Advocacy News | April 29, 2021
THE COUNTDOWN IS ON!

We're within throwing distance of the end-of-session adjournment deadline at the Capitol. Will they finish on time? Will they come to an agreement on this bill or that bill, or will the whole thing get wrapped up into a negotiated package and shoved through within the last few hours? Time will tell. Those who have spent years working at the Capitol can't say for sure, although most of them can guess pretty close. The only thing we know for sure is that things will move fast and slow at the same time.

To our friends in nonpartisan local offices... thanks for being a little less dramatic. In government, maybe the boring-er the better.

Shannon Watson
Vice President of Public Affairs
Follow me on Twitter @Shannon_SPACC
HEAR FROM LEADERSHIP MONDAY
Fluence Media is hosting a webinar on Monday morning and extending a discount to fellow Chamber members - click the link below and use the code 10percentoff.

BILLS WE'RE WATCHING
Each week we'll highlight a few bills at the legislature that have caught our attention. Being included in this list just means we're watching them -- it does not indicate approval or opposition. ("Retweets =/= endorsement.") Language from the bill title is listed, analysis from SPAC PA staff is in brackets.

Omnibus budget bills have the starring role at the Capitol these days. Here's where some of the committee bills stand as of right now...

Omnibus Tax - Both House and Senate have passed the House bill, there are differences between the current versions of the bill.
Conference committee members are TBD.

Omnibus Higher Education Policy and Finance - Both House and Senate passed the Senate bill, differences are being worked out by conference committee.
House conferees Bernardy; Christensen; Keeler; Klevorn; O'Neill
Senate conferees Tomassoni; Rarick; Goggin; Jasinski; Clausen

Omnibus Education Finance - Both House and Senate passed the House bill, differences are being worked out by conference committee.
House conferees Davnie, Richardson, Pryor, Hassan, Kresha
Senate conferees Chamberlain; Eichorn; Duckworth: Dornink; Wiger

Omnibus Commerce Policy and Finance (including Energy) - Both House and Senate passed the Senate bill, differences are being worked out by conference committee.
House conferees Stephenson; Long; Hollins; Acomb; O'Driscoll
Senate conferees Dahms; Senjem; Utke; Mathews; Frentz

Omnibus Workforce and Business Development Finance and Policy - Both House and Senate passed the Senate bill, differences are being worked out by conference committee.
House conferees Noor; Ecklund; Olson, L.; Berg; Hamilton
Senate conferees Pratt; Rarick; Housley; Draheim; Eken

Omnibus Judiciary and Public Safety Policy and Finance - Both House and Senate passed the Senate bill, differences are being worked out by conference committee.
House conferees Mariani; Becker-Finn; Moller; Frazier; Miller
Senate conferees Limmer; Mathews; Johnson; Ingebrigtsen; Latz

Omnibus Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance - Both House and Senate passed the Senate bill, differences are being worked out by conference committee.
House conferees Hansen, R.; Wazlawik; Morrison; Fischer; Heintzeman
Senate conferees Ingebrigtsen; Ruud; Eichorn; Tomassoni; Westrom

Omnibus Transportation Finance - Both House and Senate passed the House bill, differences are being worked out by conference committee.
House conferees Hornstein, Koegel, Frederick, Elkins, Petersburg
Senate conferees Newman; Jasinski; Howe; Osmek; Bigham

Omnibus housing finance and policy - Both House and Senate passed the House bill, differences are being worked out by conference committee.
House conferees Hausman, Howard, Agbaje, Reyer, Theis
Senate conferees Draheim; Duckworth; Dahms; Pratt; Dziedzic

Omnibus State Government finance - Both House and Senate passed the House bill, differences are being worked out by conference committee.
House conferees Nelson, M.; Xiong, T.; Masin; Greenman; Nash
Senate conferees Kiffmeyer; Lang; Koran; Howe; Carlson

Omnibus Agriculture and Broadband finance - Both House and Senate passed the Senate bill, differences are being worked out by conference committee.
House conferees Sundin; Vang; Pelowski; Lippert; Nelson, N.
Senate conferees Westrom; Dornink; Goggin; Anderson; Murphy
IN STATE GOVERNMENT NEWS

"Never try and defeat Minnesota in a paperwork contest." Census results good enough to keep our eight seats in Congress.

