House division discusses differences, common ground with Senate on policing proposals
By Rob Hubbard
During June’s eight-day special session, the House passed a package of about 20 proposals crafted in response to the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd while in police custody. The Senate passed five public-safety-related bills of its own and put forth some other proposals during negotiations on the session’s final night.
So why didn’t a deal get done on some compromise legislation?
That question was the catalyst for a two-hour informational hearing held by the House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy Division Wednesday. The division looked at offers from each body, their similarities and differences, and had testifiers and members weigh in on some of their features.
To hear the division chair, Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL-St. Paul), tell it, House negotiators had put forth a proposal when Senate members withdrew from the meeting and adjourned the session sine die early on the morning of June 20.
Recent Dailies
Higher ed omnibus bill gains division approval
By Rob Hubbard HF3392 was approved by the division on a 10-7 party line vote, and is on its way to the House Ways and Means Committee.Committee approves creation of cybersecurity commission
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HF4536 would establish the Legislative Commission on Cybersecurity, an eight-member group of legislators who would stay abreast of the latest threats and oversee the state’s response to them.
A red-number day: state’s new budget forecast projects $2.4 billion deficit
By Mike Cook
Officials from Minnesota Management and Budget released a budget projection showing the state faces a nearly $2.43 billion deficit for the remainder of the current biennium, which ends June 30, 2021.
Moratorium on new local sales tax requests part of property and local taxes mini-omnibus
By Rob Hubbard A moratorium on new sales tax requests is part of the delete-all amendment for HF346, which is something of a mini-omnibus bill designed to become part of the larger omnibus tax bill.House OKs elections bill that aims to minimize risk of voting amidst pandemic
By Jonathan Avise
House lawmakers on Monday passed a bipartisan package of elections measures meant to keep Minnesota’s voters and poll workers safe in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
House passes added wage protections for hourly school workers
By Rachel Kats
HF4415 would require school districts and charter schools to pay hourly employees for the scheduled hours they were unable to work due to coronavirus-related closures.
Division-approved bill aims to reduce prekindergarten suspensions, expulsions
By Rachel Kats
A bill to limit the circumstances under which a school could expel or suspend a child from a school-based prekindergarten program received division approval.
Legislation aims for better bias-motivated crime reporting, response
By Tim Walker
The bill would modify several requirements in state law related to identifying, responding to, and reporting crimes motivated by bias against all protected classes under the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
'Prudent, restrained' omnibus E-12 education finance bill gets division OK
By Rachel Kats
Responding to the current public health and economic crisis, the omnibus E-12 education finance bill seeks to make small but strategic investments to bolster educational opportunities, provide districts more flexibility and ensure hourly school staff receive pay, its sponsor says.
Week in Review: April 27-May 1
By HPIS Staff
A look back at what happened in the Minnesota House of Representatives the week of April 27-May 1.
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Socially distant but emotionally resonant — retirement speeches highlight friendships, look to future
By Victoria Cooney
Monday afternoon marked the end of the 2020 regular legislative session, and the retirements of more than a dozen representatives, who thanked family, House staff, mentors, and friends – especially those in the Legislature.
State of the State: Walz urges Minnesotans to stick together during troubling time
By Rob Hubbard
During his annual State of the State address Sunday evening, Walz warned that darker days lie ahead as Minnesotans brave the COVID-19 virus that’s reached across the world and currently has North America in its grip.
