Week in Review: Feb. 20-24

The House began the week with good spirits, passing a bill to approve off-sale Sunday liquor sales during a Monday Floor session. It ended the week on the Floor Thursday by passing a trio of bills, including one to enhance state drivers’ licenses that would enable Minnesotans to board commercial aircraft in the future without problem.

In between, committees were the place to be as myriad issues were discussed. Alphabetically speaking, they include: attorney fees, farm odors, fireworks, foster care, freeway protesters, Met Council reform, prescription painkillers, tax filing, teacher licensure, truck weights, veterans homes and wetlands. TGIF!

You think that’s a lot? Just wait. A handful of committees have already indicated potential night meetings as the first committee deadline, March 10, creeps closer.

But before looking ahead to next week; let’s take a look at what you may have missed this week.

Check out the latest gallery from House Photography and stay up-to-date on House news and updates throughout the week at Session Daily.

AGRICULTURE

Stink over farm odors has some doing more than plugging their nose

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12551

Seeds planted for ag teacher grant programs

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12562

BUSINESS

Canterbury Park hoping for ‘lights on’ funding

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12569

CIVIL LAW

Capping attorney fees seen as path to early court settlements

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12550

COMMERCE

Life insurance ‘the way it should be’ – not for terrorists

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12567

CONSUMERS

History: House easily passes bill allowing off-sale Sunday liquor sales

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12547

EDUCATION

Volkswagen settlement funds create clash of ideas

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12573

Proposed teacher licensure changes create optimism, concerns

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12559

Reduced-cost teaching credit program proposed for teachers

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12558

Minnesota Index: Early education participation

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12548

ENVIRONMENT

Wetlands bill passes removing construction roadblocks

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12580

Environment committee wades into groundwater permitting changes

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12572

Legacy committee takes action to prevent budget shortfalls

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12546

FAMILY

Advocates call for more support for foster, adoptive families

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12571

Bill would give child care red tape a tug

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12563

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Not enough training sites for future medical professionals

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12576

Grants could expand mental health care for children at schools

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12566

Abuse of prescription painkillers called ‘full-scale crisis’

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12555

Time-off options critical to those providing homecare for loved ones

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12561

HIGHER EDUCATION

Legislators select four to University of Minnesota Board of Regents

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12570

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Local elected officials would fill Met Council under proposed overhaul

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12549

MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

Bemidji, Montevideo jockey for $16 million for new veterans homes

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12545

PUBLIC SAFETY

Protest on a freeway? Public safety committee approves tougher penalties

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12564

Fireworks expansion bill blasts forward to next committee

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12554

Harassment restraining order delivery changes proposed

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12574

Keeping meds out of waterways, away from others prompts call for safe disposal

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12552

Point-of-sale skimming sanctions approved by public safety committee

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12553

STATE GOVERNMENT

Bill to bar state contractors from boycotting Israel passes House

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12579

State employee incentive program needs oversight, lawmakers say

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12577

Nonpartisan office proposed to estimate bill costs

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12556

TAXES

Governor’s tax bill calls for $79 million in change

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12565

Online tax filing? Study would examine the easier option

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12560

TRANSPORTATION

House OKs REAL ID

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12578

A weighty question: bigger trucks on the road good or bad?

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12568

Republicans propose redirecting General Fund revenues to roads, bridges

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12557

Starting Line: Would permits increase safety along urban bicycle lanes

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12544