Week in Review: March 28 – April 1

The Session Daily staff wrote 41 stories this week, highlighting a fraction of bills heard, debated, approved and passed over the last few days.

The House will begin its Easter/Passover Break April 9, and members won’t return until April 19. But up next week is the third, and final, committee deadline, by when committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills. That is April 8, one week from today.

Here’s a look back at what you may have missed. Have a good weekend.

AGRICULTURE

Bill proposes aid to help build more sustainable local food economy

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17313

Panel approves proposed rules for disposal of pesticide-treated crop seeds

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17312

CIVIL LAW

Omnibus judiciary and civil law policy bill heads to House Floor

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17338

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

State’s small businesses could get COVID-19 boost from $100 million grant program

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17333

EDUCATION

Legislation proposes $97 million for new voluntary prekindergarten program

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17343

Bill would grant 21-minute increase in teacher prep time requirements

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17331

Proposal seeks to tighten lead testing standards in school drinking water, fund remediation efforts

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17321

EMPLOYMENT

Construction trades could get two-year licensing break

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17334

More MN workers would receive paid sick and safe time under bill passed in House

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17318

House passes warehouse distribution center worker safety bill

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17316

ENERGY

Revised Future Fuels Act would tighten emissions standards

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17320

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Bill proposes updates to state’s air quality laws, pollution standards

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17348

Grants could increase composting opportunities at multi-unit properties

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17323

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health panel considers bill creating state board to address high health care costs

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17351

House re-passes reinsurance bill as amended by conference committee

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17347

Updated budget proposals would invest more in human services workforce

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17346

Proposal seeks $300 million to replace all Minnesota’s lead water service lines by 2032

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17336

$40 million sought to provide better protection for vulnerable adults

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17330

Division considers new state agency focused on behavioral health

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17327

Conference committee begins work on reconciling reinsurance bills

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17317

HIGHER EDUCATION

Bill seeks funding for 15 physicians to treat addiction issues across state

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17326

HOUSING

Nonprofit organizations could get funding for fire sprinklers in high-rise buildings

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17339

Division report proposes additional $146 million funding to combat homelessness this biennium

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17332

House panel advances bill targeting MN's racial homeownership gap

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17328

MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

Local government division OKs bill to update state’s 1909 Memorial Day law

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17329

PUBLIC SAFETY

Joint hearing considers funding to help inmates better connect with family

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17350

New peace officer education program proposed to address state’s officer shortage

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17337

‘Comprehensive approach’ proposed to help youths in the criminal justice system with mental illness

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17324

RECREATION AND TOURISM

Policy and technical changes could be coming to many DNR statutes

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17342

STATE GOVERNMENT

Wagers on horse races could help competitors later in life

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17345

State government panel approves omnibus pension, retirement bill

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17340

Bill readying state’s response to potential cyberattacks heads for House Floor

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17319

House votes to ratify state employee union labor agreements, compensation plans

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17314

TAXES

State fairgrounds could get a temporary boost from tax receipts

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17349

Tax law fiber fix could speed up broadband efforts

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17344

Division OKs what House taxes chair calls ‘biggest property tax cut in 20 years’

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17335

Could tax credits help slow climate change?

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17325

Division report features tax relief for renters and homeowners, aid for school districts and local governments

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17315

TRANSPORTATION

Legislation would steer funds toward boosting metro bus service

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17352

Metro Transit updates lawmakers on plans for transition to electric bus fleet

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17341

Lawmakers propose renaming stretch of highway to honor Prince

https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/SessionDaily/Story/17322