The 2023 Minnesota legislative session Recap
The 2023 Minnesota legislative session Recap
New Legislation
Democrats returned to St. Paul in January with a $17.5+ billion surplus and total control of state government. The Following is the results.
Laws signed by Governor Walz - 2023 Regular Session - MN Laws
Laws passed by the MN Legislators - New Laws 2023 Search - Minnesota House Public Information Services - Minnesota House of Representatives (mn.gov)
Some of the new Taxes and Fees - New Taxes, Tax changes, Fees and Costs of Doing Business in Minnesota
When Laws Go into Effect
July 1st - July 1, 2023 New Laws (mn.gov)
Summary of When Laws take effect - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Bg5_N_JoSwpmCIh-rgCE1YnnQFHVaxBY/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111107094011397709937&rtpof=true&sd=true
Summary of New Laws - and links to the Chapters and Bills
Word Doc Print out - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iO-EyZFsc8ejKOqZQFnFN0zA1VXhV9I5/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111107094011397709937&rtpof=true&sd=true
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Chapter of Law Bill Short Description
1 - HF31- Federal tax conformity—a non-controversial bill conforming Minnesota tax law to federal tax laws
2 - SF40 - Unemployment insurance benefits were extended for miners due to the closure of mines in the Iron Range.
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.
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.
5 - SF13 - Juneteenth Holiday. June 19 is now a public holiday for the state as well as federal workers.
6 - HF26 - Appropriation of Federal Infrastructure money for transportation.
7 - HF7 - 2040 renewable energy goal “Blackout Bill.” This “goal” will result in higher rates for utilities because there is currently no way to achieve it. The utilities and the Public Utilities Commission are in a standoff over this, with the utilities claiming they are cutting other services and investments.
8 - SF33 - More money for Attorney General Ellison to assist County Attorneys in Criminal Prosecutions.
9 - HF50 - Lands bill. A technical bill allowing counties and the state to sell or swap government owned land in specific instances explained in the bill.
10 - HF35 - State forecasts are required to include the rate of inflation. Now budgets will have inflation automatically added so that Legislators will see the inflated costs of the previous year’s budget before they decide on increases and decreases.
11 - HF213 - Food Shelf Funding. $5 Million from the General Fund for Food Shelves
12 - HF28 - Felon Voting. Felons can now vote when they get out of jail and no longer must wait for their parole to be over.
13 - HF4 - Driver’s Licenses issued without having identity documents are or whether you are in the country legally. There will be no difference between these non-compliant licenses and other licenses which has led many to question whether they will be used to fraudulently obtain benefits or vote.
14 - HF121 - Technical corrections to the Court Competency process law passed last year.
15 - HF30 - Catalytic Converter theft prevention and penalties. More regulations for the scrap/spare parts industry. Criminals will just change their methods to avoid getting caught.
16 - SF667 - Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act changes
17 - HF112 - Physical Education Standards Delayed
18 - HF5 - Free Breakfast and Lunch provided to all K-12 students even if they don’t qualify due to income level. (Low-income students already received free breakfast and lunch through a federal program.)
19 - HF45 - Review of military offenses for deferred prosecution. This deals with military offenses and whether they should be criminally prosecuted under civilian courts. This pertains to the Minnesota National Guard only.
20 - HF1440 - Homelessness Prevention Bill.
22 - SF2265 - Transition from Public Health Emergency and continuation of health insurance MA for people who are no longer eligible under federal guidelines.
23 - SF1816 - Additional money for the Office of Administrative Hearings
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.
25 - HF1581 - Revisor Technical Corrections bill
26 - HF1278 - $40 Million for the Disaster Contingency Account.
27 - HF42 - Labor Trafficking and Human Trafficking penalties enhanced
28 - HF16 - Conversion therapy prohibited
29 - HF146 - Transgender Sanctuary bill. Prohibiting extradition in custody situations if the parent of a child is seeking gender transition treatment for them.
30 - SF10 - Contractors at petroleum refineries must be trained to State Department of Labor (union) standards
31 - HF366 - Sanctuary for people who break abortion laws in other states
32 - HF463 - Rural Finance Authority funding
33 - SF2369 - Economic Development Policy Omnibus Bill
34 - HF3 - Voter registration expanded, interpreters use expanded, voter intimidation and express advocacy redefined and regulated.
35 - HF717 - Prince Highway and Augie Mueller Highway in Chanhassen
36 - HF800 - Labor contracts ratified. Several State Government Workers unions contracts contained in this bill.
37 - HF2335 - Housing Finance and Policy Omnibus bill.
38 - HF1937 - Veterans and Military Affairs Omnibus bill. Passed as a standalone bill this year.
39 - HF24 - Lead pipe replacement grants. Grants to local governments to replace lead pipes in their drinking water systems.
40 - HF1999 - Legacy Finance Bill. Grants for arts, outdoors and clean water projects funded by the state sales tax mandated by the constitutional amendment.
41 - HF2073 - Higher Education Omnibus Bill.
42 - HF2204 - Metropolitan Council redistricting technical bill.
43 - SF1955 - Omnibus Agriculture, Broadband and Rural Development Bill
44 - HF1126 - PSEO changes, student financial aid and teacher licensure. PSEO changes, student financial aid and teacher licensure. This bill includes new rules that restrict religious post-secondary institutions from the program, a provision which is being fought in court.
45 - HF3100 - Pension Omnibus Bill
46 - HF782 - Minnesota Secure Choice retirement program bill. Another employer mandate on payroll that duplicates a service available in the private sector.
