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Dear Neighbors,
It was a busy week full of floor deliberation as the House passed three supplemental omnibus bills. Below is a brief recap on these bills.
K-12 and Higher Education
On Monday, the House passed the supplemental K-12 and Higher Education omnibus bill. Included in this bill are a number of provisions that build on last year’s education budget, including:
- Investments into programs proven to help close the achievement gap
- Expansions in broadband technology for students and schools
- Efforts to reduce Minnesota’s teacher shortage
- Additional accountability to the University of Minnesota
- Efforts to lower the cost of higher education for Minnesota students
In addition to these provisions, the bill addresses a fundamental revenue disparity between metro and non-metro schools which will result in additional per-pupil funding for schools in Greater Minnesota.
As is the case with all of our supplemental omnibus bills, this bill does not spend any new money. It instead reprioritizes existing funds towards priorities, thus leaving the state’s budget surplus for roads and bridges and middle-class tax relief.
Jobs, Agriculture, and Environment
The House passed the Jobs, Agriculture, and Environment on Wednesday. This bill increases Minnesotans’ access to everyday necessities like clean water, broadband, housing, child care, and other agricultural related issues.
Included in the bill is a provision I authored that requires the DNR to issue a permit to the Bois de Sioux Watershed District to allow the water level at Big Lake in Grant County to be drawn down prior to freezing.
Giving Bois de Sioux the authority to draw Big Lake’s water level down prior to freezing, we can prevent future flooding in the area.
The bill also includes:
- Funding for broadband expansion
- Funding for workforce housing in Greater Minnesota
- Measures to improve farm safety through a tractor rollover program
- Funds for research to improve animal health and toward livestock disease prevention
- Repeal of a statute allowing for the unionization of independent child care providers
Health and Human Services, State Government Finance, Public Safety
Finally, the House passed its HHS, State Government Finance, and Public Safety omnibus bill on Thursday. This bill does a lot to help improve access and affordability in healthcare for Minnesotans across the state.
Included in the bill is a provision I authored that increases Medicare reimbursement rates for ambulances in greater Minnesota by 5 percent. This legislation will, in turn, bring additional aid and funding for improved services for folks in our neck of the woods.
Along with HHS related items, the bill bans nonessential travel for state employees and includes other provisions to help reduce the cost of government.
Included in the bill is a provision that allows for the reopening of the Appleton prison.
Staying in Touch
Please be sure to contact me if you have any questions regarding this piece of legislation. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-4929 or via email at rep.jeff.backer@house.mn.
Have a great weekend,
Jeff