75 new chapters of Law were passed by the legislature this session, only one was vetoed. Here is am abridged list of the most significant ones. We'll be discussing many of the ramifications of these over the next few years to be sure. If you are interested in learning more about these or any other bills that passed this session, please contact me or my office, details at the end of this email.
Chapter 3
HF37
The CROWN Act—Certain hairstyles are now considered part of someone’s race, and employers can no longer ban those hairstyles. Beards are not included.
Chapter 4
HF1
“The Pro Act” made abortion and any type of procedure related to sex or reproduction a right for any “individual” (no regard to age, gender, or Minnesota residency) This general statement lays the groundwork for undermining parental rights and for the state to pay for all procedures.
Chapter 5
SF13
Juneteenth Holiday. June 19 is now a public holiday for the state as well as federal workers.
Chapter 7
HF7
2040 renewable energy goal "Blackout Bill." This “goal” will result in higher utility rates for consumers because there is currently no way to achieve it. The utilities and the Public Utilities Commission are currently in a standoff over this, with the utilities claiming they will cut other services and investments.
Chapter 10
HF35
State forecasts are required to include the rate of inflation. Now budget forecast will have inflation automatically added so that the starting point for the budget will automatically grow.
Chapter 11
HF213
$5 Million from the General Fund for Food Shelves
Chapter 12
HF28
Felons can now vote when they get out of jail and no longer must wait for their parole to be over.
Chapter 13
HF4
Driver’s Licenses can be issued without having to prove whether a person is in the country legally. These “non compliant” licenses will look exactly the same as regular drivers licenses, opening the door to their fraudulent use for benefit eligibility or voting.
Chapter 15
HF30
Catalytic Converter theft prevention and penalties.
Chapter 18
HF5 Free Breakfast and Lunch provided to all K-12 students even if they don’t qualify due to income level. (Qualified students already received free breakfast and lunch through a federal program.)
Chapter 20
HF1440
Homelessness Prevention Bill. $50 Million to reduce homelessness. The Housing Finance Agency gets to decide how to spend the money whether it is to grant to nonprofits or subsidize people’s rent.
Chapter 22
SF2265
The transition from Public Health Emergency and continuation of health insurance for people no longer eligible under federal guidelines, paid for by the state.
Chapter 24
HF1656
$156 M in grants to be administered to the Dept. of Commerce for assisting Minnesota businesses and nonprofits applying for federal energy grants.
Chapter 26
HF1278
$40 Million for the Disaster Contingency Account.
Chapter 27
HF42
Labor Trafficking and Human Trafficking penalties enhanced
Chapter 28
HF16
Conversion therapy prohibited.
Chapter 29
HF146
Prohibiting extradition in custody situations if the parent of a child is seeking gender transition treatment for them.
Chapter 31
HF366
Sanctuary for people who break abortion laws in other states
Chapter 33
SF2369
Economic Development Policy Omnibus Bill
Chapter 34
HF3
Voter registration expanded, interpreters use expanded, voter intimidation and express advocacy redefined and regulated.
Chapter 35
HF717
Prince Highway and Augie Mueller Highway named in Chanhassen
Chapter 37
HF2335
Housing Finance and Policy Omnibus bill
Chapter 38
HF1937
Veterans and Military Affairs Omnibus bill. Passed as a standalone bill this year.
Chapter 40
HF1999
Legacy Finance Bill. Grants for arts, outdoors and clean water projects funded by the state sales tax mandated by the constitutional amendment.
Chapter 41
HF2073
Higher Education Omnibus Bill
Chapter 43
SF1955
Omnibus Agriculture, Broadband and Rural Development Bill
Chapter 44
HF1126
PSEO changes, student financial aid and teacher licensure. This bill includes new rules that effectively ban religious post-secondary institutions from the program, a provision which is being fought in court.
Chapter 45
HF3100
Pension Omnibus Bill
Chapter 46
HF782
Minnesota Secure Choice retirement program bill. Another government run payroll deduction plan that competes with private sector alternatives and places another mandate on employers.
Chapter 47
HF2950
Pension Policy Bill
Chapter 48
HF1234
Disability Pension modifications for Police and Fire
Chapter 50
HF1403
Aging, Disability and Recovery Support Services Policy Bill
Chapter 52
SF2909
Public Safety Omnibus Bill. This is the bill that contains so called “red flag laws” that allow third parties to petition the court to get someone’s gun rights removed. It also expands background checks.
