Committee hearings pick up next week
The higher education committees did not meet this week, but they will start to hear presentations from the higher education systems next week. On Tuesday, February 18 at 1:00 p.m., the Senate Higher Education Finance and Policy committee will hear from both Minnesota State and the University of Minnesota on the system’s 2020 capital budget requests. (See schedule below)
Minnesota State Chancellor Devinder Malhotra; President Kent Hanson, Anoka-Ramsey Community College and Anoka Technical College; and Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Brian Yolitz will provide more information about the system’s $271.2 million bonding request. Information about the request can be found at Our 2020 Capital Request.
Following the Senate hearing, the House Higher Education Finance and Policy division will meet at 2:30 p.m. to hear from all higher education entities: Minnesota State, University of Minnesota and the private colleges regarding their 2020 requests, both bonding and supplemental budget.
At this hearing, Chancellor Devinder Malhotra, Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Brian Yolitz, System Director for Financial Planning and Analysis Steve Ernest, and Presidents Scott Olson, Winona State University and Angelia Millender, Century College, will help illustrate the importance of the system’s $271.2 million bonding request, as well as the system’s $54.2 million supplemental budget request. Minnesota State is seeking funds for tuition relief and campus support, as well as the Next Gen project. Further detail regarding the supplemental budget can be found HERE.
On Wednesday, February 19, the House Higher Education Finance and Policy division will meet again at 2:30 p.m. and will hear the actual supplemental budget bill, HF 3087, authored by Rep. Dan Wolgamott, DFL-St. Cloud. The bill appropriates $39.7 million to Minnesota State to support campuses and keep tuition affordable. It also appropriates $14.5 million for the Next Gen project.
Higher education will also join Capital Investment next week. On Thursday, February 20 at 8:00 a.m. the House Capital Investment division will hear from Minnesota State and the University of Minnesota about the systems’ capital budget needs. Chancellor Devinder Malhotra will join University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel to emphasize to committee members the importance of funding higher education infrastructure.
Minnesota State Day at the Capitol
Minnesota State Day at the Capitol is coming up Monday, February 24. The event will be an open house format from 2:30-4:30 p.m. in the State Capitol rotunda. Minnesota State colleges and universities will highlight eight academic programs through interactive demonstrations. There will also be student success stories representing each of the 37 colleges and universities. In addition, the system’s capital budget request will be highlighted. This will be an opportunity for legislators to learn more about the great work happening at Minnesota State campuses.
Below are the programs being highlighted at the interactive stations.
- Anoka Technical College: Emergency Medical Services
- Bemidji State University: Communication Studies, The Virtual Reality Environment (VRE) and Communication Apprehension
- Bemidji State University: Center for Sustainability Studies-Undergraduate Research at the Pinewood Oil Spill Site
- Central Lakes College: Heavy Equipment Operation & Maintenance Program
- Normandale Community College: Vacuum and Thin Film Technology Department
- Minnesota West Community and Technical College: Teacher Pathway Partnership
- St. Cloud Technical and Community College: Land Surveying/Civil Engineering (LSCE) technology, Virtual Sandbox
- Metropolitan State University: Cyber Security
Minnesota Management and Budget to release February Economic Forecast February 27, 2020
Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) Commissioner Myron Frans, State Economist Dr. Laura Kalambokidis, and State Budget Director Britta Reitan will present the State of Minnesota February Budget and Economic Forecast on Thursday, February 27 at the Department of Revenue at 11:15 a.m. Information regarding the forecast can be found on MMB’s web site that morning. Lawmakers and the Governor look to the fine-tuned February forecast for preparing any supplemental budget bill.
Next Week at the Capitol
Monday, February 17
9:45 a.m.
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Lyndon Carlson
Agenda:
I.*HF 5 (Halverson) Paid family, pregnancy, bonding, and applicant’s serious medical condition benefits provided; employment leaves regulated and required; data classified; and rulemaking authorized.
II. *HF 11 (Lesch) Earned sick and safe time provided, rulemaking authorized, civil penalties imposed, reports required, and money appropriated.
III. Overview of Governor Walz’ Capital Budget recommendations
IV. Legislative Budget Office presentation
11:00 a.m.
Senate in Session
3:30 p.m.
House in Session
Tuesday, February 18
8:00 a.m.
House Jobs & Economic Development Finance Division
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tim Mahoney
Agenda: HF3073 (Moran) – Pregnancy and parenting leave incumbency requirement modified.
1:00 p.m.
Senate Higher Education Finance and Policy
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Paul T. Anderson
Agenda:
- Presentation of the University of Minnesota’s Bonding Request
- Presentation of Minnesota State’s Bonding Request
1:00 p.m.
Senate State Government Finance and Policy and Elections
Room: 1200 Senate Building
Chair: Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer
Agenda:
- S.F. 3275-Kiffmeyer: Technology and cybersecurity account establishment; technology and cybersecurity maintenance authorization; election day registrants provisional ballot casting requirement; registering to vote in conjunction with submitting an absentee ballot process modification; appropriating money.
