Capitol Letter for May 25, 2022

The Capitol Letter™ is a recurring publication that provides reports from LWV Minnesota volunteer Observer Corps and Lobby Corps members on what is happening in the current legislative session.

Last Week of 2022 Legislative Session

Breaking News as of May 23

We are awaiting additional information about a possible Special Session. Attend our June 1 Legislative Session Update at 5:00pm to learn more. Register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing info about joining the meeting.

Short special session possible 

Gov. Tim Walz plans to meet with legislative leaders this Monday morning to discuss the possibility of a special session to wrap up some unfinished business as the Legislature passes its deadline. Gov. Walz says he thinks they are “90–95% there”, but there are Minnesotans relying on them to finish the job. One major proposal that missed the deadline was the previously agreed upon $4 billion tax deal for education and public safety. However, some legislators are concerned that a short session won’t be enough to bridge the gap between the DFL and Republicans, as they remain ideologically far apart on some key issues. 

Gov. Walz had repeatedly said he would not call a special session this year, but with work unfinished, it looks like he may backpedal on that promise. Which is not out of the ordinary, as there has been at least one special session in eight of the last ten years. 

$4 billion tax deal reached – well, sort of… 

This tax agreement is one of the biggest deals to pass this session. It would eliminate taxes on Social Security, adjust the lowest income tax bracket from 5.35% to 5.1%, and include tax breaks for homeowners. This is all contingent on a comprehensive deal which includes money for classroom spending, public safety, healthcare, and more, which legislators are still hashing out. 

Education, transportation, public safety, mental health, and tax cuts were all left on the table. They did pass frontline worker relief, unemployment insurance fixes, draught relief, rural broadband, and modernizing liquor laws.

What about our voting and election laws?

As of this writing, there is still no formal agreement on the State Government Omnibus Bill (HF4293), which holds our various elections provisions such as providing the state match for federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds, and releasing those to help modernize our election systems. Overall, none of the “bad issues” stuck to this bill, but then none of the “good issues” have been passed either. 

“Hail Mary” on sports betting 

The Senate Finance Committee voted 5-4 to move forward a bill that would expand for-profit gambling in Minnesota. The House bill (HF778) previously passed would give Native American tribes sole control over wagers. Sen. Roger Chamberlain (R–Lino Lakes) proposes in-person bets at state horse racing tracks. Andy Platto, executive director of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, sent a letter to the Senate Finance Committee, explaining how the tribal nations in his group would not support a bill that would expand commercial gambling. 

“This opposition seeks to protect the gaming industry that today serves as the essential tax base tribal governments and communities rely on,” Plato wrote. 

Free the Growler: Cap could be raised in growler sales 

As a provision in HF2767/SF3008, sponsored by Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL–Coon Rapids) and Sen. Gary Dahms (R–Redwood Falls), the cap on growler sales could be raised. Currently, breweries that produce more than 20,000 barrels yearly cannot sell growlers. The proposed provision would increase the limit to 150,000, which would include Minnesota’s six largest breweries: Surly, Summit, Lift Bridge, Fulton, Shell’s, and Castle Danger. The provision was passed 10-0 and is included in the omnibus liquor bill. 

Law enforcement supervisors unit re-passed in House 

HF961, sponsored by Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL–International Falls), would create a law enforcement supervision unit under the Public Employer Labor Relations Association. It was passed 126-5 and was sent to the Senate where it is sponsored by Sen. Jeff Howe (R–Rockville). A conference committee dropped any Senate amendments to the bill and a $128,000 appropriation was deleted, which would have gone towards starting the unit. Additionally, the bill would remove state patrol supervisors, DNR enforcement supervisors, and criminal apprehension investigative supervisors from the right to separate from the general supervisory employees unit under PELRA. 

Bill passed to allow emancipated minors to obtain restraining orders 

Rep. Athena Hollins (DFL–St. Paul) sponsors HF2665 that would allow emancipated youth to seek harassment restraining orders on their own behalf. It was passed 132-0 in the House and will move to the Senate, where it is sponsored by Sen. Mark Johnson (R–East Grand Forks). Currently, the law requires a petition for harassment restraining orders to protect a minor that must be brought by the minor’s guardian. “Emancipated youth often seek protection from unsafe circumstances such as stalking and harassment from adults who are pursuing them often for sex or explotiation,” Rep. Hollins explains, adding it may be a small bill but could have a large impact. 

To demonstrate emancipation and be eligible for the court-ordered restraining order, the minor would need to show proof of living separately from their parents, managing all of their own financial affairs, and severance from all parents who have a legal parent-child relationship with the minor. 

Omnibus mental health package to go to Gov. Walz’s desk 

HF2725, as amended, has been approved by the Senate. Sponsored by Rep. Heather Edelson (DFL–Edina) and Sen. Rich Draheim (R–Madison Lake), the bill would appropriate $92.7 million to fund mental health programs, including establishing loan forgiveness for mental health professionals and expanding mobile crisis services. Additionally, it would fund school-linked mental health grants that aim to increase accessibility for uninsured and underinsured children. 

Conference committee report on Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund gets the OK by the House 

A conference committee report on HF3765 passed 115-19. The House sponsor, Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL–South St. Paul), says it has “restored the merit-based approach from the cream-of-the-crop projects”. The report will fully fund 36 projects for $38.81 million as well as increase funding for 16 other House projects with just over $4 million. Additionally, there are 21 Senate exclusive projects that would get $14 million in funding.  

Agriculture omnibus and drought relief bills 

Drought relief from last summer’s dry season has been anxiously anticipated by many rural Minnesotans. The conference committee report for HF3420 merges the omnibus agriculture and broadband supplemental finance and policy bill with one that would allocate drought relief to farmers. Combined, the appropriations in this bill would be $50.9 million from the General Fund in the current biennium and $32.5 million in the next. There would also be new policies and programs created, including establishing a cooperative grants program, farm down payment assistance grants, adding a member with knowledge of cybersecurity to the Food Safety and Defense Task Force, establishing a soil health financial assistance pilot program, and requiring several reports to the Legislature.  

Climate/the environment were not priorities in final negotiations at the Capitol. 

The legislature was divided over spending the budget surplus and other top issues; however, drought relief for farmers, projects in the Outdoor Heritage Fund, and support for agriculture initiatives made it to the Governor. Weatherization, ENRTF re-authorization, capital investment adaptations, matching funds for EV infrastructure, and providing grants for cities impacted by climate change were all left on the table. A special session could bring compromise on these provisions but nothing close to the $1 billion investment proposed by the House Climate Action Caucus. Partisanship overshadowed public input, so the League of Women Voters of Minnesota will continue building trust with policymakers through its relationships and commitment to member priorities.

For example, soil health, meat processing, and beginning farmers received $15 million to steward the land. This was between $5 million and $60 million proposed by the Senate and House in the agriculture bill, respectively. Protecting the environment and supporting rural communities was an agreed upon priority. Through contacting our legislators, working with coalitions like the Minnesota Environmental Partnership, and leading conversations with local Leagues on our values, state leaders cannot ignore extreme weather events, market transitions, and environmental justice to ensure that the climate is a top issue in future legislative sessions.