Week in Review: March 1-5

From a bill targeted at systemic racism to additional protections for meatpacking workers, proposals to begin automatic voter registration and a benefits extension for hourly school employees, the House covered a lot of ground this week.

There are long hours and loaded agendas ahead as well, with committee deadlines each of the next two Fridays. They begin again on Monday with the normal slate of meetings, beginning with the House Ways and Means Committee gathering at 10:30 a.m. followed by four more hearings at 1 p.m. and a House floor session at 3:30 p.m.

But two committees are now also scheduled to meet later Monday, beginning at 5 p.m. – the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law and the House State Government Finance and Elections committees.

Additional evening meetings are already popping up in the days ahead, so enjoy the weekend and the warmer weather. And be sure to check the weekly schedule for updates and scheduling changes.

Here’s one more look at what you may have missed this past week.

Check out the latest gallery from House Photography and stay up-to-date on House news and updates throughout the week at Session Daily.

AGRICULTURE

Crop development program would get $10 million under approved bill

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15720

BONDING
With call for funds to help rebuild damaged neighborhoods, Walz bonding plan meets resistance from House GOPers

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15706

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE

Barns hosting wedding events could be exempt from sprinkler requirements

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15711

Measure excluding COVID-19 relief payments from debt garnishment heads to House Floor

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15708

CIVIL LAW

Prosecutors would have more leeway to request reduced sentences under bill headed to House Floor

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15731

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

$57 million sought for statewide economic development boost

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15721

EDUCATION

MN high school seniors might be required to take personal finance course

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15739

College in the Schools teacher training program could get funding extension

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15729

Proposal would prohibit schools from suspending young elementary students

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15722

Education committee considers extending funding for suicide-prevention training

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15717

Proposal would limit youngest learners’ device usage

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15703

Education committee considers changes to the teacher licensure system

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15699

ELECTIONS

Proposed automatic voter registration moves forward in House

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15707

EMPLOYMENT

Meatpacking workers — their plight spotlighted amid pandemic — afforded more protections under bill advancing in House

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15724

Benefits extension sought for school bus drivers, other hourly school workers

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15698

ENERGY

Should MN allow solar generation on prime farmland?

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15727

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Relief proposed for loggers affected by paper mill closure

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15735

Biennial water-quality proposal boosted by February budget forecast

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15732

Bill banning perc, prioritizing dry cleaners for cleanup funds clears House

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15700

Board of Animal Health could be restructured after CWD criticism

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15696

FAMILY

Big boost in funding proposed to help pregnant women, families with young children

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15726

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Lawmaker pushes 'common-sense' interventions for kids with asthma

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15740

Allowing care attendants to help people with disabilities travel would have ‘big impact,’ advocates say

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15728

House health panel considers trauma-centered approach to prevent gun violence

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15723

Funding change to crisis stabilization services could improve access to care, lawmaker says

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15718

House panel approves funding for Alzheimer’s awareness campaign

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15715

Medical Assistance eligibility could be extended for new mothers

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15710

More relatives could provide foster care under proposed reforms

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15705

Dangers of skin-lightening creams could be highlighted by grant program

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15697

HIGHER EDUCATION

Lawmakers consider a boost to funding for program targeted at low-income students pursuing higher education

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15712

HOUSING

Debt collection practices by landlords could see stiffer regulation

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15725

Approved bill would provide $55 million annually for homeless families

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15716

With state's supply of affordable housing low, lawmakers look to boost MN homebuyers

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15704

Held over bill aims to provide lawyers to public housing tenants facing evictions

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15702

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Saying local control lacking, Roseville officials push lawmakers for statewide hotel licensing

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15714

PUBLIC SAFETY

PROMISE Act would provide $268 million to businesses suffering after last year's civil unrest

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15741

Private prison prohibition heads to House Floor

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15734

RECREATION AND TOURISM

Legacy funds could help close the swimming gap

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15713

STATE GOVERNMENT

Committee considers grants to increase sensory accessibility accommodation

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15733

Divided House committee OK's $450m DFL plan targeted at 'ending systemic racism' in MN

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15730

House panel approves bill that aims to review state tax activity effectiveness, fiscal impact

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15701

Nonpartisan House office honored for informing Minnesotans

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15695

TAXES

Fire and police station construction could be less taxing

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15719

For Minnesotans with student debt, paying off loans could get a little less expensive

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/15709