Week in Review: May 1-5

Conference committees across the budgetary spectrum began the week approving delete-all amendments that showcased priorities, generally Republican, within their spending areas. Now, Minnesotans wait for negotiations behind closed doors to conclude between legislative leaders and Gov. Mark Dayton.

Judging by the immediate negative reaction by many commissioners and DFL members, it could be a busy time leading up to May 22, the date by which the Legislature must constitutionally finish its work. All omnibus bills contain some policy provisions, something Dayton has continually said he is against.

“If they’re willing to drop the policy and deal with the budget, then I’m very confident we’ll conclude on time,” Dayton said Thursday. “If they insist on going through every policy item blow by blow, we’ll be here until January.”

Two days after unveiling proposal details, the House Capital Investment Committee approved a bonding bill Wednesday and many health and human services bills were passed by the House Thursday.

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

After ‘some hiccups,’ omnibus agriculture finance bill takes shape

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12835

House passes extension for food safety task force

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12819

BONDING

House Capital Investment Committee approves $600 million bonding plan

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12840

House Republicans release $600 million capital investment plan

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12827

BUDGET

Policy inserts cause hang-ups, but ag, higher ed budget talks ‘progressing’

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12846

Legislative leaders, governor lay out framework for budget negotiations

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12839

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE

Gambling in Minnesota: Betting big

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12816

EDUCATION

Conferees agree to omnibus education finance proposal that defunds voluntary pre-k

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12837

General education aid calculation cleanup passes House

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12817

Proposal calls for licensure board to evaluate teacher candidates

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12818

EMPLOYMENT

Conference committee amends jobs and energy bill

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12829

Ramsey County work program for Minnesotans with a disability OK’d

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12820

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Final version of omnibus environment bill takes shape

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12830

House votes to extend some solid waste permits by seven years

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12844

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Home care providers could see more training options

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12848

Biological medical products need pharmacy law inclusion

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12847

New payment plan would compensate children’s hospitals

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12845

Confidentiality clarifications needed to 72-hour hold law

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12843

State licensure could remain open to physicians trained overseas

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12842

Clarification of after-discharge CEMT support gets House OK

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12841

Practice of female genital mutilation draws concern from legislators

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12838

Omnibus health and human services bill amended, adopted

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12832

Interagency agreements on request not required, House says

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12823

HIGHER EDUCATION

Higher education conference committee amends omnibus proposal, seeks unity

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12828

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

House OKs technical changes to Ramsey County human resources statutes

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12826

Posting proposed ordinances online not only good enough, House bill says

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12825

Loosening local government purse strings for events gets House OK
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12824

Sixty-year-old trophy spending cap could be shelved

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12822

Let local governments pay claims electronically, House says

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12821

PUBLIC SAFETY

Preliminary public safety plan gets conference committee OK

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12834

STATE GOVERNMENT

Administration officials decry amended omnibus state government bill

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12836

TAXES

Tax bill dwarfs other priorities, revenue commissioner tells conferees

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12831

TRANSPORTATION

Conferees strike transportation deal, but leave it open to more negotiation

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/SDView.aspx?StoryID=12833