One less mandate

One legislator called it “an awful small fish to fry,” but supporters say a bill approved by a House division will mean one less mandate for local governments.

HF269, sponsored by Rep. Andy Welti (DFL-Plainview), would eliminate a requirement that local governments annually review their out-of-state travel policies.

The House Local Government Division approved the bill Feb. 9 and referred it to the House State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections Committee.

Speaking in favor of the bill, Metropolitan Inter-County Association Executive Director Keith Carlson called the requirement for annual reviews “a needless occupation of time on board agendas each year.”

Rep. Rob Eastlund (R-Isanti) questioned whether the bill would actually save local governments money, and suggested that the division may want to set its sights a little higher.

“This just seems like an awful small fish to fry here in the circumstances that we’re in,” Eastlund said.

Welti responded that the bill represented a first step toward giving local governments more flexibility.

A companion, SF307, sponsored by Sen. Rick Olseen (DFL-Harris), awaits action by the full Senate.