Capitol Letter for May 19, 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
With the MN Senate following the House and passing HF197 on a bipartisan 42-25 vote, Minnesota is now the fourth state (California, Colorado & Hawaii) to urge that Congress pass SJRes4/HJRes25, resolving that the requirements have been met to ratify the ERA and that it shall now be known as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution! Without the addition of the ERA to the U.S. Constitution, legislation and case law that has resulted in extraordinary progress for women has the potential to be ignored, weakened, or reversed.
On Wednesday, May 17, the MN Senate also passed SF37 on a bipartisan vote of 43-23. If approved by the House in the 2023 or 2024 Legislative Session, this bill would ask Minnesota voters in the 2024 General Election: "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended by adding a specific guarantee that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by this state or any of its cities, counties, or other political subdivisions on account of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, ancestry, or national origin?” All DFL Senators and GOP Senators Coleman, Draheim, Duckworth, Housley, Jasinski, Lang, Miller, Nelson, and Pratt voted yes (or green!) for the ERA. Watch the Floor Session here and the short, post-Press Conference with bill authors Sen. Pappas and Sen. Kunesh, respectively, and ERAMN founder, Betty Folliard, and president, Suzann Willhite. 27 other states already have an ERA in their state constitutions, and the proposed MN language to include all people passed by nearly 58% of Nevada voters, in 2022.
Observer Reports
HF1830 - State Government Finance Bill - Saturday, May 13
LWVMN Observer Corps Member Paul Huffman
This was the final hearing of the conference committee on state government budget and finance. There will only be another meeting if any non-technical, substantive changes are required to the conference report. The committee completed a review of all remaining budget and policy for state and local government, and elections. The following items related to elections were approved: Creation of a "Secretary of State Voting Study" to review potential changes to election law, including ranked choice voting; Redefinition of what constitutes a "major party", including changing the threshold to 8% votes rather than 5%; Definition of individuals who are in work-release status as "not incarcerated"; Requirements for foreign language sample ballots and ballot instructions. An amendment was approved by the committee which brought back legislative boundary changes that had been brought to the legislature late in the 2022 session and were withdrawn, based in part on challenges from outside groups. Changes to the boundary between SD9/SD12 in western MN was an issue from 2022 with the vacation/lake residence of a Republican Senator. The companion change, with HD 44A/44B boundaries, potentially provides a DFL legislator with improved electoral margins. These changes were represented by the committee as "coming from leadership" and as "technical", with no discussion of the technical issue being resolved. Conference Committee Report approved by the MN House
Legislative News and Updates
Democracy for the People Act - Star Tribune Editorial: Real Progress Made on Election Reform & Senate Interview with Author Sen. Boldon
State Lawmakers Agree to 'Historic' Environment and Climate Bill with Pollution Protections for Diverse and Low-Income Neighborhoods
Lack of Bonding Agreement Hurts Greater MN as DFL Moves Capital Investment Bill
Taxes: MPR: 5 Things to Know about the Tax Deal, Rebate Checks from the MN Capitol, MinnPost: Will ‘Historic’ Tax Cuts Do Enough to Help Minnesotans?, DFL Tax Plan Opts for New Business Taxes
Duluth, Other Cities to Benefit from $240 Million for Lead Service Replacement Lines
Four Takeaways from the DFL's Vote to Approve Gun Regulations included in the Public Safety and Judiciary Budget Bill to be Signed by the Governor
Minnesota Looks to Shed Abortion Restrictions After Passage of PRO Act
Mayo Clinic Wins Full Exemption from Nurse Staffing Bill in Agreement with State Leaders
‘Deep Fakes’ Law will Make Image-Altering Distribution Illegal without Consent in Minnesota: “It would also establish penalties for deep fake material that depicts the speech or conduct of a person who did not engage in it within 90 days of an election that is circulated with the intent to influence the election.”
Please learn more at our 2023 Legislative Session Webpage.