Greetings,
The calm before the storm arrived in St. Paul this week, as lawmakers had a shortened week this week due to the Passover holiday break. Session is required to end on May 20.
OMNIBUS BILLS MOVING FORWARD
After returning to the Capitol on Wednesday, discussions on omnibus finance bills within each area of state government began in the House Ways and Means Committee. This is the final committee stop before they are sent to the House floor. I expect many if not all of these proposals to be debated on the House floor next week.
WORKERS COMPENSATION UPDATES APPROVED
There was some bipartisanship on display in the House Wednesday. Representatives overwhelmingly adopted changes to workers’ compensation hearing provisions. The language was supported by both employer and labor groups and now heads to the Minnesota Senate for further debate.
SHARED PARENTING PROVISIONS PASS HOUSE
Legislation I’m co-authoring that will ultimately improve family law in Minnesota was also approved in the Minnesota House. The bill updates statutes related to custody and parenting time and adds remedies for compensatory parenting time when a child is kept from visits with their other parent, including a statutory notice on following through with parenting time that has been ordered by the court.
LCCMR LISTENING SESSION IN ST. CLOUD
The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) is asking for your help in determining priorities for spending from the state’s lottery- generated Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) for the next six years. Currently, the ENRTF provides $80-90 million per year for environmental, natural resources, and outdoor recreation projects across Minnesota.
What issues are most important to you? Make your voice heard by attending a public listening session on Saturday, May 4, from 10-11 am at the Oblivion CoffeeBar & Mercantile in St. Cloud (27 7th Avenue, St. Cloud, MN 56303). This session will be an opportunity to participate in small group discussions with LCCMR members. Light refreshments will be provided.
KEEP IN TOUCH
As always, I'm continuing to support constituent needs. Feel free to contact me anytime at rep.tim.odriscoll@house.mn.gov. or by phone at 651-296-7808.
Have a good weekend,
Tim