Neighbors and Friends,
Legislative activity has really heated up as a flurry of bills are being heard to meet the first committee deadline at midnight today. Here is an update from the Capitol:
Storm Damage
Monday’s storm outbreak was unusual for this time of year. If you experienced any damage, the Minnesota Department of Commerce commissioner urges you to contact your insurance company to start the claims process.
For more information, visit the Department of Commerce web site for tips on how to proceed.
Committee Deadlines
Today marks the first of three legislative committee deadlines. Each year, House and Senate leaders set deadlines to manage bills as the measures make their way through the legislative process. Deadlines narrow the number of bills that receive final action
The 2017 committee deadlines:
1st deadline – Friday, March 10 at midnight
2nd deadline – Friday, March 17 at midnight
3rd deadline – Friday, March 31 at midnight
The first deadline is for committees to act favorably on bills in the house of origin; meaning a bill must be heard in either the House or Senate to continue its legislative journey.
The second deadline is for committees to act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other house; meaning the bills that survived the first deadline must be heard in the other body.
The third deadline is for committees to act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
Deadlines do not apply to the introduction of bills. Also, House committees on Capital Investment, Ways and Means, Taxes, or Rules and Senate committees on Capital Investment, Finance, Taxes, or Rules are exempt from committee deadlines.
Under some circumstances, committees in either house can hear a bill that didn’t meet the deadlines.
Capitol Student Essay Contest
Minnesota students are encouraged to submit essays celebrating the historic State Capitol. According to Governor Dayton’s official website, K-12 students are asked to describe in their own words what their Minnesota’s State Capitol means to them.
Essay contest winners will be invited to share their essays as part of the State Capitol Grand Opening festivities in August. Minnesota students in grades K-12 are encouraged to submit essays explaining how the State Capitol has shaped our collective past and will impact future generations.
Winners of the essay contest in elementary school, middle school, and high school categories will be invited to share their short essays during the grand opening festivities during the weekend of August 11-13, 2017.
For more details, click HERE.
Welcoming Visitors to the House Chamber
On Thursday, a delegation of leaders from Tajikistan visited the Capitol as a part of the Open World Leadership Program which was created by Congress in 1999 to introduce rising leaders of emerging democracies to legislative and civil aspects of American democracy. Accompanying the group were district residents Mary and Bill Cunningham, who reside in Falcon Heights.
Joining me for the delegation photo are Rep. Ilhan Omar (Minneapolis) and Rep. Connie Bernardy (New Brighton).
Contact me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Alice