Dear Neighbor,
Another busy week in the House is coming to a close. We have been working hard to move bills through the process as the House’s first deadline arrives this week. A good number of bills I am involved with have received media attention of late, including one I mentioned last week that would remove party labels from legislators. Here is a link to an article the St. Cloud Times ran this week.
A second bill I have authored was in the media this week as the focus turned to whether cameras belong in court rooms. Click here for newspaper coverage on that.
A hearing also took place for a bill (H.F. 3174) I authored for a feasibility study to examine expanding or reconstructing I-94 between St. Michael and St. Cloud. It would also add a permanent third lane between Clearwater and Monticello when the resurfacing of the right lanes between those cities takes place in 2020.
Among other bills of mine which received hearings this week is H.F. 1708, which appropriates grant funding to the Promise Neighborhood of Central Minnesota to expand their programming. The mission of Promise Neighborhood of Central Minnesota is to engage Talahi and Lincoln Elementary families in order to help them achieve their educational, economic and community aspirations. The organization has summer camps and a biweekly youth night that has math club, reading club, mentoring and tutoring. For adults there is basic computer skills classes, financial literacy workshops, health lifestyle workshops and youth men’s group.
Another bill changes the legal system so people would only lose cash, cars and other assets to the government after they have been convicted of a crime, instead of forfeiting their property in civil court before they have had a criminal conviction. This bill made headlines this week as it passed the Civil Law Committee. It is, however, a complicated bill that needs further work.
Finally a bill I authored that would reduce sales taxes on charitable gambling organizations (H.F. 3384) passed the Commerce Committee. Enactment of this bill would provide for more money to charities in our area that are funded by charitable gambling.
The biggest news from the floor this week is that both chambers approved a bill to provide $10 million to keep the state’s new vehicle licensing and registration system (MNLARS) operating as work continues to fix serious problems with the new program. Without the funding, MN.IT officials testified that MNLARS contractors would be laid off at the end of the month.
The bill also includes one measure requiring a request for information to determine whether a private vendor is a better option, and another requiring the governor’s administration to seek an extension from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for REAL ID.
Until next time, have a good weekend and your input always is welcome.
Sincerely,
Jim