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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Dan Fabian (R)

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Capitol Update from Rep. Dan Fabian

Friday, April 7, 2017

Dear Neighbors,

Here is an update from the Capitol.

Budget Bills

Last week, the House acted on several bills including the Tax, Transportation, Education and Environment budget bills. This week, the House passed (or are set to pass today) our remaining budget bills.

Here are highlights from legislation the House acted on this week:

Agriculture

This bill is about standing with our farmers and agriculture community. The bill continues support for production agriculture research, ag education, farm safety and youth development. It also focuses on growing agro-economy industries, and works to attract a new generation to farming. Finally, it also includes funding I spearheaded for wolf and elk depredation. You can catch a short video of me talking more about the Agriculture bill here.

Public Safety

This bill first and foremost is about giving law enforcement the tools they need to keep folks in our state safe. The bill increases penalties for those illegally protesting on highways, and also provides new revenue to address terrorist recruitment and domestic violence. Finally, the bill increases penalties for convicted sexual predators and those who possess and disseminate child pornography.

Higher Education

This budget bill addresses college affordability including tuition freezes and reductions at two and four year MnSCU schools across the state. It also expands student loan debt counseling and provides additional opportunities for students to access higher education.

Legacy

For folks in rural Minnesota, this bill stops the continued purchasing of new lands by the state, and also provides $22 million in aid to counties to help them implement the buffer law.

State Government Finance

This budget bill works to check state government growth and spending, stopping the double-digit state agency budget increases. The bill caps political appointee severance pay, caps growth of hiring new full-time employees, and includes reforms to the troubled Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority. What’s more, the bill also protects funding for veterans programs for those who honorably served our nation.

Job Growth and Energy Affordability

This bill does a number of great things for folks in Northwest Minnesota. It works to lower energy costs for consumers by reducing and streamlining the regulation process for energy providers. It also improves vocational training for folks who want to enter in the trades, as well as provides grants for Greater Minnesota businesses looking to expand, enabling them to provide job training. There are also provisions in the bill to help with the Digi-Key expansion which will create new jobs and give an economic boost to our area.

Health and Human Services

The Health and Human Services bill focuses on taking care of our most vulnerable, and aims to return our state to a national leader in health care by getting rid of our broken health care exchange, MNsure.

The next step for all of the budget bills will be to enter into conference committee negotiations with the Senate. I will keep you updated.

Town Hall Schedule

Just a quick reminder that I will be hosting three town hall meetings next week in Roseau, Karlstad and Thief River Falls. I hope to see you there!

House Image

The Stanley Cup Visits Saint Paul

House Image

The Stanley Cup made a stop at the Capitol this week. I talked a little bit about some of the great hockey players from Northwest Minnesota in a short video you can see here.

Follow me on Facebook!

To stay up-to-date on what’s happening at your State Capitol, feel free to “like” my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RepDanFabian.

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My door is always open to the needs and priorities of our area. Please feel free to let me know if I can be of assistance to you and your family. I am here to serve you!

Dan

**Encourage your neighbors and friends to sign up for my email updates at www.house.mn/01A