Ewald at the Capitol | February 18

Redistricting

On Tuesday, Feb. 15, a panel of five judges released Minnesota’s new congressional and legislative district boundary maps. The panel justified their new maps with a combination of accounting for population shifts and a “least change” approach. These maps will shape the local and federal political landscape for the next ten years as well as the upcoming election cycle. Several incumbents may decide to retire early, as they are facing dramatically different districts and/or competition between their colleagues.

Predicted incumbent competitions:

In the Senate: 4 GOP pairings, 2 DFL pairings, 1 DFL-GOP pairing
In the House: 9 GOP pairings, 7 DFL pairings, 4 DFL-GOP pairings

Senate Proposal to Recruit Law Enforcement Passes

Monday, the Senate passed SF 2848 to attract and recruit more peace officers. The bill, authored by Sen. Karin Housley (R-Stillwater), appropriates $1 million in advertising dollars to improve public opinion of law enforcement. An additional $1 million would go to the pathways to policing program, which recruits more diverse candidates into law enforcement. Sen. John Marty (DFL-Roseville) proposed an amendment to the bill that would eliminate the advertising budget, instead redirecting that funding to the pathways to policing program. The amendment ultimately failed, and the original bill passed.

Unemployment Insurance Fund

On Monday, the Senate passed SF 2677 to repay the federal government and replenish the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund. Proposed amendments to include Frontline Worker Pay and to expand the scope of those covered by unemployment benefits were ruled not germane. The state faces a March 15 deadline that could result in increased taxes for business owners to replenish the fund. The final version of the bill passed by a vote of 55-11. A proposal has advanced in the House but has not been taken up by the full body for a final vote.

Budget Update

Minnesota Management and Budget released a monthly budget report which showed January tax revenues exceeded predictions by 25 percent, or $649 million above the forecast. Tax revenue from corporate, sales and related sources were up while individual income tax revenues were down. This is good news as we await an official budget update to be released in early March.

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.
May 23 — Legislature must complete its work.

Resources

Combined House and Senate calendar: https://www.leg.mn.gov/calendarday
House Committee List and Information
Senate Committee List and Information
Senate bill search and status: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/status_search.php?body=Senate
House bill search and status: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/status_search.php?body=House