Greetings from the Floor,
Now that the dust has settled and the Special Session has concluded, the final budget bills passed for K-12, Health and Human Services, Transportation, State Government, Taxes, Capital Investment, Legacy and the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (this is for constitutionally dedicated money that comes from the state lottery for the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund). I think our district came out very well this session. Some highlights of policies and spending items that are very good for our area include:
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full funding for the 20/21 Street underpass ($42.3 million in the Capital Investment Bill)
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$3 million for the Border City Enterprise and Development Zone in the Tax Bill
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approval of the Clay County sales tax to fund construction of the new jail and law enforcement center
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elimination of the fire sprinkler requirement in new twin home construction (this was a standalone bill)
A couple other tax policies that are good for Greater Minnesota include the 40% credit for farm land property taxes on school building levies, reduced Social Security benefit taxes and a $100,000 valuation exemption for state business property taxes.
The Legislature also passed SF 3 during the Special Session. This would establish state-wide labor standards for wages and employee benefits; the policy has come to be known as “pre-emption” (the idea being that the bill would pre-empt local governments from establishing wage and employee benefit polices that are different from the rest of the state). The bill also included language to ratify state employee contracts for the Engineering Council, ratification of the paid family leave benefit for state employees, authorization for the Department of Labor and Industry to issue citations/penalties for employers that engage in wage theft and changes to state pensions. Governor Dayton has issued statements that he would veto the bill over the “pre-emption” policy (the ratification of the Engineering Council contracts would still remain in effect as they don’t need the governor’s signature; only legislative approval).
Bills passed off the House floor in the final week of session were:
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HF 179: Restricts GPS tracking on ignition interlock device
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HF 2621: Establishes criminal liabilities for female genital mutilation for parents and child protection provisions
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SF 1457: Makes technical changes for the Department of Labor and Industry
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SF 943: After the governor vetoed the first Higher Education Omnibus Bill, this became the final bill
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SF 1456: After the governor vetoed the Jobs and Energy Bill, this became the final bill
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HF 1227: Makes technical changes for the Department of Revenue
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SF 359: Department of Human Services Omnibus Policy Bill
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SF 1564: Dedicates a part of State Highway 65 as Chip A. Imker Memorial Highway
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HF 739: Establishes local permitting and right-of-way use for small-cell wireless facilities
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SF 514: Omnibus Elections Bill
The Legislature passed the final REAL ID bill during the last week of the regular session. This bill has been long overdue, and gets Minnesota into compliance with the federal REAL ID law. Specifics of the bill include:
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retains the current non-REAL ID compliant Enhanced Driver’s Licenses, non-REAL ID compliant regular driver’s licenses and non-REAL ID state identification cards; it adds REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses and REAL ID compliant state identification cards
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a fee schedule that allows Minnesotans to obtain REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses before their existing driver’s license expire; these newly obtained REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses would also have an extended expiration date to keep licenses on the same renewal schedule
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allows for all DVS locations in Minnesota to issue REAL IDs and Enhanced Driver’s Licenses
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provisions that would mandate the Legislature approve any changes made to REAL ID at the federal level before they take effect in Minnesota
I will once again be out knocking on doors this summer and fall talking with folks and having conversations about our community and state. The 2017 session was incredibly busy, and I’m honored to continue in service for Moorhead and Oakport Township.
Thank You for the Opportunity to Serve,
Ben