- MN.IT overview
2:30 p.m.
House Higher Education Finance and Policy
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Connie Bernardy
Agenda:
2020 Overview Presentations:
I. University of Minnesota
II. Minnesota Private Colleges & Universities
III. Minnesota State Colleges & Universities
2:30 p.m.
House Education Policy Committee Meeting
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Cheryl Youakim
Agenda:
- HF3179 (Sandell) – School district transportation contracts clarified.
- HF125* (Bennett) – Education finance; evidence-based grant standard established for any legislative grants awarded to organizations for prekindergarten through grade 12 education programs, and report required.
- Informational presentation on findings from The Violence Project’s Mass Shooter Database
- Informational presentation on youth e-cigarette use
- HF3166 (Edelson) – Vaping awareness and prevention instruction for public school students required.
- HF3164 (Edelson) – Vaping prevention pilot grant created, and money appropriated.
2:30 p.m.
House Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Division
Room: 120 Capitol
Chair:Â Rep. Rob Ecklund
Agenda:
Presentations from:
- Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
- Minnesota Department of Military Affairs
- Student Veterans Association of Minnesota
Wednesday, February 19
8:00 a.m.
House State Government Finance Division
Room: Basement hearing room, State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Michael V. Nelson
Agenda:
- Update on the actions and direction of the Blue Ribbon Council on Information Technology
2:30 p.m.
House Higher Education Finance and Policy
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Connie Bernardy
Agenda:
- HF 3087 (Wolgamott) Minnesota State Colleges and Universities critical operating funds funding provided, and money appropriated.
- HF 583 (Huot) Student loan refinancing program eligibility expanded, and money appropriated.
- HF 3089 (Koegel) Addiction medicine graduate medical education fellowship program funding provided, and money appropriated.
2:30 p.m.
House Education Policy Committee Meeting
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Cheryl Youakim
Agenda:
- HF3201 (Kunesh-Podein) – Increase Teachers of Color Act strengthened, increase in percentage of teachers of color and American Indian teachers sought, reports require, and money appropriated.
- Informational presentation on the Reimagine Minnesota Report
- HF3065 (Becker-Finn) – Sign language and English interpreter requirements modified.
- HF2930* (Schultz) – Special education aid calculation for charter schools modified.
- HF1868** (Youakim) – Student journalists in grades 6 through 12 speech and press rights clarified.
- HF1940 (Huot) – Student receiving specialized instructional services programs allowed to participate in service area outside individualized education program.
6:30 p.m.
House Ways and Means
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Lyndon Carlson
Agenda:
- HF 3100 (Howard) Emergency insulin program established, Minnesota insulin patient assistance program established, pharmacy and insulin manufacturer participation required, reports required, and money appropriated (PENDING REFERRAL)
- HF 8 (Pinto) Firearm transfer criminal background checks required.
- HF 9 (Richardson) Firearms; law enforcement and family members enabled to petition a court to prohibit people from possessing firearms if they pose a significant danger to themselves or others by possessing a firearm.
- *HF 141 (Poppe) Port authorities; majority vote of commissioners required to approve real property sales and transfers.
- *HF 492 (Dettmer) Traffic violations that cause great bodily harm or death to another misdemeanor established.
NOTE: HF 3100, HF 8 and HF 9 have gone through multiple committees with opportunity for public testimony. The focus of this hearing is on the fiscal components of the bills and no public testimony will be taken.
Thursday, February 20
8:00 a.m.
House Capital Investment Committee
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mary Murphy
Agenda:
- MN State and University of MN will present 2020 bonding requests with a deeper dive into how each system determines HEAPR priorities
- Department of Commerce overview on the Guaranteed Energy Savings Program
8:30 a.m.
Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy
Room: 1100 Senate Building
Chair: Sen. Bruce D. Anderson
Agenda:
- S.F. 15-Goggin: Military, skilled trades and manufacturing career options access by school districts requirement.
- S.F. 3063-Goggin: Military department buildings rental authorization and rental terms establishment.
- Update from Minnesota Department of Military Affairs on Enlistment Incentives Program
- Minnesota Department of Military Affairs Reintegration Programs Presentation
9:45 a.m.
- Agriculture & Food Finance and Policy Division
- Room: 200 State Office Building
- Chair: Rep. Jeanne Poppe
Agenda:
I. Update from MN Dept. of Agriculture on farm/rural stress initiatives
II. Update from MN Dept. of Agriculture on farm safety
III. HF 3224 (Brand) Farm safety grant program established, and money appropriated
9:45 a.m.
House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. John Lesch
Agenda:
- PENDING REFERRAL HF 3068 (Dehn): A bill for an act relating to elections; regulating access to certain lists of voter data related to the presidential nomination primary; allowing voters to request that their data be excluded from the lists; amending Minnesota Statutes 2019 Supplement, section 201.091, subdivision
- HF 2232 (Lucero): A bill for an act relating to government data practices; requiring public postsecondary institutions to keep certain student information private; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 13.32, subdivision 5
- HF 1821 (Lucero): student data privacy act created, and penalties provided
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