Lots of work left as committee deadlines loom
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House leaders on Friday praised the body’s quick work in passing $500 million in tax relief this week, but cautioned much work remains on major bills as a March 21 committee deadline draws near.
For Minnesotans struggling to pay energy bills, bill offers more certainty
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Lawmakers could soon vote on another measure aimed at guaranteeing energy assistance to Minnesota’s low-income residents.The House Energy Policy Committee approved a bill Monday, sponsored by Rep. Yvonne Selcer (DFL-Minnetonka), which would establish an annual $8 million base funding level for an electric rate discount program operated by Xcel Energy, the state’s largest utility.Between 60,000 and 70,000 Xcel Energy customers are part of a low-income energy assistance program through the state’s largest utility each year, an Xcel spokesperson told lawmakers. It is a program, said Pam Marshall, the executive director of Energy CENTS Coalition, which “targets the very lowest of income levels.”The program is funded through fees paid by Xcel Energy customers and aimed at low-income Minnesotans who are part of the government-funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.HF2466 would also require base funding to increase in line with residential electricity rates approved by the state’s Public Utilities Commission. Currently, the program is funded at the level needed to provide a 50 percent discount on the first 400kWh consumed each month by low-income customers.“We’ve already seen the commitment from this Legislature” to help low-income Minnesotans with energy costs, Selcer said, referring to a bill signed into law last week that provides $20 million in emergency heating assistance funds. “This is another great way to help those in need.”The legislation is now poised for consideration by the full House. A Senate companion, SF2092, sponsored by Sen. D. Scott Dibble (DFL-Mpls), awaits action by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee. Continue Reading
Oil freight derailments spur look at rail, pipeline safety
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Minnesota’s first responders are underequipped and unprepared to confront a fiery oil freight derailment like the one that rocked a North Dakota town late last year, a House transportation committee heard Thursday.
Housing advocates seek foreclosure mediation
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His north Minneapolis home in the early stages of foreclosure, Howard Crutcher scrambled to keep his family in the house he helped design and build.
Pollinator populations plummet, House committee hears
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A combination of pesticides, pathogens and a lack of pollen-producing flowers is causing a serious decline in the population of bees and other critical pollinators in Minnesota and across the nation, a House committee heard Monday.
House passes, governor signs $4.7 million disaster relief package
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The House passed a $4.7 million disaster relief package in a brief special session Monday that will fund the state’s portion of cleanup costs related to powerful June thunderstorms and a damaging April ice storm.
New laws in effect August 1: Same-sex marriage, added bike lane provisions, and new tenant protections
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Same-sex couples will be able to legally wed, a growing number of bicyclers will have added protections in traffic, and intoxicated teens who seek emergency medical assistance for themselves or another person won’t face a ticket under new state laws that go into effect Aug. 1.
Committee hears call for tougher laws on synthetic drugs
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Law enforcement officials, state pharmaceutical regulators and prosecutors from across the state on Tuesday called for toughened laws to tackle what they said is a growing — and dangerous — synthetic drug problem in Minnesota.
Select House committee to start work on curbing drug use
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Members of a recently formed legislative drug task force are set to meet with the public Friday in Duluth to begin their work examining synthetic drug abuse in Minnesota.House Speaker Paul Thissen (DFL-Mpls) announced last week the formation of the Speaker’s Select Committee on Controlled Substances and Synthetic Drugs that will study drug-related issues and develop recommended policies to combat surging synthetic drug use.The group is scheduled to attend a public hearing on synthetic drug abuse June 7 in Duluth. Thissen said in a news release the committee will hold hearings during the interim with a goal of issuing recommendations by Feb. 25, 2014 on curtailing the sale and use of drugs.Lawmakers serving on the committee are: Rep. Kathy Lohmer (R-Stillwater), Rep. Jim Newberger (R-Becker), Rep. Dan Schoen (DFL-St. Paul Park), Rep. Erik Simonson (DFL-Duluth) and Rep. John Ward (DFL-Baxter). Continue Reading
Transportation policy bill pedals toward governor’s OK
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New protective measures for bicyclers, the establishment of a position to aid Department of Transportation dispute resolution and a required periodic review of MnDOT-owned property for possible sale are part of an omnibus transportation policy bill that is headed for the governor’s desk.