Legislators Review Budget, Advance Policy Proposals
As members of legislative committees continued to review the FY 18-19 budget proposed earlier this month by Governor Mark Dayton, others turned their attention to individual legislative initiatives. Legislators discussed a variety of proposals ranging from mental health care and child care provider regulations to wetlands funding and the state’s election equipment.
Senate Judiciary Takes Up, Passes REAL ID Legislation
This week the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee debated and ultimately passed SF 166, which would direct the Minnesota Department of Public Safety to implement a new federally accepted driver’s license and identification card. The measure – authored by Senator Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake) – was passed on a 4-3 vote after two days of public hearings, including multiple hours of public testimony. The bill complies with federal requirements passed nearly a decade ago and will ensure that Minnesotans retain access to federally controlled areas (including airports) without needing a passport or enhanced identification cards.
House of Representatives Focuses on Energy Issues
On Thursday afternoon, the House of Representatives took up and passed multiple pieces of legislation relating to incentives for and regulation of renewable energy production. The first bill, HF 234, is authored by Rep. Dave Baker (R-Willmar) and exempts rural electric cooperatives’ net-metering rules from Public Utilities Commission regulation. Net-metering is the process through which renewable energy generators, like solar panel installations, are connected to a public power grid and surplus power is sold to the utility companies. Language providing for mediation in net-metering disputes and allowing the Public Utilities Commission to investigate whether net-metering fees comply with state law was added following an amendment from Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis). The measure was passed on a 89-37 vote and sent to the Senate where Sen. Bill Weber (R-Luverne) carries the companion bill.
The Minnesota House also debated and eventually passed HF 235, authored by Rep. Marion O’Neill (R-Maple Lake), which would end the “Made in Minnesota” solar incentive program. The bill also transforms the Renewable Development Account (RDA), an approximately $25 million fund currently used to support renewable energy technology research, into the energy fund account and broadens the uses of the money. The RDA is currently funded by Xcel Energy based on an agreement related to the number of casks of spent nuclear fuel stored at its Monticello and Prairie Island nuclear power plants. The bill was passed on a 76-49 vote. Sen. David Osmek (R-Mound) is the chief author of the Senate companion.
Employment-Related Legislation Continues to Progress
This week, the Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Committee took up and passed the Uniform State Labor Standards Act (SF 580), which would establish statewide uniformity for many employment benefits and roll back some of the municipal ordinances relating to paid leave passed by Minneapolis and St. Paul in recent months. Authored by Senator Jeremy Miller (R-Winona), the bill would prohibit local governments from establishing a minimum wage, setting paid or unpaid leave requirements and dictating benefits. The bill was passed and referred to the Senate Local Government Committee.
The House companion, authored by Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington), was heard for the second time in committee, this time in the House Government Operations and Elections Policy Committee. It was re-referred to the House Ways and Means committee.
This week the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee took up and passed HF 701, authored by longtime legislator Rep. Mary Murphy (DFL-Hermantown). The bill seeks to restrict the hours a high school student can work on school nights. Current law prohibits students 17 years old and younger from working past 11 p.m. on school nights. HF 701 would extend that prohibition to student workers “18 or older.” It also would prohibit students from working before 5 a.m. The bill was passed and re-referred to the House Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance Committee. The Senate companion, SF 266, has been introduced by Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) and referred to the Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy Committee.
House DFLers introduce Legalized Marijuana Legislation
This week a statewide collection of DFL legislators announced their intention to introduce a variety of proposals which would collectively legalize recreational marijuana use in Minnesota. Rep. Jon Applebaum (DFL-Minnetonka), Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul), Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL-Rochester), and Rep. Jason Metsa (DFL-Virginia), held a joint press conference on Thursday to announce their initiative. The proposal, which includes both a constitutional amendment and various changes to state law, is intended to ensure public safety while providing a new source of sales tax revenue for the state. However, with Republicans controlling the Minnesota House and Senate as well as a DFL Governor who has opposed marijuana legalization in the past, the proposal’s prospects appear hazy.
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