Week in Review: Jan. 14-18

The first full week of session is disappearing in the rear view mirror as everyone looks forward to a long holiday weekend, with the House closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

But next week’s schedule is already full of meetings and lawmakers are scheduled to hit the ground running on Tuesday, Jan. 22. The day includes a hearing on HF50, a bill that would require the use of a hands-free device to use a cellphone while driving, in the House Transportation Finance and Policy Division.

The House is also scheduled to meet in session at 11:30 a.m.

But before looking too far ahead, let’s look back at what you may have missed this week.

AGRICULTURE

Farm bill benefits slowed by federal shutdown

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13475

BONDING

Bonding division learns the state is well within debt-capacity guidelines

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13474

CIVIL LAW

Judiciary division hears workload pressures of public defenders

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13464

Recent updates to judicial programs helping litigants, others

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13470

Data Practices Act balances privacy and the public’s right to know

http://156.98.78.170/inhouse/SDEdit/DailyEditPage.aspx?es=13479

EDUCATION

Youngest Minnesotans’ health and education focus of new division

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13462

State's new teacher licensing board up and running, but challenges persist

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13466

Review of state's education funding formula highlights its complexities

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13472

ELECTIONS

House panel moves to free up federal funds for securing state’s voting system

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13469

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

New House division to address water concerns

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13460

Specialists begin to detail impacts of climate change to Minnesota

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13463

State funding to fight chronic wasting disease tops $1 million

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13465

Science offers hope in the face of aquatic invaders

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13468

Could Minnesota’s climate, landscape mirror the middle of the country? Maybe

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13477

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Long-Term Care Division learns of workforce shortage

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13461

Minnesota’s infant mortality rate fares better than national average, but not by much

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13476

HIGHER EDUCATION

Despite persistent achievement gap, college enrollment among state's students of color on the rise

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13473

HOUSING

Task Force presents possible solutions to statewide housing shortage

http://156.98.78.170/inhouse/SDEdit/DailyEditPage.aspx?es=13467

LEGACY

Evaluating, examining the Legacy Amendment a decade on

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13471

STATE GOVERNMENT

Federal shutdown's impact on Minnesota? State officials unsure

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13458

Starting Line: First bills of the 2019 legislative session

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13459

TRANSPORTATION

MnDOT head on transportation funding gap: ‘We need to do something’

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13478