Week in Review: April 1-5

Focus started to shift this week with members beginning to spend less time in committee meetings and more time together as a body on the House Floor. That trend should continue over the next couple of weeks as the session’s second, and final, committee deadline approaches, by when committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.

That will arrive on April 19, but work on the major policy bills continues with the judiciary and civil law (HF3872), public safety (HF3614) and elections (HF4772) policy bills all on the Calendar for the Day for Monday, April 8.

And a reminder there will be no House business next week from 5 p.m. Tuesday (April 9) until noon Thursday (April 11) in observance of the Eid holiday.

Have a good weekend and here’s a look back at what happened over the last few days.

AGRICULTURE
Funds to treat water included in state’s agriculture supplemental budget ask

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18263

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

STEM, tech programs could get combined $3 million for underserved, underrepresented communities

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18249

EDUCATION

House passes proposed changes to state’s early education programs

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18266

Proposed pilot program would incentivize student reading with free pizza

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18260

Cooperative districts seek state funds for facilities serving high-need students

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18257

Governor’s proposed 2024 education finance bill includes expansion of voluntary pre-K program

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18252

EMPLOYMENT

Proposal to provide hourly airport employees a health insurance stipend heads to House Floor

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18247

ENERGY

Electrical upgrade costs could be shared under bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18256

Software could speed up homeowners’ switch to solar

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18248

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

‘Mining’ critical materials from trash could close loop on circular economy

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18254

Supplemental budget request aims to address nitrate-contaminated drinking water

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18251

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Religious exemption language added to gender-affirming care bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18262

Bill seeks to help Minnesota’s elderly live at home longer

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18246

HIGHER EDUCATION

Higher education policy bill gets high marks in House

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18265

HOUSING
Minneapolis public housing authority seeks $35 million in state money for affordable units

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18255

PUBLIC SAFETY

Bill to increase penalties for swatting goes to House Floor

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18259

STATE GOVERNMENT
Bill proposing referendum that could create full-time Legislature, redistricting commission clears second committee

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18261

TAXES

Staggered child tax credit payments among Walz tax recommendations

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18264

Taxing land vs. the buildings on it at core of House bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18250

Seniors could split their property tax refunds under House bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18245

TRANSPORTATION

House greenlights transportation policy bill

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18267

State’s smallest cities could see boost in road funding

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18258

Shorter courses could improve driving safety among older people, bill supporters say

https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18253