There’s been a steady uptick of committee meetings this week in preparation for the first committee deadline. A total of 118 committee hearings were held this week in the House and Senate, up from 108 the week before, and from 93 two weeks ago. The deadline (on Friday, March 25) is when committees must act favorably on bills in their house of origin. This week, the House introduced 199 bills and the Senate introduced 120 bills. To speed along the process, the Senate held another “pushing paper” Wednesday floor session to process bills for their next committee referral.
Unemployment Trust Fund Deadline Passes Back in February, the Senate passed SF 2677, the legislation proposing to repay the federal government and replenish the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund. The bill would appropriate $2.7 billion to refill the fund, which had been drained from the high volume of unemployment claims during the pandemic. The deadline to replenish the fund before businesses see an increase in unemployment related payroll taxes was Tuesday, March 15. The House DFL was only willing to replenish the fund under the condition of expanded frontline worker pay. The Senate has yet to pass legislation for expanded COVID worker pay, so no agreement was reached. ALS Research Bill Moves through the House
On Tuesday, the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee met to hear SF 3372, which had been unanimously passed by the Senate last Thursday. The bill would appropriate $25 million for ALS research funds and caregiver assistance. During the hearing on Tuesday, Rep. Dave Lislegard (DFL–Aurora) amended the bill to increase the funding from $5 million to $25 million for grants to find a cure and assist caregivers of those diagnosed with ALS. Rep. Lislegard said the amendment would allow the bill to move through committees more quickly. Rep. Lislegard and Sen. David Tomassoni (I–Chisholm) testified remotely together. Sen. Tomassoni shared his support for the bill, spoke of his own experience with ALS and thanked the Senate for passing the bill. The committee voted unanimously for SF 3372 as amended, and the bill now moves to the House Ways and Means Committee, where it is scheduled for a hearing next Tuesday.
Russia Divestment Efforts Introduced in House and Senate
The state of Minnesota continues to respond to the Russian invasion of Ukraine with economic divestment. Following a recommendation from Gov. Walz, the House and Senate are taking up bipartisan bills to terminate state agency contracts with Russia and divest state dollars from Russian investments.
HF 4165 was amended to include Belarus and approved with a vote of 10-0 by the House State Government Finance and Elections Committee. “We’re joining an ever-growing list of democracies in responding to the atrocities committed by Russia’s government, not only because standing against tyranny is always the right thing to do, but because we can’t allow a single cent from our state to possibly line the pockets of oligarchs who sanction the murder of innocent civilians,” said bill sponsor Rep. Sydney Jordan (DFL–Minneapolis) in a March 10 statement. The bill now heads to the House Ways and Means Committee. The companion bill SF 3928 is sponsored by Sen. Karin Housley (R–Stillwater) and awaits action by the Senate State Government Finance and Policy and Elections Committee. Dates to Remember
Friday, March 25 — Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin.
Friday, April 1 — Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body.
Friday, April 8 — Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
Friday, April 8–Monday, April 18 — Easter/Passover/Spring Break for legislature.
Retirements Here is the updated list of retirements as of Thursday, March 17.
House Retirements
Shelly Christensen (DFL–39B)
Jim Davnie (DFL–63A)
Bob Dettmer (R–39A)
Sondra Erickson (R–15A)
Rod Hamilton (R–22B)
Alice Hausman (DFL–66A)
Todd Lippert (DFL–20B)
Dale Lueck (R–10B)
Carlos Mariani (DFL–65B)
Paul Marquart (DFL–4B)
Tim Miller (R–17A)
Jeremy Munson (R–23B)
Steve Sandell (DFL–53B)
Jen Schultz (DFL–7A)
Mike Sundin (DFL–11A)
Ami Wazlawik (DFL–38B)
Senate Retirements
Thomas Bakk (I–3)
Melisa Lopez Franzen (DFL–49)
Greg Clausen (DFL–57)
Chris Eaton (DFL–40)
Michael Goggin (R–21)
Bill G. Ingebrigtsen (R–8)
Susan Kent (DFL–8)
Mary Kiffmeyer (R–30)
Scott Newman (R–18)
Jerry Newton (DFL–37)
John Poston (R–9A)
Julie Rosen (R–23)
David Tomassoni (I–6)
Patricia Torres Ray (DFL–63)
Chuck Wiger (DFL–43)
House members running for the Senate
Liz Boldon (DFL–25B) running for SD 25
Cal Bahr (R–31B) running for SD 31
Andrew Carlson (DFL–50B) running for SD 50
Steve Drazkowski (R–21B) running for SD 21
Steve Green (R–2B) running for SD 2
Barb Haley (R–21A) running for SD 21
Tony Jurgens (R–54B) running SD 54
Eric Lucero (R–30B) running for SD 30
Kelly Morrison (DFL–33B) running for SD 33
Jordan Rasmusson (R–8A) running for SD 8
Tou Xiong (DFL–53A) running for SD 53
Tama Theis (R–14) running for SD 14
House members running for other positions:
Rena Moran (DFL–65A) intends to run for Ramsey County Commissioner
Jeremy Munson (R–23B) intends to run for First U.S. Congressional District
Nels Pierson (R–26B) intends to run for First U.S. Congressional District
Ryan Winkler (DFL–46A) intends to run for Hennepin County Attorney
Senators running for other positions:
Michelle Benson (R–31) intends to run for Governor
Karla Bigham (DFL–54) intends to run for Washington County Commissioner
Paul Gazelka (R–9) intends to run for Governor
Senate members running for the House
Jerry Newton (DFL–37) running for House seat 35B
They Said It...
“He’s not just my Senator, he’s my friend and he’s a friend of the Iron Range.” – Rep. Dave Lislegard, speaking of Sen. David Tomassoni during testimony for S.F. 3372
