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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Ben Lien (DFL)

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Legislative Update - July 18, 2016

Monday, July 18, 2016

Greetings from Moorhead,

After a meeting last week between legislative leaders and Governor Dayton, the prospects of a Special Session are looking better. Leaders and the governor reached a tentative agreement for an August Special Session to finish the Tax, Capital Investment, and possibly Pension Bills that either did not pass or were vetoed earlier this year. Although no additional details were given and work remains to reach a final agreement, I’m pleased Speaker Daudt, Majority Leader Bakk and Governor Dayton are showing commitment to find compromise and resolution on these outstanding issues. The Tax and Capital Investment Bills have very important implications for our district and region with regards to border city dollars, agricultural property tax credits, student debt tax credits and railroad underpass infrastructure.

I also want to let folks know the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources released maps for buffer strips last week.The buffer strip law was passed in 2015 and directed at agricultural lands as part of the governor’s initiative to clean up and keep clean waters across the state (the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has also lowered the levels of allowable phosphates that are discharged by municipal water treatment plants). Changes were made to the buffer strip law in 2016 to take out private ditches, allow for alternative practices to buffer strips and give local governing bodies (Soil and Water Conservation Districts and Drainage Authorities) control over implementation of the law. In conversations with the Clay County Soil and Water Conservation District, close to 90% of lands that fall under the new law already have the required buffers or alternative practices in use in Clay County. For more information and to view the maps, please go to:http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/buffers/index.html

Thank You for the Opportunity to Serve,

Ben