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Week in Review: Feb. 17-21

By Lisa Kaczke
University of Minnesota officials present an overview of the university’s request for a $265 million funding increase during a Feb. 20 meeting of the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee. (Photo by Michele Jokinen)
University of Minnesota officials present an overview of the university’s request for a $265 million funding increase during a Feb. 20 meeting of the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee. (Photo by Michele Jokinen)

Lawmakers debated, rejected and tabled their first bill on the House Floor this week. HF20 would make data collected by the attorney general’s office classified as private only if it were truly data “on individuals.” After it failed to receive the 68 votes needed to pass, a motion to reconsider the bill prevailed and the bill was then tabled on a split-voice vote.

Crowds showed up to testify in several committee hearings this week. It was standing room only in the House Education Policy Committee Wednesday when a bill to ban transgender athletes from girls’ sports in Minnesota was sent to the House Floor on a party-line vote.

Have a restful weekend before another busy week next week.

Here’s a look back at what happened over the last few days.
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Recent Dailies

Proposed human services budget would slash spending by $1.3 billion, lawmakers hear
By Todd Abeln
Department of Human Services Budget Director Elyse Bailey presents an overview of the governor’s budget recommendations to the House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee Feb. 13. (Photo by Michele Jokinen) With an expected $5.1 billion state deficit forecast in the 2028-29 biennium, Department of Human Services officials are looking at ways they plan to pare back spending before t...
Bill aims to increase public access to state attorney general data
By Tim Walker
Don Gemberling, a board member with the Minnesotan Coalition on Government Information, testifies Feb. 13 in support of a bill to clarify classification of certain data maintained by the attorney general’s office. Rep. Harry Niska, right, sponsors the bill. (Photo by Michele Jokinen) A proposed two-word change to state law would have the effect of narrowing the scope of data collected by the attorney general’s office that is classified as private and thus ma...
House members voice concern over fraud investigators’ move to BCA
By Lisa Kaczke
Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold testifies Feb. 13 before the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee regarding the transfer of the Commerce Fraud Bureau to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. (Photo by Andrew VonBank) Legislators have bipartisan concern that the Commerce Fraud Bureau’s mission to root out white-collar crime will be diluted with its move to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension....
Legislation to encourage innovation, cost savings heads to full House
By Mike Cook
From 2013-18 a Minnesota rewards program encouraged state agency innovation and cost savings. Rep. Duane Quam (R-Byron) wants to reinstate the State Agency Value Initiative,...
Proposal would put brakes on paid leave program for one year
By Margaret Stevens
Justin Terch of the Society of Human Resource Management testifies Feb. 13 before the House workforce, labor, and economic development panel in support of a bill to delay implementation of the Minnesota Paid Leave law by one year. (Photo by Michele Jokinen) The time to fix the train is before it leaves the station, suggests Rep. Dave Baker (R-Willmar), and he isn’t convinced the Minnesota Paid Leave program is ready to roll.  ...
House lawmakers consider phasing out estate tax
By Rob Hubbard
They say you can’t take it with you, but there are laws about how much you can leave behind. Such as estate taxes, which apply to the transfer of property when it’s passed f...
House lawmakers consider 'Parent's Bill of Rights'
By Todd Abeln
Cristine Trooien, executive director of the Minnesota Parents Alliance, testifies Feb. 12 in the House children and families committee in support of a bill sponsored by Rep. Dawn Gillman, right, to create a Parent's Bill of Rights. (Photo by Andrew VonBank) As a parent, what are your rights? HF22 would define those rights. The bill establishes what Rep. Dawn Gillman (R-Dassel), the bill sponsor, calls the “Parent's Bill of ...
Bill would enhance maximum penalty for prostitution of a minor
By Tim Walker
Caroline Palmer, interim supervisor of the Violence Prevention Programs Unit at the Department of Health, testifies before the House public safety committee Feb. 12 in support of HF128. Rep. Marion Rarick is the bill sponsor. (Photo by Michele Jokinen) Fixing an unequal level of punishment prescribed in state law on prostitution is a goal of Rep. Marion Rarick (R-Maple Lake). “Believe it or not, our statutes are misaligned...
'Born alive' bill ignites emotional debate, advances to House Floor
By Margaret Stevens
Dr. Erin Stevens, chair of the Minnesota Chapter of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, testifies before the House Health Finance and Policy Committee Feb. 12 against HF24, sponsored by Rep. Krista Knudsen, right. (Photo by Michele Jokinen) Personal and powerful testimony accompanied a bill that supporters say would provide vital protection to vulnerable Minnesotans and opponents say would disregard the dignity and...
Citing cost concerns, House GOP bill moves to pause spending on light rail projects
By Rob Hubbard
The House transportation committee approved a bill Feb. 12 that would temporarily prohibit any Metropolitan Council spending on light rail transit projects until completion of the Southwest Green Line extension project. (House Photography file photo) Stop that train! That’s what Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove) would like to do. She sponsors HF14 to temporarily prohibit any Metropolitan Council spending on any other ...
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Priority Dailies

Full House convenes for first time in 2025, elects Demuth speaker
By Tim Walker
DFL, Republicans convene with a quorum for the first time in 2025 session after agreeing to a power-sharing deal.
Walz proposes slimmed-down 2026-27 state budget, sales tax changes
By Tim Walker
This is an odd-numbered year, and so the Legislature is constitutionally required to craft a budget to fund the state government for the next two fiscal years. Gov. Tim Walz...

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