Dear Neighbors,
This week marked the first House committee hearings, and I am honored to be serving on a number of committees that can implement policies beneficial to Greater Minnesota. I am Vice Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee, and also serve on the Agriculture Finance, and Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance committees.
FFA
In both the Environment and Ag committees, legislators were fortunate to hear from some folks belonging to a great organization—Future Farmers of America. The FFA students who spoke before our committee were knowledgeable and well spoken, and Minnesota is lucky to have such a great group of future leaders!
Priorities for Session
For our first committee meetings, members were asked about their goals and priorities for legislation this session. I will be working on a number of initiatives that I believe can make a real difference for businesses, families and rural Minnesotans, and I would like to share a few with you.
404 Permits
Several city and county officials have shared with me the need to streamline the permitting process for 404 permits, which are needed for construction projects that involve water and wetlands. With such a short construction season in Northern Minnesota, many vital projects are slowed significantly while waiting for the Army Corps of Engineers to approve these permits. The MPCA already requires a similar permit. The legislation I am working on, similar to laws in Michigan and New Jersey, would expedite the process by allowing state government to assume the permitting process and avoid a near duplicate approval from the U.S. government. This expedited process has the potential to reduce costs and save taxpayer money.
Changes to Aquatic Invasive Species
With the best of intentions, a previous legislature passed a new requirement for anyone transporting watercrafts with a trailer to pass an online Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) certification course and receive a sticker from the DNR that would be placed on the trailer as proof of having completed the course. This requirement is set to go into effect July 1st. Many Republican legislators, including myself and the DNR believe the program is unworkable and would like to see the law repealed or changed. The time it takes for certification, the information gap for people coming to Minnesota to boat from neighboring states and the difficulties with enforceability make this AIS law a commonsense repeal this session.
Banning Net Metering
Rural municipal and co-op electric providers have come to me with safety, reliability and cost concerns regarding the practice of net metering—a system involving small solar panels sending unneeded electricity into distribution networks. Renewable energy, especially hydro, is a part of Minnesota’s evolving energy policies, but reliability, affordability and safety need to be the main drivers of electric policy. Unfortunately net metering causes a number of significant problems, and many people have complained to me about their rising electric bills. I will be working with the Chair of the House Energy Committee to craft legislation on net metering this session.
Federal Conformity
This week, House Republican leadership moved and passed a bill important to almost all taxpayers in Minnesota. Passing a tax bill to conform the state’s tax code to the federal tax code not only makes it easier to file your taxes, but it also ensures that, unlike last year, Minnesotans won’t have to file multiple returns for their 2015 taxes to get their largest possible refund.
Keeping more money in your family’s or small business’s budget is a top priority for us, and I’m glad we were able to fast track this legislation.
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.
*****
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