Here is a summary of the 2022 Legislative Session: After months of early 2022 discussions and negotiations… the Minnesota Senate & House agreed to spend $4.3 billion of reserves and federal American Rescue Plan money on reinsurance, unemployment insurance fixes, checks for some frontline workers and COVID funding. Unfortunately, the end of the 2022 Session was unsuccessful—too many House chairs refused to operate within the parameters of the leaders, giving rise to stalemates in negotiations. Even worse, Governor Walz stopped agreements from closing… democrats walked away.
Democrats Prevents Tax Relief—Incapable of Compromise
The 2022 Session closed without the passage of major bills providing tax relief, support for public safety and law enforcement, investments in student-first education proposals, and resources to stabilize our struggling long-term care facilities.
Throughout negotiations, Senate Republicans provided offers that met the terms of the leadership agreement released on May 16, 2022. They were within the budget agreement set, dropped controversial policy items, and were released to the public for review.
In return, Democrats frequently sent offers that were over the agreed-upon budget target or introduced new, controversial policy items. In the last 48 hours available to pass bills, the Governor interfered with the Senate-House agreement on State Government, effectively killing the bill.
Senate Republicans rolled out a strong agenda early in the session that focused on public safety, affording life, and empowering parents. The “Right Track” agenda would have put more cops on the streets and retained law enforcement officers. It included the Biggest Tax Cut Ever! by cutting the lowest income tax rate nearly in half and fully repealing the tax on Social Security benefits. Finally, the Parent’s Bill of Rights and funding for literacy would have brought more transparency and accountability in schools, while reversing the state’s declining literacy rates with proven, scientific methods of instruction. The session largely stayed focused on those three issues, but the challenges nursing homes and long-term care centers reached a crisis that could not be ignored. The Senate Republican nursing home rescue package would have provided much needed funding for staff, recruitment, and training.
Governor Tim Walz is the only person who can call a special session… stay tuned.
The session still saw several bipartisan success stories. In addition to UI and frontline worker bonus checks, and the reinsurance extension, the legislature passed bills to modernize liquor and increased the growler limit. A budget bill for veterans’ included funding for three vets’ homes and bonuses for veterans in the War on Terror. The final day of session included a significant Agriculture, Broadband, and Drought relief bill to assist farmers and greater Minnesotans, and major investments in mental health and competency restoration to help students and individuals in crisis get the help they need.
Senate, House Pass Bipartisan Agriculture, Broadband, and Drought Relief bill
This weekend, the Minnesota Senate passed a significant bipartisan agriculture, broadband, and drought relief bill to help Minnesota farmers and families. The legislation expands broadband funding, provides relief to farmers still struggling from the aftereffects of last year’s historic drought, and addresses urgent concerns in our agriculture sector, including the ongoing Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) crisis.
Notably, this bill also continues investments in meat-cutting programs championed by Senator Carrie Ruud in previous legislative sessions. This includes investments in meat cutting and butchery training programs; money to start, modernize or expand meat, poultry, dairy, and egg processing facilities; and grants for training high school students and employees of small processors.
“We want Minnesotans across the state to have access to reliable internet, and we want to address issues facing our agricultural industries, and this bill strikes a balance between those priorities. The agriculture industry has faced struggles amidst challenging drought conditions and the outbreak of animal diseases, and this bill includes important funding to ease their burdens. Today’s legislation makes smart investments that will help Minnesota families and farmers across the state.”
The bill appropriates $8.1 million in drought relief grants for livestock and specialty crop farmers to help them recover from last year’s drought. Furthermore, the bill includes $2.5 million to the Rural Finance Authority (RFA) Revolving Loan account to help Minnesota farmers, with relief prioritized for those affected by drought.
Minnesota farmers are also facing animal disease threats from African Swine Fever (ASF) to the bird flu outbreak. To prevent an agricultural disaster, this package includes $1.5 million for the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) at the University of Minnesota to purchase equipment to test for avian influenza, African Swine Fever, chronic wasting disease (CWD), and other animal diseases. The bill also includes $3 million for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Emergency Account with funding going to animal disease testing and response. This is in addition to the $1 million in funding the legislature already provided to the account this session, however it has been expended due to the avian influenza outbreak.
Additionally, the legislation directs over $210 million, the bulk of which comes from federal funds, to improve Minnesota broadband access across the state. This is in addition to the $70 million in federal funds that the legislature directed last session. This includes up to $30 million for the Lower Population Density Pilot Program to connect hard to reach unserved areas, up to $15 million for the Line Extension Program to connect difficult to reach individual homes, up to $15 million for updated broadband mapping, and the remaining funds to the successful Border-to-Border Broadband grant program.
The legislation awaits Governor Walz’s signature to become law.
Senate Passes LCCMR Appropriation Bill
With overwhelming bipartisan support, the Minnesota Senate passed the annual Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) appropriation bill. The LCCMR typically makes annual recommendations to the legislature for special environment and natural resource projects and utilizes appropriations primarily from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF). Senator Carrie Ruud, Chair of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance Committee, has been a strong advocate for funding projects through the LCCMR.
“The LCCMR does great work choosing projects that protect and preserve our state’s resources. Notably, this year’s bill funds the maintenance of state parks and trails, ensuring all state parks are accessible and enjoyable for all. This legislation will allow the LCCMR to continue their work on important projects that conserve resources, while also providing jobs and opportunities for Minnesotans across the state.”
The bill passed in the Senate & House with unanimous support—it now heads to the Governor’s desk for final signature to become law.
Thank you for allowing me the special honor to serve Aitkin and Crow Wing County in the Minnesota Senate… I am deeply thankful and blessed!
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As always please feel free to contact my office with any questions you might have. My office can be reached by phone at (651) 296-4913 or at sen.carrie.ruud@senate.mn.
Talk to you soon!