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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Ben Lien (DFL)

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Legislative Update - April 15, 2016

Friday, April 15, 2016

Greetings from the Floor,

Bills passed by the House this week were:

  • HF 2540: Authorizing and regulating fantasy sports in Minnesota

  • HF 1089: Allowing for the sale of fireworks in Minnesota that are not currently allowed

  • HF 1003: Conference Committee Report to allow local governments to donate used equipment to non-profit organizations

  • HF 3014: Autocycle regulations established

  • HF 1586: Bad faith assertions of patent infringements prohibited

  • SF 2850: Minnesota State Capitol grand reopening fundraising authorized

Last week the House Majority released budget targets for all House committees this session.  Budget targets are largely the amounts of money each committee is authorized to work with for the next fiscal year.  This year the targets are for supplemental budgeting in relation to the state’s current $900 million surplus.  New funding was authorized for the Job Growth and Energy Affordability Committee to expand broadband into Greater Minnesota.  The committee was given a target of $11.6 million to put $13 million into broadband development in fiscal year 2017 and $15 million for fiscal year 2018.  The full broadband funding is based on cuts in other areas of the committee’s budget in fiscal year 2017 and the Legislature appropriating the remaining $18 million for fiscal year 2018 during the next legislative session.  The Environment and Natural Resource Committee was given a target of $3.9 million in anticipation of lawsuits around the DNR’s environmental review (and possible permits) for the Polymet copper-nickel mining on the Iron Range. 

No new money was authorized for education (early childhood, K-12 or higher education) or health and human services.  Cuts were made to the Agriculture, Transportation, Public Safety and State Government Committees.  Cuts were also made to the state’s debt service capacity which will result in a Capital Investment bill of $600 million (this is $800 million less than what Gov. Dayton proposed).  Details of the House Capital Investment Committee’s bill have not been released, so I don’t what specific projects will be included.  For more information about the House budget targets, please read this House Session Daily article: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10101

The Senate Majority released its budget targets on Wednesday.  I haven’t seen details of the targets, but I do know the overall amount is $789 million.  Also, it sounds like the Senate Capital Investment bill will be closer to the governor’s number and allow for over $1 billion in infrastructure project investments.

A couple of local events I want to let people know about:

  • April 19: MNDOT is hosting an informal open house for people to learn more about the 8th Street/Highway 75 and I-94 construction project to begin later this year. The event will be at the Courtyard Marriott (1080 28thAve S, Moorhead) from 4 to 7 pm.

  • April 20: Education Minnesota’s Student Program at Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) is hosting a panel to discuss education reform, charter schools, standardized testing and access to equitable education.  The event begins at 7 pm and will be held at the Comstock Memorial Union on the MSUM campus.

  • April 22: Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA), Greater Minnesota Housing Fund and USDA Rural Development is hosting a community conversation about housing needs in Becker, Clay, Otter Tail and Wilkin Counties.  MHFA Commissioner Tingerthal will be at the event.  The event goes from 10 am to 3 pmand will be at the Days Inn of Moorhead (630 30th Ave S, Moorhead).  To register for the event, please go tohttp://www.cvent.com/events/moorhead-area-housing-community-dialogue/event-summary-3fc9836bcb7e4a3d9c88e1e95bdf1f00.aspx.

Thank You for the Opportunity to Serve,

Ben