Minnesota Legislature’s fast pace continues

Lawmakers recently wrapped up a busy first month of the 2014 Legislative Session. Some of our most noteworthy accomplishments to date include approving additional home heating assistance and cutting taxes for middle class Minnesotans and small businesses.

Due to a relatively late start on Feb. 25, compared to our Jan. 8 start date last year, the Legislature crammed a lot of work into these first few weeks, a period of time that is traditionally not very hectic.

One of the drivers behind our fast tempo is three separate deadlines for committees to approve legislation.

Friday, March 21 marked the first deadline for committees to act favorably on bills in their house of origin, with this past Friday designated as the deadline for committees to act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the opposite chamber. The final deadline, which is this coming Friday on April 4, is for committees to act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.

With the first two committee deadlines passed, we can expect lawmakers to ramp up their focus on bonding proposals and a supplemental budget – two areas that include a significant amount of funding.

Priorities in the House supplemental budget package build on the progress our state has made over the past year. The proposal includes additional funding for K-12 schools and high-quality early learning opportunities, home health care workers who provide care for our seniors and Minnesotans with disabilities, a farm-to-food shelf program, an expansion of high-speed broadband Internet in Greater Minnesota, and more dollars to improve our state’s transportation system.

After bills complete the committee process, they are ready to be debated on the House floor by the entire chamber. Before a bill gets signed into law, differences with similar legislation approved by the Senate must be ironed out in a conference committee made of members from both chambers. After the House and Senate approve the same version of a bill, it can then head to Governor Dayton’s desk.

While this first month of Session has certainly been hectic, I feel energized knowing we are doing good work for the people of Minnesota.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions about this year’s Legislative Session. You can reach me by phone at (651) 296-4193, by email at rep.jeanne.poppe@house.mn, or by postal mail at 487 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.

SportsPlus

Mower County

Winter weather advisory to be issued as system begins moving in

Agriculture

Mower adds certified farmers in 2024

Education

PHOTOS: Unified fun — Austin High School hosts 2nd Unified Basketball Day

Mower County

Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota won’t seek reelection, dealing blow to Democrats’ hopes to take Senate

News

Republicans advance anti-abortion legislation during control of Minnesota House

News

Feds to probe Minnesota State High School League over transgender athlete policy

Mower County

Hormel honors winners of Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest

News

MnDOT announces winners of Name a Snowplow contest

News

US inflation got worse with rising groceries and gasoline prices

Education

With federal money at risk, Minnesota’s public colleges stress high stakes of state budget debate

Mower County

Snow, cold to impact region into tomorrow

Business

Hosting Legends: Mower CEO program promising big night with Local Legends concert

Education

APS School board authorizes bidding process for tennis courts reconstruction

Mower County

Austin Symphony Orchestra gets a little help in promotion for Sunday’s concert

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Convictions: Jan. 27-Feb. 3

Education

Local students advance to Southeast Minnesota Final Spelling Bee

Education

Education Briefs

News

Trump steel, aluminum tariffs likely to drive up car costs, industry leaders say

News

Republicans put fraud, measures to stop it in spotlight as they take Minnesota House reins

News

Most nations miss deadline for plans to fight climate change

News

Trump once again slaps taxes on foreign steel, aluminum, a move that proved costly in his first term

Education

APS Board votes to return to 2020 version of sex nondiscrimination policy

Mower County

Man already charged in two cases of criminal sexual conduct with a child charged a third time

News

Judge finds Trump administration hasn’t fully followed his order to unfreeze federal spending