Friends and neighbors,
March 22 marked the end of the first and second deadlines for bills to be heard in committees which means we began hearing and voting on bills to pass into law last week. As you’ll see, more policy related bills have made their way to the Senate floor and continue to impact – for better and for worse – the everyday lives of Minnesotans. I’ve highlighted a few of the bills that passed in this newsletter, but please be aware the summaries are VERY brief! I urge you to click on the heading for each bill as they’re linked to the full bill for your review.
Bills Passed by Senate
Unfortunately, this bill was another mandate-heavy omnibus bill and failed to address the three areas where schools need the most support: Increased academic success, mandated relief, and improved school safety.
The education policy bill increases mandates on schools, even after more than 60 mandates were passed in the 2023 session. A letter on March 14 from various education groups requested the legislature refrain from passing new mandates in 2024, citing the negative impacts to their budget, workforce, local control, and innovation efforts. And, rather than focusing on academic achievement or student safety, the premiere component of this legislation is a “Book Banning Prohibition” mandate. This provision would put book selection decisions in the hands of approved librarians with no room for input from parents in the community. While I believe there was an attempt at some bi-partisan work on this bill, a majority of it continues to damage our K-12 public education system. I voted NO on this bill.
The Senate voted unanimously to repair last year’s tax bill that wrongly moved the date to end the Net Operating Loss (NOL) of 2023 instead of 2024, causing higher taxes for small businesses and entrepreneurs earlier than expected. This bill was signed by the Governor on April 8th.
With protections benefitting seniors, delaying expensive changes to Medigap plans, and simplifying survivorship issues, there are some good sections to this bill. However, I believe this bill fell short and I could not support it.
Residential Housing Tenant and Landlord Provisions Modifications
I voted NO on this bill as I believe it fails to address skyrocketing rent prices in Minnesota. I agree with Sen. Lucero when he recently stated that the cost of housing in Minnesota is more expensive than surrounding states. Senate Republicans offered numerous amendments during session in an attempt to make this a more bi-partisan bill, including allowing landlords to conduct background check on any non-resident tenant organizer (re: Brooklyn Park apartment complex caretaker was murdered), protection for tenants who terminate a lease without penalty related to domestic violence, prohibit pet deposit fees for service animals, and many others that could have made this bill more palliative. Republicans did successfully add a tenant privacy amendment to the bill, clarifying that landlords are not required to disclose private information about tenants to organizers.
Jobs and Economic Development Policy Omnibus Bill
Unfortunately, this bill fails to take the necessary steps to address Minnesota’s labor shortage or increase worker wages. Recent reporting indicates Minnesota still has 10,000 fewer jobs today than it did before the pandemic, lagging behind more than two-thirds of states. Once again, numerous amendments were offered on the Senate floor, including DEED and MMB assessment of new programs/grants of $500,000 or more, tax credits for small businesses, reinstating a 10% cap on administrative costs for grants to nonprofits, and requiring DEED to prioritize projects with the highest public benefit. These just seemed like common sense additions that could have made this a bi-partisan bill. Sadly, the Senate Democrat majority rejected these amendments. Unfortunately, I could not support this bill and voted NO.
Local Updates
Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council
The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC) issued its annual Call for Funding Request from the Outdoor Heritage Fund. Approximately $150 million will be available for both metro and statewide grants to aid Minnesota habitat restoration, protection and enhancement. The process is competitive and open to all who wish to apply. Proposal requirements and terms of funding are outlined in the request form. To learn more, vist www.lsohc.mn.gov or contact LSOHC staff directly at www.lsohc.mn.gov/staff.
Spongy Moth Meeting Reminder
There’s a public informational meeting for those who may have questions regarding the state Dept. of Agriculture doing a spray treatment for Spongy Moth in North Branch this summer. The meeting is schedule to take place at the North Branch Area Library from 4pm-6pm on Tuesday, April 15. The treatment is recommended for early to mid-July this summer to curtail any further infestation. You can learn more about Spongy Moth treatments and find an interactive map on the MN Dept. of Agriculture website here.
Contact Me
Please don’t ever hesitate to reach out! I truly believe I’m a better legislator when I hear your feedback. I can be reached via email at Sen.Mark.Koran@mnsenate.gov or 651-296-5419. My Legislative Assistant, Melissa Field, is also a great resource if you need assistance! She can be reached at Melissa.Field@mnsenate.gov or 651-296-6200.
I’m looking forward to seeing you in the community soon!
Minnesota Senate, District 28