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*May 3, 2024
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kr1

Dear Friends and Neighbors,
We are in the final three weeks of the 2024 Legislative Session, which means LONG days at the Capitol.  We have been debating omnibus bills on the House Floor until 11:00 or midnight every night this week.  I expect that to continue through Friday night and perhaps into the weekend.* *

*I can’t possibly cover all of the details in each of these Omnibus bills in a newsletter, so I’ve tried to highlight key provisions that affect our district. *

Of course, this is just the first round.  Once the bills leave the House, they will go to Conference Committee with the Senate to reconcile the differences between the two versions.  The Senate has not been meeting late or passing many bills, so conference committees will be challenging.  We only have 9 “session days” left!







Executive Summary

*
Omnibus Transportation/Labor/Housing Bill & amendments

*
Omnibus Tax Bill Amendments






Omnibus Transportation/Labor/Housing Finance Bill (HF 5242 [ [link removed] ])

*For the record, I think it is terrible that we combine so many large omnibus bills from different committees into an even larger “super-bus” bill.*

The Transportation portion of this “supplemental budget bill” spends just over $85 million – most of it is from the Trunk Highway Fund which does NOT increase the deficit, and $2 million comes from the General Fund.

The Labor portion increases costs and regulations.  The most concerning provisions in this section are *significant changes to the classification of independent contractors for construction workers.  *It raises the current 9-pt. test to a new 14-pt. test and significantly raises the fines for misclassification.  *While willful misclassification of workers is illegal and absolutely should be punished, we should not make it more complicated to determine if a worker is an independent contractor or an employee.* 

The Housing portion reallocates funds from earlier housing appropriations to improve housing stability and affordability.  It also authorizes the issuance of $50 million in additional Housing Infrastructure Bond (HIBs) and increases the agency bonding cap from $5 billion to $7 billion.  It also creates new public corporations for rental assistance that could make housing assistance more complicated.  Another concerning part of the Housing portion is that it *requires landlords to accept tenants using public assistance.  *

*_I offered two amendments to this bill that would help our district:_*


* *A43 would have taken $40 million the state has given Hennepin County for the Blue Line Light Rail Extension and give it to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale to draw down federal funds to stabilize this safety net hospital in our community.*
* *You can watch my presentation of this amendment HERE [ [link removed] ].*

Hennepin County has two “safety net” hospitals that serve primarily Medicare and Medicaid patients – Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) and North Memorial-Robbinsdale.  Both of these hospitals are under significant financial stress because the government reimbursement rates for Medicaid and Medicare do not cover the costs of care and they do not have enough private payor patients to cross-subsize the cost of operating these hospitals.  These two hospitals have nearly identical safety net populations and government payor mixes.

Hennepin County Medical Center is a government hospital and gets federal and county funding for uncompensated care – yet they are still in dire financial straits, due to the high concentration of patients on Medicare and Medicaid. 

North Memorial-Robbinsdale is a non-profit hospital with nearly an identical patient mix and similarly high levels of under- or uncompensated care.  In 2023, Hennepin County (the county government, not HCMC) made a two-year contract with North Memorial to pay $24 million in 2023 and 2024 to help offset the cost of uncompensated care. 

Unfortunately, the County abruptly ended the contract with North Memorial-Robbinsdale in January, 2024, leaving a $24 million hole in their budget. [ [link removed] ]  *My amendment would require the County to redirect $40 million the state has already given them for the Blue Line Extension and instead give it to North Memorial to fill the gap AND to enable them to participate in the federal Directed Payments Program, which will draw down federal funds to help offset uncompensated care.*

As I’ve expressed many times before, we should not be putting good money after bad to expand the metro’s Light Rail system, when SW Light Rail is nearly $1 billion over budget, 10 years behind schedule, and still not done.  We don’t have the staff to safely staff the currently Light Rail lines in operation and SW Light Rail isn’t even operational yet.  *Rather than having that $40 million sitting in an account for a potential future Light Rail project, we should use it NOW to stabilize one of our safety net hospitals and leverage additional federal money.* *Unfortunately, my amendment was defeated along mostly party-line vote, 64 in favor and 67 against.  I was glad that one DFL member supported it.*  I will keep trying to find solutions to stabilize *both* HCMC and North Memorial-Robbinsdale and ensure we can take advantage of the federal funds that are available. 

We should not be leaving money on the table when our safety net hospitals are struggling to stay open.  *People from throughout our district rely on the high-level of care that North Memorial-Robbinsdale provides in our community.*

The second amendment is the A48.


* *A48 Amendment would fix a hole in state law and help ensure that drivers who cause fatal crashes due to excess speed have their licenses automatically revoked.* Current law only requires a driver’s license be suspended if a fatal crash involves driving under the influence of alcohol or another substance. 

My amendment would require DPS/DVS to suspend the license when a peace officer certifies that there is probable cause to believe that the person committed Criminal Vehicular Homicide (CVH) or Criminal Vehicular Operation (CVO), even if there is no impairment.

This issue was brought to my attention by a family in our district whose Grandmother was killed by a driver who was not impaired by was driving in excess of 95 mph in a 45 mph just seconds before the crash that killed her.  *You can read more about their tragic case here.* [ [link removed]. ]

I have been working with the family, the Dept. of Public Safety and our professional staff on this issue for several months.  I know it doesn’t seem complicated, but because it involves many different sections of statute, it actually is.  Unfortunately, because we didn’t get the agreed-upon language back from the Revisor before the Committee deadlines, I was not able to get the bill heard in Committee, which is why I offered it as an amendment to the larger Transportation bill.

