll tax, similar to social security.

These measures may be in response to the growing childcare crisis and consequential labor shortage that has slowed pandemic recovery. The Pew Research Center found that in 2021, 48% of parents with kids under 18 cited childcare issues as a reason for quitting their job.

Russia Divestment Gains Traction

Economic divestment from Russia and Belarus continues to make its way through the Minnesota Legislature. The bipartisan effort, sponsored by Representative Sydney Jordan and Senator Karin Housley, has strong support from Governor Tim Walz who urged the legislature to pull Russian investments at the beginning of the month. On Thursday, HF4165 passed the House 126-0. On Tuesday, SF3928 passed the Senate State Government Finance and Policy and Elections Committee. SF3928 now goes to the Senate floor for a vote. If passed, the bill would divest $53 million in state pension fund investments from Russian and Belarus investments.

ALS Bill Passes the House

On Monday, SF 3372 (Lislegard) unanimously passed the House Ways and Means Committee. After the hearing in the Ways and Means Committee, it went to the House floor where it passed with an amendment on a vote of 121-9. The bill now returns to the Senate which will likely approve the amended bill on Monday. The bill is in honor of Senator Tomassoni (I- Chisholm) who has been diagnosed with ALS and appropriates $25 million for ALS research funds and caregiver assistance.

Resources

Retirements
So far 34 legislators in the Minnesota House and Senate have announced they will not be running for re-election in 2022. Notably, Senate Minority leader Melissa Franzen (DFL – Edina) has announced her retirement. Several other legislators have decided to run for the opposite body. 12 members of the House are planning on running for the Senate. Only one Senator, Jerry Newton (DFL – 37) is running for a House seat (35B). 7 legislators are leaving the legislature to run for positions at the Federal, State and County levels.

Rep. Jeremy Munson (R- 23B) and Rep. Nels Pierson (R - 26B) are running for the 1st U.S. Congressional District.
Senator Michelle Benson (R - 31) and Senator Paul Gazelka (R - 9) are running for Governor.
Karla Bigham (DFL – 54) intends to run for Washington County Commissioner
Rena Moran (DFL – 65A) intends to run for Ramsey County Commissioner
Ryan Winkler (DFL – 46A) intends to run for Hennepin County Attorney