Controversial
Bills
Moving
Forward:
Environment
&
Energy:
S.F.
2983; Nullifies
the
state’s
existing
wild
rice
water
quality
sulfate
standards
and
requires
a
new
rule-making process.
A
work
group
that
includes
the
Department
of
Natural
Resources,
tribal
communities,
and
other
stakeholders
is
established
to
study
alternative
solutions
to
restore
and
improve
wild
rice
harvests.
The
bill
was
heard
again
this
week
in
the
Environment
and
Natural
Resources
Finance
Committee
–
no
amendments.
S.F.
3504;
Makes
changes
in
the
state’s
approval
process
for
the
considerable
investments
Xcel
Energy
will
need
to
make
if
its
nuclear
plants
are
to
stay
open
through
the
lifetime
of
their
operating
licenses. The
legislation
allows
Xcel
to
get
upfront
approval
for
future
nuclear
expenses,
making
a
change
from
the
current
procedure
in
which
the
Public
Utilities
Commission
determines
whether
Xcel’s
costs
are
prudent
after
they
are
made. The
bill
was
approved
on
a
vote
of
7-2
and
will
be
heard
next
on
the
Senate
floor.
S.F.
2637; Requires
legislative
approval
of
certain
Minnesota
Pollution
Control
Agency
(MPCA)
water-related
fees.
These
include
fees
for
water
and
subsurface
treatment
personnel
training,
water
supply
system
and
wastewater
treatment
facility
application
review
and
certification,
wastewater
laboratory
certification,
and
water
permitting.
State
and
Local
Government:
S.F.
3418; Prohibits
the
use
of
state
funding
for
metropolitan
transit
capital
costs
and
implements
additional
requirements
on
the
Met
Council
Transportation
Division.
Requires
the
Met
Council
Transportation
Division
to
operate
on
a
fiscal
year
budget
as
opposed
to
the
current
calendar
year
operating
budget.
It
restricts
the
ongoing
operation
of
Metro
Transit
by
prohibiting
any
state
funds
(including
GO
bonds)
from
being
used
for
metropolitan
transit
capital
costs,
which
includes
light
rail
infrastructure,
but
also
ride-share
facilities
and
bus
fleets.
S.F.
2704; Incorporates
ride-sharing
organizations
or
transportation
network
companies
(TNCs)
into
transportation
statutes
and
creates
a
broad
licensure
requirement.
The
regulations
in
the
bill
preempt
local
ordinances
and
resolutions
in
subdivision
14.
The
language
states
that
this
section
“supersedes
any
ordinance
or
other
regulation
adopted
by
a
political
subdivision
that
specifically
governs
transportation
network
companies.”
Political
subdivisions
are
expressly
prohibited
from
imposing
fees
or
requiring
TNCs
to
obtain
a
business
license.
St.
Paul,
Minneapolis,
and
the
League
of
Minnesota
Cities
opposed
the
uniform
application
of
these
regulations
and
the
fact
that
they
would
preempt
local
ordinances
or
resolutions.
St.
Paul
and
Minneapolis
have
already
implemented
or
are
considering
additional
regulations
on
ride-sharing
companies
and
are
best
equipped
to
address
the
unique
concerns
of
local
communities
relative
to
TNCs.
This
bill
would
nullify
work
that
Minneapolis
has
already
undertaken
to
improve
ride-sharing
in
Minnesota’s
largest
city
and
would
stifle
the
ability
for
other
cities
to
do
the
same.
S.F.
2809; Completely
revamps
the
organizational
structure
of
the
Met
Council.
Instead
of
being
comprised
of
gubernatorial
appointments,
the
Met
Council
would
be
made
up
of
one
county
commissioner
from
each
of
the
metropolitan
counties
(Anoka,
Carver,
Dakota,
Hennepin,
Ramsey,
Scott,
and
Washington),
one
locally
elected
official
appointed
by
a
municipal
committee
of
each
Met
Council
district
(there
are
16
districts),
two
locally
elected
officials
appointed
by
the
mayors
of
Minneapolis
and
St.
Paul,
the
Commissioner
of
Transportation
or
a
designee,
and
three
members
appointed
by
the
commissioner
to
represent
non-motorized
transportation,
freight
transportation,
and
public
transit.
This
bill
greatly
expands
the
size
of
the
Met
Council
from
17
current
members
to
29
members,
each
eligible
for
a
$20,000
annual
salary
(in
addition
to
the
compensation
they
receive
as
a
locally
elected
official)
plus
reimbursement
of
expenses. |