people in the neighborhood,
With just days left in the 2024 legislative session, we continue to spend long hours on the House floor passing bills and conference committee reports.
The Minnesota House of Representatives passed it unanimously today. HR service policy Conference Committee Report. A historic 2023 Congressional budget surplus allowed lawmakers to provide resources and support to the most vulnerable Minnesotans. The 2024 Act builds on this effort.
Lawmakers have a responsibility to protect vulnerable Minnesotans, and this bill advances care for those most at risk. This bipartisan bill clarifies several items from last year’s bill and provides improvements for Minnesotans with disabilities, those recovering from substance use disorders, and recipients who rely on exempt services. Highlights of the bill include:
- Exemptions from certain facilities ensure that people with disabilities remain in the community while living in group homes.
- Modernize laws and regulations regarding the deaf and hard of hearing.
- Increase the transparency of transactions between nursing home related parties.
- Change behavioral health licenses and certifications.
- Ensure that opioid treatment programs address workforce shortages and availability of counselors.
- Changes requirements for sober facilities to ensure all residents have access to medication for opioid use disorder and co-occurring mental health diagnoses.
- Prohibits classification or treatment of recovery peers as independent contractors.
Video of the floor session is available on the House Press Service YouTube channel
Other important bills passed
Additional legislation and conference committee reports passed last week:
- of Health supplementary budget and policy Budget proposal. This powerful bill takes meaningful steps to help Minnesotans expand health insurance coverage, improve access, strengthen patient protections, reform emergency medical services, and address mental health.
- of Election Committee Policy and Finance Conference Committee Report. The report’s policy provisions focus on improving voter access and election transparency. It targets policy areas where states can increase voter turnout and ensure voters have recourse if voting is restricted. It strengthens disclosure requirements for those seeking to influence elections, expands voter access and understanding, and increases election transparency.
- of Higher education supplement Conference Committee Report. The bill would freeze tuition at Minnesota State University for two years, fully fund the University of Minnesota’s system-wide safety and security requirements, and provide free college to students with household incomes of less than $80,000. This is in addition to last year’s record funding increases for Minnesota’s colleges and universities. investment.
- of Agricultural training The budget includes reauthorization of the Food Safety and Defense Task Force, farm-to-school grants, creation of the first Spanish-language commercial pesticide applicator exam, and addressing the groundwater nitrate crisis.
- of Climate and energy budgets and policies The bill includes reforms to the permitting process for clean energy projects, support for geothermal energy generation, and additional investments and policies to ensure we meet the goal of 100% clean energy by 2040, which Congress set last year. contained.
- of conference committee report Crack down on hidden and deceptive fees and help consumers get fair and upfront prices for event tickets, restaurant meals, hotels, credit cards, and more.
New state flag raised
On Saturday, May 11, 2024, the new Minnesota flag and state seal, approved by the State Seal Redesign Committee, became the official state seal. It is a great honor to be invited to the ceremony and to see the efforts we started five years ago bear fruit.
(Photo courtesy of House of Commons Public Relations)
keep in touch
It’s easy to stay informed of news from the state capitol. The Minnesota House of Representatives Public Affairs Service provides bipartisan summaries of notable bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions. daily session Publication.Subscribe to receive these here. To track bills of interest through the legislative process, My Bills Featured on the Minnesota House of Representatives Website.
Please continue to share your thoughts, ideas, and feedback on issues that matter to you. We look forward to hearing your opinions. Call us anytime at (651) 296-5363 or email [email protected]. My information can be found on my home website.you can love me too Facebook page.
Sincerely,
peter fisher
