Good morning. Two weeks remain in the 2015 legislative session, and the House, Senate and Governor Mark Dayton are still far apart on the major issues this session. Last week, the House passed a $2 billion tax relief bill, but the Senate, who is scheduled to take up the tax bill today, is proposing a smaller tax relief bill and increased spending in areas such as education and transportation. Governor Dayton would like to see increased spending for all areas of education, from early childhood through higher education. We are starting to see conference committees meet to work through the differences between the House and Senate bills. The omnibus state government bill is scheduled to be conferred again today. We will keep you posted throughout the week of any higher education related activity.
Today at the Capitol
8:30 a.m.
Senate Education
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Charles W. Wiger
Agenda: Confirmation of members for Board of Teaching (Joyce Baumann and Jim Grabowska), Minnesota State Academies (Christopher Peper and Todd Sesker), Board of School Administrators (Nancy Antoine, Jean Haar, Tracine Asberry and Robert Meyer),and Perpich Center for Arts Education (Thomas Adams, Stephan Daly, Linda Henning and Mikal Nabors)
9:30 a.m.
Senate Capital Investment
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. LeRoy A. Stumpf
Agenda:
Kent Lokkesmoe – DNR Asset preservation, flood mitigation, dam safety
Margaret Donahoe – MN Transportation Alliance – roads and bridges
John Jaschke – MN Board of Water and Soil Resources
11:00 am.
Senate in Session
Special Orders: HF 848 -Omnibus tax bill
3:30 p.m.
House in Session
CALENDAR FOR THE DAY: HF1437 (Hamilton) Omnibus Agriculture Finance bill
At the Call of the Chair
Conference Committee on S.F. 888
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chairs: Sen. Tom Saxhaug and Rep. Sarah Anderson
CONFEREES: SENATE: Saxhaug; Carlson; Wiklund; Metzen; Pappas – HOUSE: Anderson; Laine; O\’Driscoll; Albright; Loonan
Agenda: S.F. 888-Saxhaug: Omnibus state government finance bill.
Side by Side (PDF)
Change Item Spreadsheet (PDF)
Looking Ahead
Tuesday, May 5
8:30 a.m.
Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Terri E. Bonoff
Agenda:
Governor’s Appointments to the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities: John Cowles
Governor’s Appointments to the Minnesota Higher Education Facilities Authority: Michael Ranum and Nancy Sampair
8:30 a.m.
Senate Finance
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Richard Cohen
Agenda: To be announced
Bill Introductions
Please see the spreadsheet for the higher education related bill introductions.
Thank you.
Melissa Fahning
Director of Legislative Communications
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
651-201-1757 (work) 612-483-3741 (cell)
melissa.fahning@so.mnscu.edu
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