 Rep. Liz Olson, left, talks with Rep. Athena Hollis during debate on the House Floor Feb. 16. (Photo by Catherine Davis)
A look back at what happened in the Minnesota House of Representatives the week of Feb. 13-17
After 2023’s longest floor session yet, the House passed another of the DFL’s top priorities Thursday, voting 69-54 to send HF19 on to the Senate after more than seven hours of debate. The bill would require almost all Minnesota employers to provide paid sick time to their employees.
This past week also saw the first hearing of a nearly $2 billion capital investment proposal from Gov. Tim Walz and a proposal to bump up the funding formula for K-12 schools that could result in more than $1 billion in additional education spending. Child care, homelessness, stadium funding and tax breaks were among the many other issues that were discussed over the past several days as well.
A reminder that although Monday is President’s Day, it will be business as usual in the House with several meetings planned along with a 3:30 p.m. floor session and five bills on the Calendar for the Day. Those include HF16 that would ban the practice of conversion therapy for children and vulnerable adults and HF55, which would create an office for missing and murdered Black women and girls.
You can find the complete schedule here.
Have an enjoyable weekend and here’s a look back at what you may have missed.
AGRICULTURE
Incentives for next generation products in bioeconomy could get funding boost
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17688
Amidst historic demand, bill proposes funding increase for MN’s Farm to Food Shelf program
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17667
BONDING
After two years and no bonding bill, House DFL unveils nearly $2 billion capital investment package
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17654
CIVIL LAW
Panel hears request for more resources to address crises facing judicial branch
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17683
When identity theft strikes a ‘daunting’ process for victims to clear names in court records awaits, lawmakers hear
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17662
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Child care shortage in Greater Minnesota could be eased with additional $20 million
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17675
EDUCATION
Education committee OKs proposed shakeup of distribution, use of compensatory revenue
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17679
House DFL proposes school funding formula hike that would boost K-12 spending by over $1 billion
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17673
House lawmakers consider proposal to remake literacy curriculum across the state
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17668
ELECTIONS
Can deep fakes be regulated? House lawmakers consider ways to tame emerging technology
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17672
Reducing confusion over absentee and sample ballots is goal of bill
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17669
EMPLOYMENT
House passes statewide paid sick leave mandate after vigorous debate
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17689
Legislation to combat employers’ hush money payout schemes wins bipartisan support
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17682
Jobs program aims to keep released felons from returning to prison
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17670
‘We have the right to work in a safe environment,’ meatpacking workers tell lawmakers
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17665
ENERGY
Competitiveness fund could strike a match for renewable energy projects
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17676
Homeowner associations couldn’t block residential solar installations under new bill
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17666
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Accessibility — as much as creature comforts — behind a $28 million Minnesota Zoo request
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17677
For hands-on-education, MN’s children’s museums could secure annual funding
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17674
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Plan seeks to cut out middle man, terminate managed care contracts
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17685
Joint panel hears testimony on legislation to codify protections of Native American children
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17659
House votes to raise reimbursement rates for child care providers
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17657
House passes $52 million to bolster child care for families while helping providers
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17656
Bill proposes $25-a-month cap on co-pays for life-saving prescription drugs
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17655
HIGHER EDUCATION
College building bonding authority could add health care facilities to portfolio
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17680
HOUSING
Keep those claws — under bill, landlords couldn’t require declawing, devocalization of animals
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17678
Minnesota’s family homeless prevention program could see $100 million boost
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17664
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Local government officials urge lawmakers to remove compensation cap
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17660
MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS
Proposal seeks to end fees for burial in state veterans cemeteries
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17653
PUBLIC SAFETY
‘Game-changing’ proposition would provide for early release of rehabilitated inmates
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17687
House passes bill to create crime of labor trafficking resulting in death
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17686
STATE GOVERNMENT
Paying off stadium bonds early could be a touchdown for MN taxpayers, lawmakers say
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17681
Pair of labor agreements win committee support
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17661
TAXES
This time they mean it: No taxes on construction materials for local government projects
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17684
Tax refunds could grow for Minnesota’s homeowners, renters
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17671
Historic fixer-uppers could again see state tax credit
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17663
TRANSPORTATION
An updated ‘stuff-out-of-the-car’ bill gets transportation panel’s OK
https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17658
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