Capitol Letter for January 27, 2023
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.
Lobbying by LWVMN
Wednesday, January 25, 2023 - Members of LWVMN’s Climate Change Task Force descended on the Capitol after hearing from bill authors Rep. Long and Sen. Frentz on the 100% Clean Energy bill and from 100% Campaign leaders. Constituents shared their support for the bill and engaged in meaningful conversations with their Senators before it was heard in the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate. The amended bill passed the House floor with some bipartisan support late last night and will likely be voted on in the Senate next week before it could become law. Make sure to contact your Senator on SF4 if you haven’t yet.
Wednesday, January 25 - LWVMN Lobby and Observer Corps Member Lisa Larson addressed the Senate Education Policy Committee on SF618 at 30:20. This bill would make civics a required course for graduation.
100% Rally attendees getting ready to talk to their Senators!
Observer Reports
House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law - Tuesday, January 24
LWVMN Observer Corps Member Rebecca Monson
HF91: “a repealer bill” for certain statutes and rules regulating abortions. The statutes repealed include provisions requiring parental notification or judicial approval for minors seeking an abortion and statutes prohibiting state and local funds from being used for abortions not covered under Medical Assistance. Additionally, this bill amends statutes governing MinnesotaCare coverage of abortion services.
This was quite a contentious hearing due to lifting reporting requirements and born alive fetuses given no aid. Bill author, Rep. Liebling says that data shows born alive fetuses do not happen and reporting is not done for medical reasons. Re-referred to Public Safety Finance and Policy committee along party lines.
Summary of opposition: 1) reporting indicates who is getting abortions. For example, if data indicates 25% of MN abortions are for African Americans, this is an economics issue. 2) taxpayers should not pay for abortions.
Summary of support: Reporting burdens patients and providers and infringes on privacy; asking them while in patient care adds stress and guilt and infringes on their privacy and providers have the reporting burden creating fear and retribution for both.
Testimony was similar to past hearings with mostly equal support and opposition with numerous personal experiences on the legislator’s points.
Senate Elections Committee - Tuesday, January 24
LWVMN Observer Corps Member Cindy Holker
SF66 - Closing a loophole in campaign finance that allows a special tier of access to legislators. Unanimously referred to the floor with bipartisan authors: Port (D), Dziedzic (D), Putnam (D), Dibble (D), and Drazkowski (Rep).
SF611 (Boldon) - Bill to codify that State Canvassing Boards declare candidates with the most votes the winners. Republican questions centered around why the need to codify and asked for examples where this has not been followed in the past with acknowledgement that MN has well run elections. Moved to the floor on voice vote; party unclear.
SF285 - Bill to allow the enablement of electronic signature on Poll Books at polling locations, a capability that already exists. Currently, the election judge finds your name on the book, prints off a small form stating that you verify you are eligible to vote, and you sign and turn in this form. New process would be you sign the poll book itself and print the receipt. Testimony was in favor of this bill including representatives from Hennepin County and other election judges. These forms are not currently used in recounts, checks. Republican concerns focused on security and claiming you are someone else but co-author Senator Mitchell explained that the same thing could happen today. Senator Anderson (REP) stated that some people were just not comfortable with technology. Voice Vote to refer bill to the Floor likely on party lines.
SF 384 (DFL authors) - Resolution to overturn Supreme Court Citizens United Decision whereby corporations and other entities were granted the same rights as an individual under the Constitution. Focus around the fact that this gave entities unfettered ability to contribute to candidates and the political process and could outweigh individual voters. 2/3rds of states need resolutions to oblige the US Congress to draft a resolution that would go back to the states requiring a vote to overturn the Supreme Court decision. Senator Koran (REP) was concerned that it was too narrow, and "dark money" wasn't included. Referred to the Rules Committee on apparent party lines.
House Committee on Elections and Finance, Wednesday, January 25
LWVMN Observer Corps Member Cindy Holker and Amy Caucutt
HF496 - companion to SF66 (see above), Testimony in favor from Ken Peterson, Clean Elections Minnesota and Jeff Sigurdson, Executive Director, Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. Republican questioning focused on the need and if this has been an issue in the past. No examples were given although one example of a group asking permission to do so. The Bill passed unanimously to be placed on the General Register.
HF477 - Bill to allow citizens to place themselves on a permanent absentee ballot request list (currently you would be put on a permanent list to receive an application for an absentee ballot). Favorable testimony from Nicole Freeman of the Secretary of State’s office (OSS) who spoke about 7 other states and Minnesota jurisdictions with Vote by Mail only doing this, an election judge, and Lilly Sasse from We Choose Us. One opposition testifier on security concerns. Friendly amendment unanimously adopted for the list to be made public, similar to the registered voting rolls. Discussion surrounded the security of our voting process and author, Rep. Wolgamott responded that signature, social security or driver's license info are required on returned ballots and Nicole explained that info from other databases keeping the rolls current. Rep. Greenman (DFL) stated that we should be focused on telling the truth to our citizens on the security of our elections systems versus sowing doubt in the process, and Rep. Altendorf (Rep) suggested that all people should put in the effort to vote in person Other Republicans stated that they support absentee voting but it must be secure. Roll call vote passed on party line (8 for, 5 against) and re-referred to Ways and Means because there is a one-time cost of $80,000 for OSS office.
HF95 - companion to SF611 (see above), Author, Rep. Frederick, brought up activity in other states during the 2020 election to use alternative means to declare a winner, and Republicans stated that this was a solution without a problem but that they would support. Vote was 13-0 to send to the General Register. Republican members, in time remaining, offered advice to Chair Freiberg, mainly to slow down and to consider questions by minority members who felt cut off and rushed. Difference this year is "not laying over" but passing bills, and he expected the 3rd bill to need more time for questions.
HF28, Right to vote restoration to individuals convicted of a felony upon completion of any term of incarceration imposed and executed by a court for the offense
House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law - Thursday, January 26
LWVMN Observer Corps Members Cindy Holker and Amy Caucutt
Passed 8-5 on party line and re-referred to Ways and Means. Republican resistance focused on the fact that voting rights are already restored upon completion of a sentence which includes parole. Victims of crime were also brought up as a concern to passing this bill with DFL members noting that victims groups support the bill, and all testimony was in favor of the bill including former Rep. Ray Dehn and many with personal stories of being or working with felons. Currently, it was said that Black Minnesotans are disproportionately disenfranchised and creates confusion on when you can vote. Republican committee members said they wanted a line drawn on whether felons have rehabilitated.
Minnesota House News
Including transportation infrastructure funding (see last week’s bonding article)
Related coverage
Women Legislators Lead Push to Shape Future of Abortion Access in Minnesota
CROWN Act to Ban Race Based Hair Discrimination Passes MN Senate
Please learn more at our 2023 Legislative Session Webpage and email Sam with any questions or suggestions for the Capitol Letter.