Driver’s Licenses for All

In 2003, the Legislature passed a law requiring Minnesotans to show proof of legal residence in the United States in order to obtain a driver’s license. This year, a bill has been introduced that would make a change to allow driver’s licenses and state ID cards to be obtained by all Minnesotans regardless of immigration status. This bill was heard and passed the House Transportation committee this Tuesday after hours of testimony. The bill heads next to the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law committee.

Paid Family & Medical Leave

One of the cornerstones of the DFL’s legislative agenda this session is a bill to require all employers of a certain size to offer at least 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave to employees. The bill’s first hearing was supposed to be this week, but was postponed. The program would require a significant startup investment and is now set for its first hearing in the Senate Jobs Committee next Wednesday.

Recreational Cannabis

The bill to legalize and regulate adult-use recreational cannabis cleared its first committee stop with a hearing in the House Commerce Committee this past Wednesday. Dozens of advocates and opponents provided testimony and a handful of minor amendments were adopted. H.F. 100 will make the next of many committee stops to come when it is heard next week in the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee.

Revenues

Minnesota Management and Budget released the January Revenue and Economic Update on Tuesday. Minnesota’s net general fund receipts for November and December of 2022 are now estimated to be $217 million (4.4 percent) more than was forecast in the November 2022 Forecast. Thus, the surplus just got bigger by this amount. It is clear that the state tax collections continue to exceed even the most recent forecasts. The forecast that will be released at the end of February will be the one that the Legislature and Governor use to complete the budget this session.

Senate Committee Rebalancing

After an explosive floor session in the Senate last week that saw dozens of GOP members speak up about disproportionate party representation on committees, Senate leadership announced they would add one additional Republican to nine different committees. All committees now have a one- or two-seat difference in party representation.

Bonus: Official Deadlines Just Released

• Friday, March 10 — Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin
• Friday, March 24 — Committees must act favorably on bills that met the first deadline in the other body
• Tuesday, April 4 — Committees must act favorably on finance bills
• Tuesday, April 4 at 5 pm through Tuesday, April 10 — Easter/Passover legislative break