Minnesota Legislature
Session Daily Archive
A compendium of Session Daily articles dating back to 2004
Results:
Preregistration proposal an effort to ‘make voting a lifelong habit,’ sponsor says
By Mike Cook
Committee approval was given to a bill that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to submit a voter registration application, even though they could not cast a ballot until age 18.
House elections panel advances bill to restore ex-offender voting rights
By Mike Cook
If you are incarcerated you cannot vote, but you can cast a ballot if you’re not behind bars.
That is the simple premise of a bill supporters say would make former inmates f...
Workforce panel OKs extended unemployment benefits for iron ore mine workers
By Tim Walker
HF27 would authorize up to 26 weeks of additional unemployment insurance benefits for recently laid off mine employees.
Housing insecurity disproportionately impacts Minnesotans of color, lawmakers hear
By Tessa Pieper
Housing affects every person in every corner of Minnesota yet compromises less than 1% of the state’s budget.
Representatives of the Minnesota Housing Agency shared extensiv...
How much will feds help finance Minnesota’s shift to clean energy?
By Rob Hubbard
The House Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee heard about how much might be coming the state’s way through a couple federal acts.
Judiciary panel approves proposal to boost funding for public defenders
By Tim Walker
A plan to appropriate $25 million in fiscal year 2023 for the Board of Public Defense to hire more public defense attorneys and boost salaries received committee approval.
Supporters say renewed ‘driver’s license for all’ push about safety, dignity
By Margaret Stevens
Proposed legislation to expand access to driver’s licenses in Minnesota has passed the House in the past two sessions without becoming law. But supporters, who say enacting the so-called “driver’s licenses for all” law remains overdue, put the gas pedal down on those efforts again Tuesday.
Bill to ban price gouging during emergencies clears commerce committee
By Tim Walker
HF6 would penalize retailers who charge an “unconsciously excessive price” for essential goods or services during public emergency situations, such as recent power outages in Texas and the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Florida.
House bonding committee hears of billions in federal funds available for MN capital projects
By Margaret Stevens
Minnesota lawmakers are looking at accessing billions of federal dollars for capital improvements to roads, bridges, broadband access and community facilities using monies from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the American Rescue Plan Act.
With bipartisan support, House passes tax conformity bill
By Rob Hubbard
By a 132-0 vote, the House passed HF31, which would bring the state’s tax code into conformity with federal tax law on 46 provisions that have been signed into law by U.S. presidents since 2019.
Week in Review: Jan. 3-6
By HPIS Staff
It was an eventful first week of the 2023 legislative session as members were sworn in and committees met for the first time, even taking action on a couple major issues, all wh...
Bill to codify right to abortion in Minnesota clears first committee hurdle
By Tessa Pieper
Sponsored by Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL-Eden Prairie), HF1 would protect health care choices involving the prevention or termination of a pregnancy.
Judiciary panel OKs bill to amend MN Human Rights Act to prohibit hair discrimination
By Tim Walker
People in this country and in this state have experienced discrimination at school, at jobs, and elsewhere based solely on the appearance of their naturally occurring hair, acco...
Should inflation be included on both sides of the budget forecast ledger?
By Mike Cook
Subtraction by addition would provide a clearer picture of the state’s projected $17.6 billion surplus.
Plus, what Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids) calls a “budgeting ...
Committee considers what one state can do about climate change
By Rob Hubbard
Minnesota's average annual temperature is up 3 degrees Fahrenheit since 1895, while winter lows in the northern third of the state have risen 7.3 degrees Fahrenheit, experts said.
