Captiol Review: What Golden Valley Lawmakers are Working on This Week

Most Minnesota legislators have been addressing the $6.2 billion deficit over the last few months, and now they're addressing a new number—one that's much smaller at just over $5 billion.

The Minnesota Management and Budget Office released its first-round of numbers in November, but Monday’s forecast includes changes in tax collections and unemployment.  Monday’s numbers will be used to build a budget for the next two years.

Click here for the complete story and for reaction from your Golden Valley lawmakers.

Here’s what’s happened this past week with other bills authored or co-authored by Carlson and your other legislators:

Rep. Lyndon Carlson (DFL -45B):

• The Government and Operations Committee approved a bill he co-authored to give more time for local canvassing boards to process primary election returns.  HF 0281 was introduced Jan. 31 and had a second reading Feb. 24.

Rep Ryan Winkler (DFL -44B):

• One of nine authors to propose a bill to allow the holder of a brewer’s license to be issued an on-sale license for serving beer at a location at or adjacent to a location where brewing occurs.  HF 0703 was introduced Feb. 24 and referred to the Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee.

• One of four authors to propose a bill clarifying the language in current law making it a felony to misrepresent someone’s identity while voting during an election.  HF 0700 was introduced Feb. 24 and referred to the Government Operations and Elections Committee.

• Co-authored a bill to reauthorize money to install and construct noise mitigation barriers on freight rail lines.  Winkler proposes authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds to pay for the project.  HF 0688was introduced Feb. 24 and referred to the Transportation Policy and Finance Committee.

• One of eleven authors to propose a bill changing the definition of a domestic corporation to include those incorporated or doing business in a tax haven.   HF 0665 was introduced Feb. 24 and referred to the Taxes Committee.

Sen. Ann Rest (DFL -45):

• Proposed a bill to requiring costs of unfair campaign practice complaints to be assessed against state elections campaign fund.  SF 518 was introduced Feb. 28 and referred to the Local Government and Elections Committee.

• One of three authors to propose a bill require the Department of Education to hire a consultant to work with districts to share services; creating a competition among school districts; creating an incentive for districts to share services; appropriating money.  SF 489 was introduced Feb. 28 and referred to the Education Committee.

• One of five authors to propose a bill authorizing spending to acquire and better public land and buildings and other improvements of a capital nature with certain conditions; establishing a fiber optic infrastructure grant program for schools.  SF 476 was introduced Feb. 28 and referred to the Capital Investment Committee.

• One of three authors to propose bill that clarifies the license required to maintain, manage, or operate a place or premise devoted to or used in the holding, care, or preparation of a dead human body for final disposition, or any place used as the office or place of business for the provision of funeral services. SF 473 was introduced Feb. 28 and referred to the Health and Human Services Committee.

Sen. Ron Latz (DFL -44):

• One of five authors to propose a bill requiring background check for transfer of a firearm at a gun show; providing a penalty; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota.  SF 465 was introduced Feb. 24 and referred to the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.

• One of four authors to propose a bill providing for a 36-month presumptive executed sentence for certain repeat sex offenders.  SF 415 was introduced Feb. 24 and referred to the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.