Week in Review: March 18-22

It wasn’t a mad rush, but the pace of activity certainly picked up this week with several committees adding extra time, or extra meetings, as they worked to beat the session’s first deadline, by when the session’s major policy bills are supposed to begin moving.

Next week will be abbreviated with the Easter Break set to begin at 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 and run until noon Tuesday, April 2. The second, and final, committee deadline this year will arrive Friday, April 19, by when committees must act favorably on major appropriation or finance bills.

Have a good weekend, keep your shovel handy and here’s a look back at what happened over the past week.

AGRICULTURE

Large dairy farms would face additional environmental scrutiny under proposed bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18211

Home-based day care could get farm-fresh food under proposal to expand ag program

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18199

BONDING

Minnesota Zoo officials present 'mission critical' bonding request to House lawmakers

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18188

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE

Package of proposed consumer protections heads to House Floor

https://www.house.mn.gov/sessiondaily/Story/18224

CIVIL LAW

New protections for judges, other civil law changes head to House Floor

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18214

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

‘Racial equity impact’ notes could be available upon request

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18207

EDUCATION

Education policy bill headed to full House with several changes

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18221

Legislation would fund program for paying Minnesota’s student teachers

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18219

Committee begins work on education policy bill; vote expected Thursday

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18202

Educators seek funding, training to help implement READ Act

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18198

ELECTIONS

Could more of Minnesota’s city councils be elected by wards?

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18218

Elections committee approves wide-ranging policy bill along party lines

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18206

‘Prison gerrymandering reform bill’ aims to ensure fairer representation, heads for House Floor

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18193

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

House environment panel approves ‘minor’ policy bill with least controversial provisions

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18222

ENERGY
Supporters say permitting reform marks Minnesota’s next step in clean energy transition

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18210

Going geothermal? You could soon score a rebate

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18201

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health licensing bill moves to House Ways and Means Committee

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18220

Human services policy bill advances in House

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18209

Health panel walks through policy bill with vote expected Thursday

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18208

House bill would bolster local ambulance services facing ‘real and serious’ funding challenges

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18200

Panel advances proposal allowing child care providers to set own vaccination policies

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18195

Bill aims to fill rural Minnesota’s shortage of mental health professionals

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18192

Health systems could pay for wigs, prosthetics for hair loss caused by cancer treatment

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18190

HIGHER EDUCATION

Higher education policy bill matriculates to House Floor

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18215

RISE Act aims to empower college students with disabilities

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18196

HOUSING

Cities could be compelled to allow apartment buildings in commercial zones

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18212

Affordable housing units in financial distress would receive aid under House proposal

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18203

MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS
Property tax exemption for American Legions and VFWs moves forward

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18189

PUBLIC SAFETY

Public safety committee policy bill heads to House Floor

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18223

Public safety panel considers bill toughening penalties on straw gun purchases

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18217

House lawmaker hopes to lower temperature of traffic stops with change in law

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18213

House panel considers proposed task force to study domestic violence, firearm surrenders

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18205

Committee OKs $50 million to replenish state disaster contingency account, establish recurring funding

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18197

STATE GOVERNMENT

Republican candidate easily wins District 27B special election

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18204

TAXES

Net loss change gets a big win on the House Floor

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18191

TRANSPORTATION

A smooth trip through committee for transportation policy bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18216

Car seat guidance could get boost from bill spelling out best practices

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18194