Chapter 53
SF3035
Omnibus Jobs, Labor, and Industry Bill
Chapter 54
HF2292
Early Childhood Bill. This bill greatly expands subsidies for childcare and Pre-K programs “from birth to age 5.” Increases funding for education of childcare workers and further expands the “parent aware” program which serves as a government rating system for childcare providers. Gives discretion to the Commissioner of the Department of Education to determine Kindergarten “readiness” and changes the title from Kindergarten Readiness to Kindergarten “entry.”
Chapter 55
HF2497
Education Omnibus Bill. This bill imposes a huge number of mandates onto schools, that don’t directly impact the classroom. Many school districts have told us that this and other bills will cost them more than they are receiving. It requires schools to stock menstrual products in the boys’ bathrooms. It allows part time and seasonal employees to collect unemployment rather than fill other jobs during their off months. It removes the requirement that teachers have expertise in the areas they teach.
Chapter 57
SF2744
Omnibus Commerce Bill. This bill funds the Commerce Department and puts new regulations on the industries under its authority, namely, insurance and financial institutions. It is likely to increase insurance rates of all kinds. It also opens the door to price controls on drugs and removes price controls on gasoline. It Regulates Payday Lending by limiting interest rates; It ends state reinsurance for health insurance, which served to keep health insurance premiums lower. Democrats want to move more people to subsidized care instead, and eventually to a “public option.” Creates a “Prescription Drug Affordability Board” that can review drug prices for “fair” pricing. Controls prices for Epi-pens and Insulin. “Anti-Gouging” laws for products during market disruptions. Right to Repair which requires an original equipment manufacturer to generally make available to the purchaser/owner (or an independent repair provider) documentation, parts, and tools for diagnostic, maintenance, or repair purposes, and similarly, information to reset an electronic security lock or security-related function when the lock or function is disabled during repairs. Gas markup elimination which repeals the prohibition against selling gasoline below cost and eliminates the eight cent per gallon statutorily required markup. Increases penalties for unlawful robocalls.
Chapter 58
HF1370
Deep Fake Sexual Images prohibited. This bill puts criminal penalties on using someone’s image to create pornographic material.
Chapter 59
HF2
Paid Family Leave. A new mandate and payroll tax on businesses of any size.
Chapter 60
HF2310
Environment, Natural Resources and Energy policy bill
Chapter 61
SF2934
Omnibus Human Services Bill
Chapter 62
HF1830
State and Local Government Finance Bill
Chapter 63
HF100
Legalization, Regulation and Taxation of Cannabis
Chapter 64
HF1938
Tax Bill. This bill raises taxes and has a provision which restricts electronic pull tabs to make them less attractive, negatively impacting charitable gambling.
Chapter 65
HF2369
Ridesharing Bill (Vetoed). This regulatory bill would have caused Uber and Lyft to leave Minnesota.
Chapter 67
HF1900
Environmental Trust Fund and lottery constitutional amendment proposed. This is a renewal of where the state lottery money goes which expires in 2025.
Chapter 68
HF2887
Transportation Finance and Policy Omnibus Bill
Chapter 70
SF2995
Omnibus Health Bill. This bill repealed 50 years of pro life legislation including the Born Alive Act, which banned partial birth abortion and the neglect of babies who survived abortion.
Chapter 71
HF670
Cash Capital Investment Bill. This bill and the Borrowing Bill below, fund infrastructure projects around the state. Unfortunately, this bill also contained tens of millions of dollars in unrestricted grants to nonprofits as well.
Chapter 72
HF699
Borrowing Capital Investment Bill. This had a mixture of good, important projects as well as some projects that should not have been a priority or could have been paid with the surplus that the Democrat leadership chose to spend on other things.
Chapter 74
HF3342
Nursing Home Facility Payments—300 million dollars to shore up our failing nursing home industry in Minnesota. The crisis in funding and staffing shortages are putting the elderly and vulnerable populations at risk. This bill came about late as a result of Senate Republicans negotiating for it in the final budget agreement. Prior to that, in the Democrat's bill there would have been an increase which was not enough to keep pace with wage inflation and rising costs. You can read my speech on the earlier bill here.
Chapter 75
SF1384
Nurse Staffing. This bill started out as an aggressive regulatory regime, where nurse staffing would be determined by the Nurses union and staffing committees in each hospital. With staffing shortages at crisis levels, especially in rural areas, it would have led to patients being turned away from hospitals with no alternatives in Greater Minnesota. The final bill was limited to a study and an emphasis on Nurse and Patient safety.
