Neighbors, The 2024 legislative session is down to the last several days, and we continue to spend long hours on the House floor passing bills and conference committee reports. Today, the Minnesota House unanimously passed the Human Service Policy conference committee report. The historic 2023 legislative session budget surplus allowed lawmakers to offer resources and support to our most vulnerable Minnesotans. The 2024 legislation builds on this work. Lawmakers are charged with protecting vulnerable Minnesotans, and this legislation makes progress caring for those most at risk. This bipartisan legislation clarifies several items in last year’s bill, which makes improvements for Minnesotans with disabilities, those in recovery from substance use disorder, and recipients who rely on waiver services. Among the legislation highlights: - Guarantees people with disabilities will stay in their communities while they live in group homes by exempting certain facilities.
- Modernizes deaf and hard-of-hearing statutes.
- Provides for increased transparency in nursing home related party transactions.
- Modifies behavioral health licensing and eligibility.
- Ensures opioid treatment programs are responsive to workforce shortages and availability of counselors.
- Modifies sober homes requirements so all residents can use medications for opioid use disorders and co-occuring mental health diagnoses.
- Prohibits the classification or treatment of recovery peers as independent contractors.
Video of the floor session is available on the House Public Information Services YouTube channel Other Significant Legislation Passed Additional legislation and conference committee reports passed in the last week: - The Health Supplemental Budget and Policy budget bill. This strong bill takes meaningful action to enhance health insurance coverage, improve health care access, increase patient protections, reform Emergency Medical Services, and help address mental health in Minnesota.
- The Elections Committee Policy and Finance conference committee report. The policy provisions of the report focus on improved voter access and election transparency. It targets policy areas where the state can improve voter turnout and ensure that if voting is restricted, voters have a means of redress. It enhances disclosure requirements for those seeking to influence elections, expands voter access and comprehension, and increases election transparency.
- The Higher Education Supplemental conference committee report. The legislation adds on last year’s record funding increase for Minnesota’s colleges and universities that froze tuition at Minnesota State for two years, fully funded the University of Minnesota’s systemwide safety and security request and provided free college to students with a household income under $80,000, among other investments.
- The Agriculture Supplemental budget, which includes the reauthorization of the Food Safety and Defense Task Force, farm-to-school grant funding, creates the first Spanish language commercial pesticide applicator exam., addresses the groundwater nitrate crisis, and more.
- The Climate and Energy Budget and Policy bill, which includes reforms to the permitting process for clean energy projects, support for geothermal energy power, and additional investments and policies to ensure we reach the 100% Clean Energy by 2040 goal the Legislature set last year.
- The conference committee report cracking down on hidden, deceptive fees to ensure consumers have fair, upfront pricing for event tickets, restaurant meals, hotels, credit cards, and more.
New State Flag Raised On Saturday, May 11, 2024, the new Minnesota State Flag and Seal approved by the State Emblems Redesign Commission became the official state emblems. It was a great honor to be invited to the ceremony, and to see our effort begun five years ago come to fruition.  (Photo credit: House Public Information) Stay in touchIt is easy to stay connected to news from the State Capitol. Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services offers nonpartisan recaps of high-profile bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions with their Session Daily publication. Subscribe to receive these here. To track bills of interest through the legislative process, I encourage you to utilize the MyBills feature on the Minnesota House of Representatives’ website. Please continue to reach out with any input, ideas, or feedback about the issues important to you. I value hearing from you, so call (651) 296-5363 or email any time at rep.peter.fischer@house.mn.gov. You can find my information on my House website. You can also like my Facebook page. Sincerely, Peter Fischer |