Capitol Letter for April 21, 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.

LWVMN Advocacy

Executive Director Michelle Witte on ABC 6 News after the Minnesota House Passes the Democracy for the People Act - “This is really again about everyone being able to have easier access while also making sure the system has good safeguards.” This bill is pro-voter, containing many LWVMN priorities, and will go to the Senate for a vote on Wednesday, April 26th. You can join us at 10 am for a rally at the Minnesota Capitol with the We Choose Us coalition! Make sure that you sign up to receive more information and please email Sam if you need parking directions or have any questions.

This article from a Clean Elections MN board member, a Democracy partner, argues for this year’s Legislation to Improve Voting in Minnesota.

Observer Reports

House Ways and Means - Monday, April 17

LWVMN Observer Corps Member Rebecca Monson

HF24 (Jordan) - Replacing lead water service lines through a grant program. Key takeaway: NO amount of exposure to lead is safe for Minnesotans. Both public and private lines must be replaced simultaneously otherwise replacing one only can cause even greater lead exposure in water. Eligible recipients are all public water suppliers. Total cost of the bill is $240M which will not cover ALL MN needs but will be an excellent start to replace lead water service lines. Grant money can be used to pay for 100% of the cost for private lines and 50% for public lines. There is a mapping grant component that will help municipalities meet the federal government requirement under the EPA's lead and copper rule which requires all municipalities (public water suppliers) to have maps of all their lead water service lines by Oct 2024. In addition, the bill unlocks federal funding for lead service line replacement to Minnesota in the amount of $215M over next 5 years with 50% allocated to grants and 50% to loans with a 0% interest rate. This bill has strong bipartisan support. A motion to place the bill on the general register passed unanimously.

House Floor Session - Monday, April 17

LWVMN Observer Corps Member Cindy Holker

HF2310 - Omnibus Environment and Natural Resources Climate and Energy Bill, presented in two parts. First, Rep. Hansen covered the "problem solving" portion of the bill stating that problems such as Emerald Ash Borer, invasive species, landfills, etc. have existed for a long time but fixes have never come to fruition. This bill takes these issues over the line with solutions. Rep. Acomb presented the portions of the Bill that covered reduction in greenhouse gasses, transitioning from fossil fuels, climate justice provisions, electric vehicles (EV), etc. A long series of amendments were then presented. Here are a few and the results of the floor votes- Amendments that were accepted: A50 - this amendment removed the reinstatement of the MPCA Citizens’ Board. Rep. Daudt gave a little history lesson back to 2015 when the Board was removed with bipartisan support. At the time, there was a general feeling that the Board became political in nature and applicants who did everything right according to current laws/ codes would then go before the Board and get turned down. This portion was removed with bipartisan support. A41 - dealing with the definitions of muzzleloaders was passed with bipartisan support. A34 - limiting EV rebates was approved with bipartisan support. A44 - Requiring material sourcing for climate and tech projects to only come from companies/countries who maintain the same wage and labor standards as Minnesota passed with bipartisan support. A37 - Eliminates the ability to use funds from the ‘Green Bank’ in countries with slavery, passed with bipartisan support. A30 - An amendment ending open hunting season on wolves. Passed along party lines. An amendment establishing wolf packs in Fort Snelling and Keller Regional Park was presented more to make a point and was later withdrawn. Amendments that failed: A51- an amendment to delete sustainable building guidelines, failed. A23/A38 - an amendment focused on the need for a study to understand the impact of solar farms on water flow and drainage on farmland. This also included an amendment to limit solar farms to non-tillable land, so the quantity of farmland would not be reduced. These did not pass.
- General Discussion of Bill: The Republicans focused their challenges against the bill in the following areas: Do not like the size of the bill. Feel there are parts they can support but other parts they can't, so they will vote against. Very focused on the budget surplus and that even with the surplus parts of the bills will cost the taxpayers additional money. The areas identified were increased fees for things such as boat licenses and park entrance fees in addition to increases in fees paid to utilities as they invest in new energy solutions. Nothing in the bill focuses on nuclear energy and tied to that a focus on Europe and how they are looking to diversify their energy solutions while this bill does not. Impact to overall quantity of farm land as more goes into solar farms. The bill passed along party lines. More coverage: House Passes Environment and Climate Bill Amid Calls for Action on PFAS

House Ways and Means - Thursday, April 20

LWVMN Observer Corps Member Marti Micks

HF1580 (Becker-Finn) - Omnibus Judiciary Finance bill. This bill seeks appropriations for the Judiciary to provide funding for access to justice "transformational change" for those who could not afford it, funds Human Rights Act enforcement, funds more legal services and raises pay for juries and judges. Opposition was concerned about whether adding two human rights staff would lead to surveillance. It was explained the staff will respond to issues that are brought by community members. The bill was laid over to be incorporated into SF2909, Omnibus Judiciary and Public Safety. Passed.
HF2890 (SF2909) (Moller) - Omnibus public safety bill. Funds law enforcement within Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), funding for recruitment, mental health support for first responders, and transformational changes to the probation system, state fraud unit, fentanyl, organized retail theft, common sense gun safety, juvenile reform, Yellow Medicine County restorative justice system was noted as reducing recidivism. Amendment A24 dealing with human trafficking and fentanyl passed. Amendment A23 providing Grant Management passed. Motion to pass SF2909 as amended and be placed in the general register and non-partisan staff make changes where necessary to be voted on the House floor. Passed; not unanimous.
HF2847 (SF2934) (Noor) - Omnibus Human Services Finance Bill would provide funding for long term care, increasing payment rates for personal care assistants and nursing home staff, funding for training to deal with the shortage of staff that has forced nursing homes to close. Payment rates would rise from $17/hour to $22.52/hour pay. Also $50 million funding set for vulnerable adults, eliminating sub-minimum wages for those with disabilities. One Representative voted against the bill because it didn't put in enough funding. A couple Legislators said that 11,000 seniors were turned away from nursing homes in Minnesota last year. Rep. Noor said that number was not correct about nursing homes, but might include those seeking assisted living. A legislator asked why billing to reimbursement for nursing homes in Minnesota takes 18 months. The state set that system up intentionally at the time.