Week in Review: April 11-15

With omnibus finance bills gone from their proverbial grips, most House committees and divisions are done meeting for the 2016 session. The final committee deadline is next Thursday, when the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills, meaning action in those committees are expected daily in the coming week. Things are also expected to be a little livelier on the House Floor with more bills expected to be brought up for debate.

Representatives began this past week by passing fantasy sports and fireworks bills off the House Floor, and ended it when the supplemental omnibus health and human services finance bill received committee approval.

In between, a handful of budget bills got House committee blessings and many other issues were looked at including: soccer stadium tax breaks, transgender bathrooms, patent-trolling, “autocycles” and funding for a Capitol renovation celebration.

Before looking ahead to next week; let’s take a look at what you may have missed the past five days.

Stay up-to-date on House news and updates throughout the week at Session Daily. 

AGRICULTURE

State’s response to ag-related emergencies is the goal of funding bill

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10121

CIVIL LAW

Real ID implementation could cost state $5 million

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10137

Safety, discrimination focus of concerns over proposed restroom restrictions

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10120

COMMERCE

Patent-trolling protection passes House

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10133

CONSUMERS

Fantasy sports may get their own place in state law

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10116

DEVELOPMENT

New soccer stadium seen as way to revitalize ‘underutilized’ area

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10125

EDUCATION

Education finance bill is long on policy but short on funding

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10122

ENERGY

Legislators mull emission allowances for Clean Power Plan

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10124

ENVIRONMENT

Concerns surround DNR’s supplemental budget bill

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10131

Lower sales tax receipt projections could impact Legacy spending

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10115

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Young families face losing MA benefits over good intentions

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10126

Radon Act license fees, regulations could be reduced over concerns

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10123

Services for blind seniors would support independent living

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10114

Omnibus HHS finance bill would keep funding flat, repeal MNsure

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10138

HIGHER EDUCATION

Higher education committee approves lean omnibus bill

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10128

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Local governments seek to donate surplus equipment

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10135

MILTARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

Concealed carry permit extension proposed for certain military members

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10112

PUBLIC SAFETY

Little policy, even less money in omnibus public safety bill

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10129

Fireworks expansion no dud, passed 73-56 by House

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10117

“Killed in the line of duty’ conformity advances in committee process

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10118

RECREATION AND TOURISM

Minnesota Index: Tourism by the numbers

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10113

STATE GOVERNMENT

Multi-million dollar spending cut sought in state government finance bill is approved

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10136

House gives its OK to start plan for a party ‘like it’s 1905’

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10134

TAXES

Tax credit proposed to help parents who have stillborn child but still face costs

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10119

TRANSPORTATION

House makes move to open ‘autocycles’ to more drivers

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10132

Dayton’s supplemental transportation budget faces criticism in committee

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=10127