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Week in Review: April 21-25

By Lisa Kaczke
Gov. Tim Walz shakes the hand of House Speaker Lisa Demuth following his State of the State Address to a joint session of the Legislature April 23 in the House Chamber. (Photo by Michele Jokinen)
Gov. Tim Walz shakes the hand of House Speaker Lisa Demuth following his State of the State Address to a joint session of the Legislature April 23 in the House Chamber. (Photo by Michele Jokinen)

Coming back from a weeklong Easter/Passover break, work picked up in the House this week as the May 19 constitutional deadline to finish session inches closer.

The House Ways and Means Committee reviewed omnibus finance bills throughout the week. Deals were reached on several outstanding budgets, and the committee amended the vehicle bill for energy with its budget this week. The House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee amended its vehicle bill with a budget deal and that bill is now on its way to the House Ways and Means Committee for review. On Friday, legislators were still negotiating budgets for education, health and workforce.

The omnibus agriculture finance bill was the first to pass the House Thursday. The legacy and judiciary/public safety bills passed Friday, as did the omnibus public safety policy bill.

But to start the week, the House paid tribute to the late Rep. Mary Murphy that included stories about the House’s longest-serving woman at 23 terms and passed a bill to rename the library grant program in her honor.
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Recent Dailies

Proposed alternative path to midwife certification clears House committee
By Margaret Stevens
Dr. Siri Fiebiger, project director at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, testifies March 26 in support of HF1010. Sponsored by Rep. Esther Agbaje, the bill would establish requirements for certified midwife licensure. (Photo by Michele Jokinen) When Kylie Saari moved to Fairmont she knew she wanted to make a difference in her community. Midwifery seemed like the perfect way to do that, especially because the local ...
House bill would lower eligibility barriers to mental health services
By Todd Abeln
Robert Larsen, president of the Lower Sioux Indian Community, offers support of HF2143 before the House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee March 26. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley, would modify provisions in the Adult Mental Health Act and related Medical Assistance statues. (Photo by Michele Jokinen) Mental health case management helps people with severe mental health issues keep their lives on track. Case managers work with people to address the effects of housing insta...
Tax committee considers expanded renter's credit
By Rob Hubbard
New and improved! You’ll see such claims in the grocery aisles all the time, but, in the case of Minnesota’s “renter’s credit,” Rep. Liz Lee (DFL-St. Paul) knows that it’s n...
Supporters say pricing fairness bill would level playing field for local grocers
By Lisa Kaczke
Jessica Rohloff, manager of the New London Food Co-op, testifies before the House commerce committee March 26 in support of a bill sponsored by Rep. Emma Greenman, right, that would establish a Consumer Grocery Pricing Fairness Act. (Photo by Andrew VonBank) Jessica Rohloff’s hometown of New London had several grocery stores when she was growing up. But it went 15 years without a grocery store until the New London Food Co-Op opened ...
Statewide model standards sought for safer traffic stops
By Tim Walker
Valerie Castile, a police community relations advocate and mother of Philando Castile who was killed during a 2016 traffic stop, testifies March 25 in support of HF686 that would develop a model policy for safe traffic stops. Rep. Cedrick Frazier, left, is the sponsor. (Photo by Michele Jokinen) Traffic stops are one of the most dangerous encounters in the policing world for both the officers and drivers. When tragedies occur, we hear about them through intensive me...
Lawmakers eye creation of $10 million loan program for affordable housing
By Margaret Stevens
When it comes to housing, lawmakers on the House Housing Finance and Policy Committee agree on two key points. Minnesota needs more housing, especially affordable housing. A...
‘Cohesive response’ proposed to combat chronic absenteeism in Minnesota schools
By Brian Basham
(House Photography file photo) School attendance problems, including chronic absenteeism, have been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Matt Shaver, policy director at EdAllies, 25% of M...
Energy assistance expansion could help cool things down
By Rob Hubbard
Annie Levenson-Falk, executive director of Citizens Utility Board, testifies regarding HF771 before the House Energy Finance and Policy Committee March 25. Sponsored by Rep. Larry Kraft, left, the bill would provide funding for supplemental energy assistance. (Photo by Michele Jokinen) In 2024, more than 91,000 Minnesota households had their power shut off because residents were behind in their utility bills, the highest annual total since anyone started count...
Proposed scholarship aims to attract new law enforcement officers, avoid looming workforce crisis
By Todd Abeln
Surrounded by legislators and stakeholders, St. Paul Police Federation President Mark Ross speaks during a March 25 press conference to promote HF2454. Sponsored by Rep. Dan Wolgamott, right, the bill would establish a law enforcement grant program to help recruit and retain law enforcement officers. (Photo by Andrew VonBank) Across the state, law enforcement agencies have “Help Wanted” signs out. There are now more than 1,000 open law enforcement positions across the state, a number expected to ...
House bill could unlock new affordable housing options
By Brian Basham
According to the Minnesota Housing Partnership, the state needs more than 100,000 affordable homes to meet the needs of low-income renters. Rep. Fue Lee (DFL-Mpls) hopes to ...
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Priority Dailies

Ways and Means Committee OKs House budget resolution
By Mike Cook
Total net General Fund expenditures in the 2026-27 biennium will not exceed a hair less than $66.62 billion. That is the budget resolution approved Tuesday by the House Ways...
Minnesota's budget outlook worsens in both near, long term
By Rob Hubbard
It looks as if those calling for less state spending could get their wish, judging from Thursday’s release of the February 2025 Budget and Economic Forecast. A state su...

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