Week in Review: Feb. 22-26

Evening meetings and long Fridays are the norm now that the Legislature stands two weeks away from the first committee deadline March 12. That's when committees must act favorably on bills in their house of origin.

There were 10 House hearings Friday — and that was in addition to the state’s latest budget forecast that dramatically swung the numbers from red to black and promises to reshape the debate as lawmakers work to reach agreement on a two-year budget.

Members will begin a deeper dive into that forecast on Monday, when the House Ways and Means Committee has dedicated its 10:30 a.m. meeting to the subject with presentations from Minnesota Management and Budget officials and State Economist Laura Kalambokidis.

Be sure to check the weekly schedule for updates on the days ahead. Before that, let's take another look at what you may have missed this past week.

AGRICULTURE

Lawmakers consider increasing MN biofuel standard

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15673

Funding needed to grow Emerging Farmer Working Group

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15651

BUDGET

State is back in the black in latest budget forecast

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15689

CONSUMERS

Price gouging during disasters could become a crime

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15691

House panel hears bill aiming to stop ‘excessive’ increases in drug prices

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15665

CIVIL LAW

Bill aims to guard against false testimony from jailhouse informants

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15654

EDUCATION

Funding for mental health and school support staff included in governor’s E-12 proposal

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15687

Early childhood educator incentive programs could get funding boost

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15681

Committee considers more money for getting to school safely

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15679

Governor’s education policy plan draws strong reactions on House panel

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15674

Students could have better access to after-school programs

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15669

Civics class could be mandatory for high school juniors and seniors

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15653

EMPLOYMENT

Workers’ compensation changes proposed for teachers with COVID-19

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15676

Funding sought to boost construction careers for underrepresented groups

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15672

Bill seeks more funding to train students in high-demand health care fields

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15650

ENERGY

New energy efficient building standards could be adopted in Minnesota

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15663

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

New power agreement could ensure ash waste wood management

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15682

Control over pesticide bans could be returned to local governments

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15659

FAMILY

Bill aims to make ‘much-needed changes’ to child support formulas

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15678

Proposed update to law targets fraud in economic assistance programs

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15657

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

New consumer protections considered for mail-order prescriptions

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15693

House vote puts dentists a step closer to aiding vaccine distribution efforts

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15685

Nearly $300,000 sought to promote support for people with intellectual, developmental disabilities

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15680

Mandatory reporting for prenatal care providers discourages treatment, advocates say

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15675

Alternate access sought for children requiring residential mental health treatment

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15671

Education and training support intended to improve outcomes for high-risk babies

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15664

Early childhood committee advances paid family and medical leave bill

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15658

Bill aims to ‘mainstream’ obesity treatment

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15652

HIGHER EDUCATION

Lawmakers recommend eight for U of M Board of Regents seats

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15666

Proposal seeks to end predatory lending practices by student loan servicers

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15662

HOUSING

For those without housing, 'sacred settlements' could be lifeline

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15670

Mobile home park residents would get purchase opportunity, under approved bill

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15656

PUBLIC SAFETY

Lawmakers learn about ‘crisis situation’ of inmate deaths in state prisons and jails

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15692

'Driver’s licenses for all' bill clears first House hurdle

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15690

Environment panel approves update to motorboat, recreational vehicle DUI provisions

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15688

Bill aims to remove ‘humiliation and trauma’ of shackling juvenile defendants

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15684

STATE GOVERNMENT

No state disaster funds for civil unrest damages under plan heard in House committee

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15668

House division OK's — remotely — more local governing via video

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15667

TAXES

Should a portion of a college sports ticket be tax deductible? Bill says ‘yes’

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15686

State’s hotels could gain a new tool for recovery

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15677

MN restaurants — hit hard by pandemic — could see tax exemption

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15661

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation panel learns more about Metro Transit's bus rapid transit plans

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15683

Expanded Capitol security, increased license plate fee part of Walz's transportation budget

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15660

Bonding proposals could ramp up train travel between Twin Cities and Duluth, Chicago

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15655