Week in Review: April 9-13

Lawmakers hardly missed a beat this week, picking up where they left off before the Easter/Passover break with a slate of meetings that included Thursday’s House Ways and Means Committee hearing where this year’s budget targets were set.

With those numbers in hand, committees can now dig into the specifics of this year’s omnibus budget bills, and they will be racing to meet the April 20 third committee deadline by when major appropriation and finance bills must be acted upon. 

But before looking too far ahead, let’s look back 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

Proposed buffer fine draws fierce criticism — and an apology

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13234

BUDGET

Tax relief focus of House budget targets

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13232

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE

Don’t blink — bill would rescind a 2-year-old eyelash extension licensing law

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13238

House OKs measure to require contractors, insurers to provide clearer information

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13239

Bill amending credit union internal governance, guidelines for expelling members passes House

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13240

EDUCATION

Starting Line: Lawmaker offers proposal to strengthen civics knowledge

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13211

Special ed, pre-k funding, school safety top governor’s E-12 supplemental budget proposal

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13221

Committee considers quick fix for special education cross-subsidy issue

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13231

Pregnant and parenting teens could benefit from expanded transportation services

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13242

ELECTIONS
Proposed primary shift meets concern from secretary of state

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13223

ENERGY

Bill to remove state’s solar energy goal would send ‘powerful signal,' state official tells lawmakers

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13243

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

A second attempt at funding water quality projects axed from 2017 Legacy bill

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13213

Updated water act would expand financial assistance for local projects

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13214

Landfill legislation seeks to balance environmental, financial concerns

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13224

Solid waste collection bill heads to Senate

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13237

FAMILY

Committee hears plan to address child care crisis in Greater Minnesota

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13229

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Committee looks at Little Falls opioid reduction as a model for hospitals

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13222

Lawmakers engage in heated exchanges as committee considers new SNAP benefit requirements

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13227

Funding sought to keep suicide hotline open

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13241

HIGHER EDUCATION

Tuition freezes, campus support top governor’s higher ed supplemental spending wish list

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13218

How to solve the skilled-workforce shortage? Lawmakers consider going back to the basics

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13230

MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

Where to build MN's next vets home? Lawmakers face tough call in possible bonding proposal

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13212

PUBLIC SAFETY

Keeping safe in digital age focus of two bills held over by House committee

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13215

State seeks more funding to advocate for childrens' welfare in court

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13219

Bill would toughen state penalties on child porn offenders

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13225

Bill targets prostitution customers with tougher penalties

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13235

RECREATION AND TOURISM

House passes modifications to carbon monoxide detector requirements on boats

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13236

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

High-speed internet 'as necessary to my education as a pen and paper,' advocates of broadband expansion tell lawmakers

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13233

STATE GOVERNMENT

Report highlights former IT official’s missteps — but he points to agency’s wider shortcomings

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13217

Lawmakers hear $30 million request for Capitol security upgrades

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13220

Lawmakers' attempt to make MN.IT ‘more efficient’ worries agency head

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13226

TAXES

Tax credits could become a tool in fixing Minnesota’s child care crisis

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13216

Cities could see $30 million increase in local government aid

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13228