Real ID deadline was extended to May 3, 2023.

The dial might be turning soon...
IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEWS

The North St. Paul Snowman got his own news story

City Council in Forest Lake is discussing a local sales tax.

New package of St. Paul laws dictating rules between tenants and landlords goes to court, gets preliminary injunction (granted), and is likely unconstitutional.

South St. Paul's got a goat on the run.

Where should money to pay for transit come from?

City Council in West St. Paul votes unanimously to uphold their sign ordinance.

New apartments planned for Eagan development.


Saint Paul’s Community-First Public Safety Commission
Our Chamber is not formally represented on the commission, but John from our PA team is attending the meetings and will share updates on the Commission’s work. 

The Community-First Public Safety Commission (CFPS) held its final meeting on April 21st. After ten meetings over about four months, the Commission is preparing its final report with recommendations for Priority 4 and 5 calls for service.

After the usual introductory administrative tasks, Mayor Carter joined the meeting to thank Commissioners for their dedication to the work.

The Harvard Government Performance Lab presented their draft report [this is different than the report being produced by this commission] which included 11 recommendations:
  • Creation of a city-staffed office (Office of Violence Prevention/Office of Neighborhood Safety)
  • Focus programming of city-staffed office on gun violence, youth violence, group-based violence, structural violence, domestic/sexual violence, childhood trauma/elder abuse, and suicide
  • City-staffed office should engage on many forms of violence
  • Dedicate Resources to youth programs
  • Target specific neighborhoods
  • Focus on prevention but include interruption and reconciliation/ healing programming
  • Provide for community participation by hiring individuals impacted by violence, also community advisory panel and volunteer opportunities
  • Coordinate w/ existing programs
  • Community governance through strategic planning and public meetings
  • Continued engagement from CFPS Commissioner
  • Name of city-staffed office – Office of Neighborhood Safety.

Following the GPL presentation, a Commission subgroup presented on traffic stops and possible policy changes. A question about this was added to the final survey that will be emailed to Commission members. The survey was scheduled to be conducted in real time, but because of requested changes, the Commission delayed conducting the exercise. The survey includes questions about alternative responses to Priority 4 and 5 calls, a prioritization spectrum (inclusion in next city budget, implement in a couple years, and long-term strategic goals), and whether the recommendation aligns with the Commission’s mandate/goals.

The final, comprehensive report is scheduled to be released in early May.

To learn more about the commission visit the project page on the Citizens League website.
We regularly get calls from reporters looking for businesses to comment on a wide set of issues. To make those interactions easier and quicker we keep a list of member company media contacts and areas of expertise. If your company is willing to speak to media on the record, email Shannon and she'll add you to the list.
Public Policy Conversations are back for 2021, with a focus on east metro legislators. These meetings will be held via Zoom, with an opportunity for our members to participate live. To be invited to the meeting, complete the form and we'll add you to the calendar invitation. (Invitations close at noon the business day prior, so get your request in early.)

Thank you to all of the legislators and Chamber members who joined us for Public Policy Conversations so far this year! We were able to record Zoom meetings with almost half of our 48-member delegation during session.

Because the last couple weeks of session are hectic and schedules change at a moment's notice, we are taking a break until after adjournment. During the interim we will return to scheduling meetings with legislators we haven't yet welcomed into our Zoom room, along with those who were scheduled but had to postpone.

Recordings of meetings will be available soon!
2021 PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPONSORS
Thank you to the following companies supporting public affairs initiatives and programming in 2021!
Want to see your logo here? It's not too late! Contact Shannon.
Supporting our members' own advocacy at the Capitol and in City Halls across the East Metro. If you have an issue you’re working on and would like support from the Chamber, contact Shannon to discuss the options. From committee testimony, to letters of support, to meetings with elected officials, we're here to support you and champion an economically vibrant business community. Especially if you do not have in-house government relations staff or contract lobbyists to move your issues, our public affairs team can be a powerful ally and a valuable benefit of membership.
St. Paul Area Chamber