Week in Review: March 27-31

With the possible exception of a session’s final few days, the week before the third committee deadline is about as hectic as things get in the House.

That deadline, by when committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills, arrives at 5 p.m. Tuesday, so it’s probably a good thing House members and staff will have a nearly week-long break from official business.

Everyone is ready for some well-deserved rest after nearly 20 omnibus budget bills were approved by their committees of origin this week. The focus will now shift to floor debates and conference committees.   

Have a good weekend and here’s a look back at what you may have missed over the past week.

AGRICULTURE

Divided ag committee OK’s omnibus bill addressing animal health, pesticides, broadband

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17906

Omnibus ag bill proposes $100 million increase in broadband spending, expansion of processing capacity

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17887

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE

Sponsor says plenty to be proud of in omnibus commerce bill that clears committee

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17894

House committee begins work on omnibus commerce finance bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17874

CIVIL LAW

Judiciary panel advances $1.4 billion omnibus bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17896

Omnibus judiciary bills would increase public defender compensation, make policy changes

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17876

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Sponsor says omnibus economic development bill would promote growth, boost underserved groups

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17892

EDUCATION

Education committee approves DFL budget proposal along party lines

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17904

DFL unveils K-12 education budget bill that proposes $2.2 billion in new spending on schools

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17890

ELECTIONS                                                                                                   

Omnibus elections bill declared a winner by majority of House committee

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17909

House elections panel begins work on omnibus bill; vote expected Friday

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17885

EMPLOYMENT

Workforce panel advances omnibus bill that sponsor says will ‘prepare our workforce for the future’

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17908

Labor committee passes $100 million budget bill along party lines

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17907

Omnibus workforce finance bill gets first hearing, mixed reviews

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17889

Labor committee budget bill calls for $100 million in state spending

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17881

ENERGY

House energy panel hits accelerator on transition to renewables, OK’s omnibus

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17891

Climate and energy omnibus gets its day in the sun

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17882

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

House panel approves omnibus bill that would make historic investment in environment

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17893

$820 million omnibus legacy bill sparks controversy, clears committee by narrow margin

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17888

Omnibus environment bill aims to ‘correct past wrongs, prepare for future,’ chair says

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17884

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Payment rate increases included in $1.2 billion omnibus human services bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17905

Committee OK’s omnibus health bill that aims to expand coverage, reduce health care costs

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17903

Omnibus children, families package takes first step

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17898

Subminimum wages prohibited, safe recovery sites included in $14 billion human services omnibus package

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17886

Affordability, abortion access addressed in $7.1 billion omnibus health bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17879

Proposal would target youngest Minnesotans, families with $1 billion in funding

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17878

HIGHER EDUCATION

Higher education committee approves big increases for schools and scholarships

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17899

Big funding bumps for scholarships, Minnesota State system included in higher education omnibus

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17875

HOUSING

Surplus or sales tax? Committee approves both in omnibus housing plan

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17895

Committee considers bill to spend more than $1 billion on efforts to ease Minnesota’s housing crunch

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17883

MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

Still a work in progress, omnibus veterans and military affairs bill approved by committee

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17872

PUBLIC SAFETY

Committee advances omnibus public safety bill that includes no-knock warrant ban, gun-control provisions

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17900

House public safety panel gives $2.2 billion omnibus bill — including controversial gun measures — first hearing

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17880

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

House passes plan to deep-six some deep fake activity

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17902

STATE GOVERNMENT

Omnibus state government finance bill progresses on party-line vote

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17897

New state flag, maintenance of existing services part of omnibus state government package

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17877

House passes ‘Ban the Box’ measure for applicants to state boards, commissions

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17873

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation omnibus clears committee on party-line vote — though new fees a sticking point

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17910

Minnesota at ‘historic crossroads,’ key lawmaker says, as House DFL rolls out $9 billion transportation bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17901