In final discussions with the Majority Chair of the Public Safety and Transportation Committees, they agreed with the idea, but wanted to have a full hearing on it and go through the proper process, which I respect. 

*Chair Moller agreed to give the bill a full hearing early in session next year and also coauthored the bill to signal her support.  After discussing the importance of this issue on the floor, I withdrew the amendment so it can go through the proper process next year.* 

Although I am disappointed we couldn’t get it over the finish line this year, good legislation often takes many years, and I want to make sure we get this right.  *The victim’s family is supportive of this approach and we look forward to getting a bill with strong bipartisan support next session!*  *You can watch my floor remarks here [ [link removed] ].*






Omnibus Tax Bill (HF 5247 [ [link removed] ])

 

This bill has several problematic provisions, which I outlined in my closing remarks, which you can watch here [ [link removed] ].

Despite not supporting the final bill, I’m grateful that two provisions I have been working on for years were adopted:


* *My bill, HF 4826 [ [link removed] ], which creates an advance property tax credit for seniors, was included in the bill. This doesn’t provide any additional tax relief, but it will help improve cash flow for seniors so they can better afford their property taxes and stay in their homes. *

Current law allows homeowners to apply for a property tax refund, which is sent to seniors in August. While helpful, it doesn’t line up well with when seniors actually have to pay their property taxes – one payment is due in May and one payment is due in October of each year.

This bill creates an advance payment credit equal to 50% of the homestead credit the senior received in the previous year. This credit would be applied to the May payment to reduce that first payment. The remaining 50% would still come in August and could be used for the October payment.

*The proposal had bipartisan support in Committee and the support of the Dept. of Revenue.* I heard from dozens of seniors last year when property taxes were due about how hard it was to make those payments on their fixed incomes. I started working on different ideas to help seniors be better able to afford to stay in their homes.

Although we couldn’t provide any tax relief, since it is not a budget year, and we are facing deficits given the record spending last year, *I am glad this will provide the exiting tax relief in a way that helps improve cash flow for seniors.*

2. *My A36 amendment, which I have offered in Committee before, was actually adopted with complete bipartisan support on the Floor! *

*This amendment will allow Veterans groups to use up to 50% of their charitable gaming net proceeds for improving their physical property.* Many VFWs and American Legions are in need of upgrades or repairs, and they have been seeking this change for years.* I was honestly stunned to realize when I was first elected that Veterans Groups cannot use their own charitable gaming proceeds as they want. *

Allowing Veterans groups to use some of their own money to upgrade their own facilities seems like the epitome of just one freedom they all fought and sacrificed for!

I am somewhat concerned that this was “political theater,” however, and that it may be removed in Conference Committee by the Majority. In past years, when the Majority doesn’t actually support something, but they don’t want to vote against an important group (like Veterans), they will accept a proposal only to later take it out in Conference Committee.

I hope all of our Veterans groups, who have worked on this for so many years, will keep calling/email their legislators to ask that this provision be kept in the conference report! We need to stay engaged in this fight until we get it over the finish line!

There was *one more good amendment for Veterans* I want to tell you about:

A22, *offered by Rep. Bjon Olson, was also a provision long-sought by Veterans that passed unanimously on the House Floor. *

This amendment increases the amount of the homestead property tax exclusion for Veterans with disabilities. Specifically:


* Veterans with a disability rating of 70% or more, the exclusion will increase from $150,000 to $200,000.
* Veterans with a total disability (100%), the exclusion will increase from $200,000 to $400,000.

This is real tax relief for Veterans and it passed because of all of the bipartisan compelling stories shared during the floor debate. It has strong bipartisan leadership from Rep. Bjorn Olson (R) and Rep. Jerry Newton (D). Rep. Olson is currently a Major in the National Guard and Rep. Newton is a retired Veteran who served overseas for nearly 20 years.

*I have to give special credit to Rep. Newton, who is retiring this session. He went against the majority in his party to support this bill and that leadership turned the tide on the Floor and led to a unanimous vote. It was truly one of the best moments I’ve witnessed in six years of serving in the House. *

Of course, as with my amendment, we will have to make sure it stays in in the Conference Committee. *Again, I encourage all Veterans to contact their legislators and advocate that this provision be kept in the Conference Committee bill.*

 

*I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve our district! I will keep trying to get priorities for our district and common sense policy changes inserted in these large omnibus bills as we finish out the session!
*






Photos

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I enjoyed meeting constituents who also serve as the President & Vice President of the Jain Center of Minnesota, who gave the opening prayer in the House today!

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Enjoyed meeting a constituent who was here for her Masters of Social Work Internship through the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. I hope you had a great day at the Capitol!

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So enjoyed having a Junior at Wayzata Public Schools shadow me at the Capitol today! She got in on a busy day - Taxes & Rules Committees, a press conference, Caucus & the start of a Floor Session. She also happened to be here on Three Rivers Park District Day & got to hold a baby lamb! ????

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Enjoyed a fun and wide-ranging conversation with Hindu Society of Minnesota President Shajive Jeganathan & Program Manager Aanchal Singhal today! Thanks so much for all you do in our community!






Please Contact Me

Many of you have already been in touch to discuss your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you. Thank you for sharing your ideas! Please continue to contact me to discuss any matters to which I can be of assistance.

The best way to reach me is by email: [email protected]. For occasional updates, you can follow my Facebook Page at @RepKristinRobbins. You can also leave a voicemail on my office number, 651-296-7806, which is checked every weekday while we are in session.

Of course, if you are coming to the Capitol, I’d love to meet you! Please reach out if you would like to set-up an in-person meeting. 

Have a great weekend!

 

Kristin











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