TGIF.
A House Floor session that ended just before midnight Thursday; a hearing on two gun-control bills ended about 24 hours earlier and many committees and divisions having night meetings. It can probably be said that members (and staff) need some R&R.
The first committee deadline is March 15, meaning lengthy agendas are appearing on the House schedule for the upcoming week. And spending hopes may have been dashed with news the state’s forecast budget surplus dropping by $492 million.
Before looking ahead to next week; let’s take a look 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
Effort to bolster perennial crops, improve water quality advances
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13667
BONDING
State public TV stations seek $15 million for equipment, infrastructure upgrades
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13661
Governor seeks $1.3 billion for capital projects
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13651
BUDGET
Budget forecast: Projected surplus drops by almost $500 million, still tops $1 billion
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13673
BUSINESS AND COMMERCE
Liquor store owners seek to shift Sunday sales hours
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/Story/13682
Bills seek to ease tax burden for charitable gambling
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessiondaily/Story/13683
House votes to eliminate family exclusions in certain insurance policies
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13680
Bill to raise age for buying tobacco to 21 moves forward
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13660
EDUCATION
Calling current curriculum inadequate, advocates call for comprehensive sex ed in MN schools
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13685
Students could have improved access to school counselors and support staff
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13676
Proposal would aim to increase percentage of teachers of color
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13671
Governor seeks additional $733 million for E-12 education funding
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13664
Students could be required to take personal finance course
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13659
Regional public libraries could see funding increase
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13652
Committee considers changes to special education services
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13648
Starting Line: Grant program could help school spay for solar power
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13646
ENERGY
Data access could aid energy decisions – or invade your privacy
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13678
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Environment panel considers expanded drinking water protections
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13647
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
House division approves hearing aid insurance mandate
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13670
People with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders could get support through brain injury waiver
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13669
Future tobacco-use prevention efforts could be funded by litigation
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13665
HIGHER EDUCATION
For Minnesotans mired in student debt, help could be on the way
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13657
HOUSING
Could donors aid state’s efforts to tackle lack of affordable housing?
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13662
PUBLIC SAFETY
Public safety panel wraps up work by approving ‘Red Flag’ gun-control bill
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13677
Background check gun bill approved; risk protection order vote delayed
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13672
Bill would fund youth intervention programs with $18 million
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13668
Regulation of solitary confinement use in prisons sought
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13666
Division approves bill to limit police use of aerial drones
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13663
Parents with expunged records could petition for reunification with children
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13658
More bodies requested to monitor, support state’s inmates
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13656
Bill seeks to protect juveniles from ‘grooming’ by sexual predators
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13655
RECREATION AND TOURISM
Sound the goal horn: bucks for pucks gets division approval
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13650
STATE GOVERNMENT
Counties seek reimbursement for defending failed state auditor lawsuit
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13674
Near doubling of Department of Human Rights’ budget would expand services
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13653
TAXES
Are property taxes too high for Minnesota businesses — or not high enough?
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13675
Car-sharing services want a vehicle tax removed. I sthat fair?
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13654
TRANSPORTATION
House OKs more funding for fixing MNLARS, aid to deputy registrars
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13681
Drivers licenses for all push gets green light at first stop in House
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13679
Local governments queue up to request tax increases
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/13649