‘No easy fix:’ legislative reform subcommittee holds first meeting
By Jonathan Mohr
When the 2019 regular legislative session failed to produce an agreement on nearly all major budget bills needed to fund the state government for the next two years, lawmakers were forced into a one-day special session to wrap up their work.
Such special sessions have become the rule rather than the exception in recent years, and they’re one of the reasons the House Subcommittee on Legislative Process Reform was created.
“Minnesotans expect and deserve a modern, efficient, and transparent legislative process,” House Speaker Melissa Hortman said in a statement.
At its first meeting Wednesday, members received overviews from nonpartisan staff on the state’s budget process and how several House committees and divisions navigated that process during the 2019 session, as well as past process reform efforts.
Recent Dailies
House calls on Congress to remove ERA deadline
By Jonathan Mohr
Forty-six years after Minnesota ratified the Equal Rights Amendment, the House on Friday renewed its call for Congress to constitutionally enshrine gender equality.
Small claims bill receives overwhelming House support
By Mike Cook Each year, a joint House-Senate Subcommittee on Claims decides which claims against the state it should fund.Assisted living licensure bill passes House, despite minority's complaint it was ‘incomplete’
By Victoria Cooney
Minnesota could join the country’s other 49 states in requiring licensure for assisted living facilities
House OKs bill to address ‘historic epidemic’ of violence against indigenous women
By Tim Walker
HF70 would create a task force to analyze systemic reasons for the high rate of violence against Native American women and girls in the state and track the number of those who have gone missing.
'The least we can do:' lawmakers get stranded Argosy students closer to state financial help
By Rob Hubbard
Rep. Connie Bernardy comments during floor debate May 9 on HF2849, which would provide financial aid to former students of Argosy University in Eagan, which abruptly closed in March. Photo by Paul Battaglia
Could increased oversight of pharmacy benefit managers provide starting point for broader healthcare reforms?
By Victoria Cooney
Dramatic and sudden increases in prescription costs have put people’s lives at risk, and Republican and DFL members of the House agree that something needs to be done to address the root causes of the problem.
Four University of Minnesota regents chosen by joint House/Senate convention
By Rob Hubbard
After months of discussion, the House and Senate met in a joint convention Thursday and elected four new members of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents.
Cannabis bills are a case study on amending state constitution
By Tim Walker
Different bills proposing to legalize recreational marijuana in Minnesota highlight different approaches to changing state law.
Spending, policy divide not as deep for agriculture conferees
By Erin Martin
House and Senate negotiators are tasked with reconciling a $73 million divide in one of the smaller legislative budget bills.
Disciplinary practices, cursive requirement among policy differences in education finance bills
By Rachel Kats
There were plenty of questions Tuesday, but not much debate, as conferees began reviewing language differences between the House and Senate versions of the omnibus education finance bill.
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House DFL outlines $47.8 billion 2020-21 spending proposal
By Rachel Kats
The plan, dubbed the “Minnesota Values Budget,” would increase spending by $416.9 million over the 2020-21 biennium’s projected base budget.
Budget forecast: Projected surplus drops by almost $500 million, still tops $1 billion
By Mike Cook
The state has a $1.05 billion projected budget surplus for the upcoming biennium, Minnesota Management and Budget officials announced Thursday.
Walz budget would raise gas tax, emphasize education, health care
By Rob Hubbard
Education, health care and community prosperity are key targets for funding in the 2020-21 biennial budget proposed by Gov. Tim Walz.
Committee deadlines for 2019 unveiled
By Mike Cook
Legislators and the public officially know the timeline for getting bills through the committee process.