47 - HF2950 - Pension Policy Bill
48 - HF1234 - Disability Pension modifications for Police and Fire.
49 - HF1486 - Modifications for Licensing of Drug Counselors
50 - HF1403 - Aging, Disability and Recovery Support Services Policy Bill
51 - HF2988 - Workers Comp Bill
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.
53 - SF3035 - Omnibus Jobs, Labor and Industry Bill
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.”
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.
56 - HF3288 - Claims. Payment of settlements already agreed to by the Attorney General.
57 - SF2744 - Omnibus Commerce Bill This bill funds the Commerce Department and puts new regulations on the industries it regulates, namely, insurance and financial institutions. It also opens the door to price controls on drugs and removes price controls on gasoline. It is likely to increase insurance rates of all kinds. 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.
58 - HF1370 - Deep Fake Sexual Images prohibited. This bill puts criminal penalties on using someone’s image to create pornographic material.
59 - HF2 - Paid Family Leave. A new mandate and payroll tax on businesses of any size.
60 - HF2310 - Environment, Natural Resources and Energy policy bill
61 - SF2934 - Omnibus Human Services Bill
62 - HF1830 - State Government Finance Bill. This bill contains raises to the Governor and other constitutional officers and designation of a race-based committee to design the new state flag.
Legalization, Regulation and Taxation of Cannabis, THC and CBD products. Unfortunately, this bill also creates problems for hemp farmers to such an extent that it will likely put some of them out of business due to the high cost of compliance.
Tax Omnibus Bill. This bill raises taxes and has a provision which restricts electronic pull tabs to make them less attractive, negatively impacting charitable gambling. It changes the income threshold for taxing social security income, but it doesn’t eliminate the tax.
65 - HF2369 - Ride Sharing Bill (Vetoed). This regulatory bill would have caused Uber and Lyft to leave Minnesota.
66 - HF402 - Regulation of Health Care/Hospital mergers (Fairview University).
67 - HF1900 - Environmental Trust Fund and lottery constitutional amendment proposed. This is a renewal of what the state lottery money funds which expires in 2025.
68 - HF2887 - Transportation Finance and Policy Omnibus Bill
69 - SF3307 - Revisor Corrections bill 2
70 - SF2995 - Omnibus Health Bill. This bill repealed 50 years of prolife legislation including the Born Alive Act, which banned partial birth abortion and the neglect of babies who survived abortion. It removes funding for abortion alternatives and replaces it with funding for “family planning grants” that include abortion.
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.
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.
73 - HF447 - Revisor Corrections Bill 3
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.
Nurse Staffing. This bill started out as an aggressive regulations bill, 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 in Greater Minnesota where distances between hospitals can be big. The final bill was limited to a study and an emphasis on Nurse and Patient safety.
Alpha News Recap of the 2023 legislation outcome. Most Info below comes from the following article. Here's the legislation passed by Minnesota's DFL majority - Alpha News
Democrats have a one-seat majority in the Senate that was decided by just a few hundred votes.
One dissenting voice would have been enough to derail their entire agenda. Instead, swing-district senators were reliable green votes on every major piece of legislation. The Democrat legislators voted in lock step to instill mostly pure partisan legislation.
In just four months, the DFL majority:
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Established a “fundamental right” to abortion through all nine months of pregnancy;
Declared Minnesota a “refuge” for children seeking sex changes;
Passed the “Take Pride Act,” which will prohibit nonprofits that serve minors from discriminating based on “gender identity” in hiring practices;
Passed protections for women who travel to Minnesota for abortions;
Repealed protections for babies who survive abortions;
Stripped pregnancy resource centers of state funding;
Gutted reporting requirements for abortion facilities;
Expanded medical assistance to include abortion (taxpayer-funded abortion);
Repealed an informed consent law for abortion;
Legalized recreational marijuana use;
Increased government spending by 40 percent;
Raised the gas tax by indexing it to inflation;
Created a new delivery fee on all retail orders over $100;
Increased sales taxes and fees for vehicle purchases and registration;
Passed a metro-wide sales tax increase;
Enacted automatic voter registration;
Passed pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds;
Joined the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact;
Funded a study on ranked-choice voting;
Passed a bill to provide driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants;
Passed a bill to provide health care to illegal immigrants;
Restored the right to vote to violent felons who are on probation;
Created a commission to design a new state flag;
Replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous People’s Day;
Declared Juneteenth a state holiday;
Raised the threshold for a political party to attain or maintain “major party” status from 5 percent to 8 percent beginning in the 2024 general election;
Passed a bill to require Minnesota’s electricity grid to be 100% carbon-free by 2040;
Banned so-called “conversion therapy;”
Passed two gun control bills, including a red-flag law and universal background checks;
Provided free college at state institutions to students in families with income under $80,000;
Passed a bill to provide free lunch and breakfast to all Minnesota students regardless of family income;
Increased spending on K-12 education by 10.2 percent;
Banned Native American mascots;
Raised fees for fishing, boating, and visiting state parks;
Created a hate speech database;
Banned no-knock warrants;
Created a program that will allow inmates who complete certain programming to serve just half of their prison sentences;
Created a state-run paid leave program that will raise taxes on employers and employees;
Established a new legal avenue for prosecutors to seek lower sentences;
Funded a new Office of Restorative Practices that will propose alternatives to incarceration for juveniles who commit serious crimes;
Commissioned a study on abolishing cash bail;
Created a new public database that will assign climate scores to large businesses;
Capped rebate checks at $260 per filer, with income limits, and down from the $1,000 initially proposed by Gov. Tim Walz.