Last night, Governor Tim Walz delivered his first State of the State address before a joint convention of the Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota Senate. The Governor used the speech as an opportunity to highlight his legislative priorities for the 2019 Legislative Session and emphasize his “One Minnesota” proposal.
The Governor’s address first focused on his push for a five percent increase on the K-12 education funding formula over the biennium. Walz also pointed out the education disparities throughout the state and the increasing reliance of local school districts on property tax revenue. “When we talk about education funding, it’s not a game,” Walz said. “When we put a budget together, yes, it’s a fiscal document, but it’s a moral document, and what these schools have said is they need to get 3 and 2 percent on their funding formula,” Walz said.
The second part of the speech highlighted the Governor’s priorities for healthcare. Specifically, Walz pointed to the importance of healthcare coverage for children. He cited the Healthcare Access Fund, which is funded by the provider tax set to expire at the end of this year, as critical for children to receive care before they get sick and to be healthy for learning.
Walz reiterated his belief that healthcare should be available in all communities and that Minnesota should not rely on the federal government for direction on healthcare changes. The Governor said that making sure there is a basic safety net for coverage is a critical way to prevent people from falling into a mental health crisis.
Walz then focused on community prosperity, including the importance of local government aid so that basic government services are delivered for local residents. The governor also highlighted the need to invest in community-based initiatives and tackle racial, economic, and geographic disparities, especially as it relates to affordable housing and childcare.
Additionally, Walz focused on the need for increased transportation funding, and acknowledged that the Legislature will have a robust debate over the best way to fund transportation, between a higher gas tax, as he has proposed, or general fund revenue.
The Governor concluded his speech saying the state of the state is "strong" and called for bipartisan collaboration. He recognized that legislators on both sides of the aisle want to solve the same problems, but have different perspectives on how to address those challenges. “We can choose to follow the same story that was written ahead of time. We can choose to decide who belongs and who doesn’t. We can choose to let ideology drive us before people. Or we can do what Minnesota has always done: rise up and create a better way of life,” Walz said.
Walz and legislators must come to an agreement on the 2020-21 state budget by the end of the 2019 legislative session, scheduled to end Monday, May 20.
Please note the House is expected to release their higher education omnibus bill this morning. We will share details of the bill later today.
_______________________________________________________________
At the Capitol
Thursday, April 4
8:00 a.m.
House Capital Investment
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mary Murphy
Agenda: The Next Step - continued
8:00 a.m.
House Jobs and Economic Development Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tim Mahoney
Agenda: HF 2208 (Mahoney) Omnibus Jobs and Economic Development Finance Division
8:00 a.m.
House State Government Finance
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Michael Nelson
Agenda: HF 1998 (Persell) State-owned buildings solar energy systems and renewable sources provisions modified
HF 2768 (Nelson) Executive branch state agency expenditures restricted for professional and technical service contracts
8:30 a.m.
Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy
Room: 1100 Senate Building
Chair: Sen. Bruce D. Anderson
Agenda: S.F. 2358 will serve as the vehicle for the committee's omnibus bill. A delete-all amendment and spreadsheet will be posted on April 3.
9:45 a.m.
House Agriculture and Food Finance and Policy
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Jeanne Poppe
Agenda: HF 2200 (Poppe) Omnibus Agriculture & Food Finance bill - amendments and final vote
9:45 a.m.
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair:
Rep. Jim Davnie
Agenda:
Markup of the Education Finance Omnibus bill and vote out.
HF 2400 (Davnie) School district abatement aid calculation modified.
Markup will resume a half hour in a TBD location after the conclusion of the Floor Session and will continue until completion.
11:00 a.m.
Senate in Session
1:00 p.m.
Senate State Government Finance and Policy and Elections
Room: 1200 Senate Building
Chair: Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer
Agenda:
S.F. 2726-Kiffmeyer: Miscellaneous state government appropriations and policy provisions modifications ** Informational Hearing**.
S.F. 998-Koran: Cities written estimate of consultant fees request authorization.
3:30 p.m.
House in Session
Monday, April 8
9:00 a.m.
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Lyndon Carlson
Agenda:
The committee will recess for floor and reconvene after session if necessary to complete the agenda.
HF 2400 (Davnie) Omnibus E-12 Finance bill
HF 2208 (Mahoney) Omnibus Jobs and Economic Development bill
HF 1986 (Wagenius) Omnibus Energy Finance bill
HF 7 (Ecklund) Broadband grant program money appropriated
Other bills may be added.
11:30 a.m.
House Higher Education Finance and Policy
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Connie Bernardy
Agenda: HF2544 (Bernardy): Higher education omnibus bill: nonpartisan staff walk-through of the DE amendment
Public testimony on the bill
Tuesday, April 9
12:30 p.m.
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Lyndon Carlson
Agenda:
HF 2414 (Liebling) Omnibus Health and Human Services Finance bill
HF 5 (Halverson) Paid family, pregnancy, bonding, and applicant's serious medical condition benefits provided; employment leaves regulated and required; data classified; rulemaking authorized; and money appropriated.
Other bills may be added
2:00 p.m.
Senate E-12 Finance and Policy
Room: G23 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Carla J. Nelson
Agenda:
S.F. 7-Nelson: Safe schools program revenue increase and appropriation.
Staff walk thru of E-12 Omnibus amendment to SF 7. The amendment will be posted to this website Monday afternoon.
Public testimony on E-12 Omnibus amendment to SF 7.
2:30 p.m.
House Higher Education Finance and Policy
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Connie Bernardy
Agenda: HF2544 (Bernardy): Higher education omnibus bill: amendments and final vote
*Note: amendments due by 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, April 10
11:30 a.m.
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Lyndon Carlson
Agenda:
HF 1555 (Hornstein) Omnibus Transportation Finance bill
HF 2200 (Poppe) Omnibus Agriculture and Food Finance bill
HF 1151 (Hausman) Omnibus Housing Finance bill
HF 2209 (Hansen) Omnibus Environment and Natural Resources Finance bill
2:30 p.m.
House Higher Education Finance and Policy
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Connie Bernardy
Agenda: Hearing & testimony on Argosy University closure.