Week in Review: Feb. 19-23

One week from today it will be March. One month from today is the first committee deadline. And with the February 2024 Budget and Economic Forecast scheduled to be released Wednesday, the busiest days of this year’s legislative session should soon begin.

But lawmakers will have a brief pause next Tuesday, Feb. 27 to attend precinct caucuses, which are held by political parties around the state to discuss issues and organize in advance of November’s general election. No committee meetings will be held Tuesday or before 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Monday’s schedule will not change. The House Ways and Means Committee is to hold its usual 10:30 a.m. hearing, although the agenda does note the committee will recess and return 15 minutes after the afternoon floor session to take up HF3489, the school resource officer bill.

That floor session will start at its usual 3:30 p.m. time, but there are no bills on the Calendar for the Day.  

Have a good weekend and here’s a look back at what happened over the past week.

BONDING

Local funds could be required to ensure bonding projects are maintained

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18073

Public colleges, universities seeking nearly $1 billion in 2024 for capital improvements

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18069

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE

Committee advances bill to ban ‘reprehensible’ buying and selling of human bones

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18067

CIVIL LAW
Measure would keep the information assault victims share with advocates private

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18096

CONSUMERS

Online marketing prioritizes ‘profits over our kids,' says House lawmaker — she aims to change that

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18088

Bill calling for added protections for online ticket buyers advances in House

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18079

EDUCATION
Legislators consider increasing funding to recovery school program funding for first time in decade

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18092

School boards — not education commissioner — could approve four-day school weeks

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18089

Grants could allow more young Minnesota drivers to hit the road

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18081

ELECTIONS
Lawmaker says ‘aggressive’ action needed to combat use of AI, deepfakes in MN elections

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18085

EMPLOYMENT

Clarification to earned sick and safe time law could add air flight crews

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18098

All employees could get access to their personnel records

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18078

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Would bottle deposit solve Minnesota’s waste problem? Or just nickel-and-dime consumers?

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18091

Packaging waste costs could be delivered from consumers to producers

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18084

Minnesota without loons? House committee addresses state of the state’s climate

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18082

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Proposal would introduce state licensing for clinical art therapists

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18095

Child care crisis, workforce crisis meet in House hearing

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18093

House lawmakers open debate on health insurance public option

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18077

Proposal seeks to establish food assistance as medicine pilot program

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18074

Employed adults with a disability seek medical coverage guarantee

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18071

Somali community’s mental health focus of House bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18066

HIGHER EDUCATION

Band on hand, University of Minnesota leaders seek $45 million budget boost

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18094

Minnesota State chancellor tells higher ed committee it needs $61 million boost

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18075

HOUSING
Housing panel OKs bill that would protect tenants from landlords’ retaliation

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18090

Lawmakers seek solution to Minnesota’s affordable housing gap

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18083

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Should vacant county attorney, sheriff positions be filled by appointment or special election?

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18086

MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS
Recruitment bonus program considered to boost Minnesota National Guard enlistment

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18068

PUBLIC SAFETY

Public safety panel advances bill to expand immunity protections to people reporting overdoses

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18097

STATE GOVERNMENT

Legislation would throw flag on unruly youth sports spectators

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18076

TAXES

Property tax panel debates whether level of aid to cities, counties is enough

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18087

House panel hears Minnesota's new child tax credit up and running

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18080

House passes standard deduction remedy, sends bill to Senate

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18070

TRANSPORTATION

Written portion of driver’s tests should steer clear of confusing language, House lawmaker says

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18072