Week in Review: Jan. 22-25

Three weeks of the 2019 legislative session are now in the books and it appears things may be picking up starting next week.

Committees, subcommittees and divisions have spent much of January receiving overviews of issues within their respective jurisdictions, but the House schedule shows more bills are expected to be heard. Among the issues on the docket next week are: help for furloughed federal workers, paid family leave, sales tax exemptions, sexual misconduct, automatic voter registration, opioids and security breach notifications. See the schedule here.

But before looking too far ahead, check out the latest gallery by House Photography and take a look back at what you may have missed this week.

AGRICULTURE

Ag panel hears plea for boost in rural mental health funding

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13500

U of M seeks funds to develop test for chronic wasting disease

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13492

Dairy farmers could have hope in the face of loss

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13482

EDUCATION

Investments in early childhood could prevent, close skills gaps, committee hears

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13501

Relationships play key role in students’ academic success

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13496

ELECTIONS

Starting Line: Should Minnesota implement automatic voter registration

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13489

EMPLOYMENT

Labor committee advances bill to help land construction apprenticeships

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13494

ENERGY

Energy and climate division discusses how far, fast to shift toward renewables

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13502

ENVIRONMENT

Greenhouse gas emissions down — but still falling short of goals

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13487

Party lines drawn in disagreement over landfill cleanup appropriation

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13504

Anoka County landfill cleanup requires additional funding

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13484

Federal shutdown environmental impact muted at state level, but lasting effects likely

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13486

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

More kids than ever need mental health services, members hear during joint meeting

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13488

HOUSING

Scarce affordable housing causing a crisis for urban, rural Minnesota families

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13491

Homeowners may be able to reject racially restrictive covenants in titles

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13483

PUBLIC SAFETY

District court judges set to ask for 5 percent salary increase

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13493

House panel hears assaults on prison staff up sharply

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13495

STATE GOVERNMENT

Results First aims to help legislators make better decisions

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13503

House committee takes action on Equal Rights Amendment

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13499

Rules committee resumes debate over committee structure, transparency

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13505

TAXES

Revenue Department lays out changes as calendar turns to tax season

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13498

Tax committee considers the fiscal upshots of non-conformity

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13490

Taxes committee begins taking up conformity

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13481

TRANSPORTATION

Hands-free cellphone bill clears its first House hurdle

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13485