This past week saw the House pass one of the first 10 bills introduced in 2019 as part of the DFL’s Minnesota Values Agenda, when members voted 70-59 Thursday night in favor of HF5, the paid family and medical leave bill, after several hours of debate.
There may be more lengthy debates on those priority bills in the near future, considering Monday’s House Ways and Means Committee agenda. During their first meeting of next week, members are scheduled to discuss HF1, which would boost funding for early education initiatives, and HF4, a bill meant to prevent prescription drug price gouging.
That hearing signals the start of the busy week, though at least it should be easier to find those evening meetings (spring forward, everyone).
But before we look ahead, here’s one last look at the past 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.
[WATCH Weekly recap on YouTube]
AGRICULTURE
House passes $50 million bill to fund farmer loans
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14166
Struggling farmers could see relief from loan fees
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14160
Lawmakers consider higher ethanol standard, E15
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14139
BUSINESS AND COMMERCE
Starting Line: No more doggies in the window at retail pet shops
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14130
CIVIL LAW
House panel OKs bill to modernize Minnesota’s guardianship statute
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14137
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
New center could help Indigenous Peoples Task Force expand programming
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14158
EDUCATION
Committee approves bill to alter teacher licensure system
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14157
OLA report on compensatory education revenue impact raises questions
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14150
As more students opt out of state testing, lawmakers consider best way to measure performance
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14145
Division considers ongoing funding for Dreamline mentoring program
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14140
Pilot program aims to increase the number of K-12 industrial tech teachers
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14134
ELECTIONS
Secretary of state promises new safeguards after primary poll finder issue
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14152
Minnesota should ‘step up’ to auto voter registration, DFLer says
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14151
EMPLOYMENT
House passes bill on paid family and medical benefits
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14165
Funds sought to boost program targeted at helping Minnesotans with disabilities
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14136
ENERGY
Prairie Island aims to become a net-zero energy community
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14163
Clean Energy First Act rises again, slightly revised
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14142
Support for energy efficiency projects could help nursing homes, communities
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14132
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Experts want to study how chronic wasting disease flows in state's waterways
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14153
MN could become first state to ban widely-used dry cleaning chemical
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14146
Lawmakers grapple with growing, and likely overflowing, Minnesota River
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14133
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Family planning grants need state funding to make up for federal cuts
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14162
State health officials: $21 million needed to address potential MN COVID-19 outbreak
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14155
Committee OKs effort to extend health care for new mothers from two months to a year
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14144
$20 million sought to address child care shortage in Greater Minnesota
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14138
No cases yet, but Minnesota braces for COVID-19
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14131
HIGHER EDUCATION
Should college athletes be paid for their name or likeness?
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14156
HOUSING
Requiring eviction notices could help tenants and landlords resolve disputes
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14147
PUBLIC SAFETY
Report: Action needed to reduce ‘deadly force encounters’ with police
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14154
Process for handling complaints against correctional officers approved
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14148
Public safety bill targets $10 million to statewide crack down on violent crime, domestic abuse
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14143
STATE GOVERNMENT
Bill would restore staff funding to Office on the Economic Status of Women
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14149
TAXES
Tax on trade-ins would be no more under ‘Willmar plan’
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14161
Bill would keep historic structure credit from going off into the sunset
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14141
Tax division hears how nearly $1 million in local aid was overpaid
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14135
TRANSPORTATION
REAL ID deadline nears and lawmakers fret over low number of Minnesotans who have one
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14164
Bonding division hears Northstar line extension request
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/14159