Updates from the Government Relations team are sent periodically during the legislative session.                                                  
Legislative Update - April 18, 2017

Legislature has five weeks remaining

The countdown begins with only five weeks remaining in the regular legislative session. Legislators return today from break to tackle the remaining work ahead of them. By law, all legislative work must be completed by May 22, 2017.

With the passage of major omnibus bills off of both floors prior to break, conference committee appointments are expected to be announced over the next few days.  

The Higher Education Omnibus bill will be one that will head to conference committee to be worked on. HF2477/ SF2214*, the omnibus higher education finance bill sponsored by Rep. Bud Nornes (R-Fergus Falls) and Senate President Michelle Fischbach (R-Paynesville).

The amended bill was passed 77-53 by the House April 4, one week after the Senate passed its version 36-31. The House bill calls for an increase of $149.5 million from the current two-year total; the Senate $100 million. 

Online Tools available:

Over break, legislative staff were busy putting together comparisons of House and Senate omnibus bills. Additional ones will be added.

  • A side-by side fiscal tracking of the House and Senate Higher Education bills can be found HERE.
  • A summary general fund comparison of the Governor/Senate/House positions can be found HERE.

Star Tribune Editorial: Minnesota Legislature skimps on Higher Ed funding (April 12, 2017) subscription may be required
This week at the Capitol  

Tuesday, April 18

11:00 a.m.
House in Session

11:00 a.m.
Senate in Session

5:30 p.m.
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
15 State Capitol
Agenda:
Non-Action Item: SF2233 (Rosen)/HF2486 (O'Driscoll) - MSRS, TRA, SPTRFA; Governor's funding proposal.
SFxxxx; HFxxxx (LCPR17-024):  VFRAs/PERA-SVFRP; Permitting relief association withdrawal from the statewide plan in order to join a volunteer firefighter relief association.
Deloitte Consulting:Review of the 2016 Actuarial Valuations and TRA Replication Valuation.
- Motion LCPR17-M2

Important Links:

  • Most recent bill introductions related to higher education (compiled by Government Relations team) can be found HERE (updated 3/28/17)
  • Committee schedules can be found HERE
  • Many committee hearings and floor sessions are streamed live via the web or broadcast on television. More information and a schedule can be found HERE

Government Relations team:

Jaime Simonsen – Jaime.simonsen@minnstate,edu
Bernie Omann – Bernie.omann@minnstate,edu
Jim Grathwol – jim.grathwol@minnstate.edu