Capitol Update: 2022 Session Begins

On Monday January 31 the 2022 legislative session convened. I joined my DFL Senate colleagues in the morning to discuss our priorities in the coming months. The full press conference can be viewed here. The scope of our work and the urgency in which these issues need to be addressed cannot be overstated.

Covid protocols at the Capitol, Minnesota Senate Building (MSB), and State Office Building (SOB)

A partial return to in person meetings is occurring in the Minnesota Senate Building and State Capitol. Meetings with Senators are held by appointment only, and visitors with appointments will need an escort to the second and third floors. All Senate committee hearings are open to the public with limited seating capacity. Visitors without appointments are able to enter the MSB on the ground or first floor only. There is no mask or vaccination requirement in Senate spaces in either building. The State Office Building, where House members meet in committee and have office space, is closed to the public. There are several temperature screeners for visitors to use at the entrances as well as additional hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the buildings.

Senate Floor Session: Worker's Comp bill

On Thursday, the Minnesota Senate acted on a proposal that would make it easier for certain frontline workers (paramedics, firefighters, nurses, and police officers) to qualify for worker’s compensation insurance. Typically, before the Legislature acts on changes to worker’s compensation law a board of union and business leaders must come to an agreement. While labor leaders pushed to remove the donut hole for these workers by making the legislation retroactive to January 1st, business leaders opposed this measure. 

Senators honored the agreement made by the board by passing it without amendments. However, DFLers will be introducing legislation in the coming days to close the donut hole and ensure workers who fall into it are offered the same terms and benefits as those who become ill with COVID-19 after this legislation is signed into law.

Judiciary Committee

Beginning Monday, February 7, the Senate Judiciary Committee will be hearing a package of bills focusing on the recruitment and retaining of law enforcement officers. While some of these bills have merit, I find the current approach by my Republican colleagues in the Senate to be lacking in the varied systems of support our communities have asked for. My statement on the matter can be found here.

Deadlines and Spring Break

First deadline March 25: A bill in either the House or Senate must be through all policy committees with jurisdiction over the subject matter.

Second deadline April 1: A bill which has met the first deadline in either body must be through all policy committees with jurisdiction over the subject matter in the other body. For example, a bill that has met the first deadline in the Senate will need to have the companion file in the House moved through all House committees for that legislation to be considered further.

Third deadline April 8: Appropriations, Taxes, and Capital Investment bills must be acted upon. This can mean the bills are on the Senate or House floor, or have passed through all budget committees and referred to the full Senate Finance Committee, Senate Tax Committee, or Senate Capital Investment Committee, and their equivalent committee in the House.

The annual legislative break will begin April 9 and conclude April 18, with committee and floor activity resuming at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, April 19.

Redistricting

This year, a court appointed nonpartisan panel will introduce the newest boundaries for Legislative and Congressional Districts, based on population information from the 2020 census. Minnesota was initially thought to be losing a Congressional seat, but population growth and a large response to the census helped our state maintain it's 8 seats. While no date is certain for when the maps will become public, it is an exciting time at the legislature every ten years.

Conclusion

I continue to enjoy serving as your state Senator, and to have the opportunities to offer solutions to the problems we face together as Minnesotans.