Week in Review: April 11 – April 14

On Monday it will be exactly five weeks until the 2023 legislative session must end. If lawmakers are to finish their work by this year’s constitutionally mandated deadline —May 22 — many of the major omnibus finance bills must soon have their day (and/or night) on the House Floor.

And the process by which that happens got up to full speed on Tuesday as members returned after the Passover/Easter break.

The House Ways and Means Committee met daily to amend omnibus bills into their final shape then refer them to the full House for debate and votes. Members passed the omnibus higher education and Legacy bills over the last few days and have already scheduled votes on the omnibus environment, transportation, and state government/elections bills for early next week.

The weather outside made it feel a lot like summer this week. The work inside over the days to come will serve as a reminder that it’s still spring and there’s much left to do.

Have a good weekend and here’s a look back at what you might have missed recently.

AGRICULTURE

House OKs $50 million to restock popular farm loan program

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17920

BONDING

Bonding committee hears $200 million ask for Blue Line light rail extension

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17922

Micro-retail plan seeks $3 million to fill gap left by big box store’s departure

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17914

BUDGET

Back from break, Ways and Means Committee begins merging omnibus bills for House Floor

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17917

CIVIL LAW

Test your knowledge: Age restrictions in Minnesota law

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17915

ELECTIONS                                                                                                   

Bill proposing automatic voter registration, permanent absentee ballot lists gains House approval

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17921

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

House passes nearly $821 million Legacy bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17918

HIGHER EDUCATION

House passes ‘largest investment in higher education’ in nearly four decades

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17919

STATE GOVERNMENT

One-time funding OK’d to aid a swamped Office of Administrative Hearings

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17913

TAXES

House tax panel considers raising income tax rates for state’s highest earners

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/17916