Minnesota Legislature
Session Daily Archive
A compendium of Session Daily articles dating back to 2004
Results:
Overburdened public defenders, legal aid lawyers air concerns before House panel
By Tim Walker
Minnesota’s public defenders are overworked and underpaid, and the COVID-19 pandemic has added to the challenges they face when representing clients at criminal trials.
Budget officials: low interest rates serve state well at bond sale
By Rob Hubbard
When Minnesota sells general obligation bonds, it’s best for its budget to do so when interest rates are low. That way, the state will hold down its debt and make more money available to the General Fund over time.
Spread of state’s coronavirus relief funds deemed a success
By Rob Hubbard
A fast-paced, five-month process got federal money to programs for residents, small businesses and nonprofits in need, with 99.6% of the money successfully meted out between June and December.
Health officials update lawmakers on wide-ranging pandemic response
By Victoria Cooney
More than 400,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been identified in the state and responding to the pandemic has proven to be the Minnesota Department of Health's largest endeavor ever, Deputy Commissioner Margaret Kelly told the House Health Finance and Policy Committee Wednesday.
State modifies schools plan with goal of more young learners back in classroom
By Rachel Kats
State officials have modified a plan they hope will help get more children safely back in classrooms.
Ag officials detail efforts to help meat processers, providers
By Nate Gotlieb
Since Minnesota farmers were forced to euthanize tens of thousands of hogs and turkeys last spring because of COVID-19-related closures of processing plants, state leaders have been looking to make the processing industry more resilient.
DFL leaders outline top early priorities for 2021 session
By Mike Cook
After 2020 was dominated by the coronavirus, top House DFLers say their immediate 2021 priorities are to assist people most impacted by COVID-19.
Homelessness in MN sees slight decrease, but advocates say troubling trends persist
By Nate Gotlieb
The number of people experiencing homelessness in the state has decreased about 5% since 2014, when the agency launched a plan to end and prevent homelessness, officials said.
New House panel to focus on addiction, mental health services
By Victoria Cooney
The House Behavioral Health Policy Division – new this session – will allow lawmakers to focus on bringing improvements and innovation to a system that is key to helping people in need, but that has major gaps.
After spring concerns, budget officials say Legacy balances are healthy
By Rob Hubbard
When Minnesota Management and Budget projected last May that state sales tax revenues would likely plummet, there was a big ripple effect for Minnesota’s artists, museums, libraries, zoos, parks, trails, wetlands, forests, prairies, and efforts to keep the state's waters clean.
Industrial education committee hears proposal to address teacher shortages
By Tim Walker
The goal of the legislation is “to ensure that every high school senior in Minnesota would have the option of graduating not just with a traditional degree, but also with an employable skill set,” Rep. Gene Pelowski said.
Students give distance learning model a failing grade
By Rachel Kats
Many school districts have been operating within a distance-learning model since the COVID-19 pandemic began last spring. Nearly a year into the modified instruction, students say it isn’t measuring up.
House panel approves $61 million for environmental projects
By Nate Gotlieb
An annual bill that approves funding for dozens of water quality, research, environmental protection and environmental education projects has been approved by a House committee after falling victim to a partisan disagreement last summer.
State judiciary has taken ‘unprecedented steps’ to operate safely in pandemic
By Tim Walker
The Minnesota Judicial Branch has undertaken several initiatives to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, such as transitioning judges and staff to working remotely, holding hearings remotely, and developing new health and safety protocols that have allowed some cases to resume inside modified courtrooms.
Testifiers tell House panel climate isn’t the only thing changing
By Rob Hubbard
Nine Minnesotans testified to how they have had to adapt to changes that climate scientists believe are caused by greenhouse gas emissions. How the state addresses those emissions is expected to be an increasingly hot topic in legislative debates this session.
