Briefs
Undocumented Minnesotans regain right to obtain driver’s licenses
Over 80,000 undocumented Minnesotans will soon be able to get a driver’s license. Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday signed “Driver’s Licenses for All” legislation into law, undoing former GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s unilateral 2003 order requiring proof of legal residence to obtain a Minnesota driver’s license. At the signing, elected officials credited advocates and community […]
Senate Republicans say infrastructure bill is ‘dead on arrival’ without tax cuts
Update: The House passed the $1.9 billion infrastructure package Monday. Republicans in the Minnesota Legislature have been largely powerless this year, forced to watch as Democrats have passed a wave of bills that make good on progressive priorities. When it comes to a big package to improve the state’s infrastructure, however, Republicans have some leverage: […]
Legislature week in review: Lawmakers advance bills increasing labor rights, expanding voting rights, regulating PFAS chemicals
With a bit more than 10 weeks left in the legislative session, Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmakers remain busy, advancing a number of bills including voting rights expansion, PFAS chemical regulation and protections against wage theft. On Gov. Tim Walz’s desk: Walz signed “Restore the Vote” legislation Friday morning, giving more than 55,000 Minnesotans the right to vote […]
Walz signs bill giving people still on parole or probation right to vote
Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill on Friday restoring the right to vote for over 55,000 Minnesotans still on parole or probation. “We’re a country of second chances. We’re a country of welcoming folks back in,” Walz said. “And the idea of not allowing those voices to have a say in the very governing of […]
Minnesota lawmakers propose stricter construction worker wage theft laws
The Minnesota House is considering enacting a new law to ramp up protection for workers after stories of wage theft have peppered the state’s construction industry. In an effort to step up pressure on subcontractors that exploit workers, the bill would target general contractors and project owners that hire the subcontractors. Contractors often hire subcontractors […]
Driver’s licenses for all, voting rights restoration bills clear final hurdle; Walz will sign
Minnesota House lawmakers on Thursday voted to concur with the Senate on a bill to give undocumented residents driver’s licenses and a bill to allow people still on parole or probation to vote. The driver’s licenses bill (HF4), known as “Driver’s Licenses for All,” would impact the estimated 81,000 undocumented immigrants who live in Minnesota […]
DFL lawmakers announce $3 billion package to address Minnesota’s housing crisis
DFL lawmakers from the state House and Senate on Wednesday unveiled their $3 billion package aiming to end child homelessness, reduce racial disparities in homeownership and ease the shortage of housing. The DFL’s “All Roads Lead Back to Home” package would grant $350 million in rental assistance annually to low-income families, which lawmakers said would […]
Minnesota House committee passes ethnic studies requirement
Minnesota House lawmakers advanced bills on Tuesday adding ethnic studies and personal finance courses to K-12 graduation requirements. Both need to pass several more hurdles before becoming law, however. The personal finance bill (HF651) received unanimous support, but the ethnic studies bill (HF1502) divided DFL and Republican lawmakers. Republicans said they want schools to celebrate […]
GOP legislators propose cutting state taxes on Social Security, income
Minnesota Republicans released their tax plan Tuesday, including one-time rebate checks for all Minnesotans, eliminating the state tax on Social Security benefits and slashing the individual income tax. The GOP tax package’s prospects are relatively dim in the DFL-controlled House and Senate, but Republican legislators argue that their tax plan includes benefits that Minnesotans want. […]
Bill would reduce assumed rate of return on state investments, require more money for retirement plans
Lawmakers are mulling a bill to reduce the assumed rate of investment return for all state pension plans from 7.5% to 7%. Given recent market volatility and low investment returns, some lawmakers say assuming big returns is unrealistic and could lead to shortfalls later.
Feds slap Minnesota GOP with fines for multiple campaign finance violations
This story was first published in Raw Story. The bipartisan Federal Election Commission has fined the Republican Party of Minnesota $53,000 for a variety of federal campaign finance violations, according to documents released Thursday night. The violations include various financial disclosure errors and record keeping snafus during the 2018 election cycle, records indicate. A federal audit of the Republican Party […]
Students could get free tuition for Minnesota colleges, universities under DFL proposal
State lawmakers are considering a bill to give most in-state students free tuition to Minnesota’s colleges and universities. DFL senators proposed creating the Minnesota Commitment to Higher Education Act, which would allow eligible Minnesota residents who are enrolled in a public state college or university to apply for a grant to cover the entire cost […]