March 13, 2017

Dear friends and neighbors,

March is a very busy month at the legislature. Friday marked the first committee deadline. Starting this week, no new bills can be introduced to the Senate. The next deadline is at the end of the week, when all bills must have received a hearing in either Chamber. After the final deadline of March 31st, we wait for the Governor to either sign off on legislation we’ve passed or begin the Conference Committee process to negotiate final the language of a bill that is acceptable for both parties.

These deadlines are much earlier than in year’s past. This is to help the legislature stay on task and finish its work with plenty of time for the Governor to review its bills. With careful and transparent planning, we can avoid end-of-session debacles, special sessions, and dreaded government shutdowns.

You may be wondering what has happened to the bills I’ve mentioned that passed through committees, but have yet to receive a full vote from the Senate. Legislation that is “recommended to pass” from committee is sent to the Senate Floor for debate, then a full vote. If passed off the Floor, the Governor is expected to sign and that bill becomes law. The wetland bill I’ve mentioned in previous weeks is a good illustration of this process, as it became law just last week. It provides the means to continue road construction in our district, meaning our commutes are about to be safer and smoother.

Other legislation that gets a hearing by a committee can be “laid over for possible inclusion.” That means the bill will be considered at a later time for inclusion into a larger “omnibus” bill. There will likely be an omnibus transportation, bonding, agriculture, and tax bill. An omnibus transportation bill, for example, will comprise several smaller, noncontroversial bills that authorize construction for roads and bridges throughout the state. It would take too long to vote on each bill separately, so members of the Transportation Committee develop one comprehensive – or omnibus – bill to present to the Senate. Many bills I’ve authored this session fall into this category.

There are a couple other bills to feature this week. Please read on for more information!

Permitting Minnow Importation in Minnesota 

Minnesota is one of only two states in the country that prohibits minnow importation. That ban has resulted in a 10-year minnow shortage, fisheries and bait shops simply can’t keep up with demand. So, the owners will go across state lines, which is illegal, to get minnows for their customers. This is costly for businesses and puts consumers at risk. Without any standards or control, we can’t know where the fish are coming from, if they’ve been tested for disease, or whether they are priced fairly.  

Senate File 1370 would remedy these issues by finally allowing businesses to import minnows from health-certified sources. There are so many fisheries and bait shops in our area that have voiced support for this bill. I’m happy to report it has passed through the Senate Environment Finance Committee this week and will be considered for a full vote later this session.  

Fair Funding for Minnesota Schools 

The school districts in our area cover many more square miles than those closer to the cities. Kids have to travel from much further distances to get to school. But these districts don’t receive enough money to cover the extra transportation costs. So, they are forced to take money that is intended for the classroom and use it just to bus kids to and from school.

This isn’t fair; rural schools should not have to reduce opportunities in the classroom just to provide transportation for their students. Rather, the funding formula should factor in these costs. Senate File 1026 fills the gap between the actual costs and the money the school gets from the state by authorizing a new path to pay for student transportation. This bill will ensure fairness in school funding across districts in Minnesota and give Forest Lake and Chisago students access to the same resources that metro area kids get too.

Survey Results 

Thanks to all who participated in last week’s budget survey. We are collecting the results and will share them with you next week! 

Thanks for reading this week’s legislative update. Please get in touch with my office if you have any questions or concerns about what you’ve read!

 

Sincerely,

You have received this email because you are enrolled in our mailing list

Unsubscribe