Environmental Activity at the Minnesota Legislature

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The following is a compilation of committee activity, mainly in the House, and related bills, concerning a wide range of important environmetnal issues. Please consider attending or testifying at hearings, and in all cases, to contact YOUR Representative or Senator, as appropriate, to express your support for these bills.

Attend This Important Hybrid Meeting on Monday, Feb 27th at 12:30PM

Jobs and Economic Development Committee
Chair: Senator Bobby Joe Champion
Location: (Hybrid Hearing) 1100 Minnesota Senate Bldg.

Agenda:

 

A legislative fix to a legislative decision from Minnesota Environmental Partnership

For the past few weeks, MEP has been working with partners like the Land Stewardship Project to get a bill to reinstate the Board drafted and introduced. We’re pleased to report that this legislation is now being considered at the Capitol: Senator Foung Hawj (DFL-Saint Paul) has introduced SF 1937 and Representative Kristi Pursell (DFL-Northfield) has introduced the House companion bill HF 2076. Senator Hawj is chair of the Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy Committee and Rep. Pursell is Vice Chair of the House Agriculture Committee.

During our work to craft this bill, our coalition of environment, good government, and environmental justice groups has also considered ways to make the new version of the Board more representative of all Minnesotans and the issues we face. The simplest change we’ve recommended is naming the new body the MPCA Community Board, reflecting the fact that many residents of our state are non-citizens but are still directly impacted by the actions of the agency.

If our government is truly by, for, and of the people, ordinary people must have a seat at the table. We deserve a central role in governing the protection and restoration of our state’s natural resources.

The bill includes requirements that the eight-member Community Board – appointed by the Governor – must reflect the diversity of the state in terms of race, gender, and geography. Specifically, it must include at least one enrolled member of a Tribal Nation; at least three members who live in environmental justice communities, at least one member who operates a small farm; and at least one member must be a member of a labor union.) The bill maintains the MPCA Commissioner as chair of the Board. 

Finally, as was previously in law, the bill includes requirements that the MPCA Commissioner notify the Board of activities that may be worth its examination, whether because of their broad environmental impacts or major public interest. And the agency must inform the public of Minnesotans’ rights to request for the Board to more closely examine a project.

How you can help: Use this action tool from the Land Stewardship Project to contact your legislators in support of the bill.

Attend This Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate Senate Hearing on Wednesday, March 1st, at 12:30PM

Chair: Senator Nick A. Frentz

Location: 1150 Minnesota Senate Bldg.

One-page written testimony and requests to testify in person may be submitted to Justin.Emmerich@Senate.MN by Tuesday at 5 p.m.

To be included in the committee packet, handouts must be delivered to Justin Emmerich no later than 9:00am on the day of the committee.

Agenda:

          • S.F. 1968  Kunesh
            Department of Commerce authorization to assist any Tribal advocacy council on energy established by the 11 federally recognized Tribes in Minnesota
          • Presentation on FORTIFIED Program from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) – Michael Newman, General Counsel – Fred Malik, Director of the FORTIFIED program
          • S.F. 1759  Mohamed
            Energy-use goal for certain commercial and residential buildings establishment
          • S.F. 1315  Hauschild
            Existing high-voltage direct current transmission line between North Dakota and Minnesota upgrade appropriation
          • S.F. XXXX  Hauschild
            Mine truck electrification

Attend This Ag finance and policy committee (House) on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 1:00 PM

Chair: Rep. Samantha Vang
Vice chair: Krisit Purcell
Location: Capitol, Room 120

Agenda:

  • H.F. 1492 (Klevorn) University of Minnesota; Forever Green Initiative funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • H.F. 1645 (Brand) Continuous living cover crops and cropping systems funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • H.F. 1314 (Pursell) Carbon storage contract provisions prohibited.
  • H.F. 1316 (Pursell) Soil health financial assistance program established, pilot program modified, and money appropriated.

 

Bills:

  • HF1492 (Klevorn) – University of Minnesota; Forever Green Initiative funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF1645 (Brand) – Continuous living cover crops and cropping systems funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF1314 (Pursell) – Carbon storage contract provisions prohibited.
  • HF1316 (Pursell) – Soil health financial assistance program established, pilot program modified, and money appropriated.

Attachments:

Ag finance and policy committee (House), Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 6:00 PM

Chair: Rep. Samantha Vang
Location: State Office Building, Room 10

Agenda:

  • H.F. 2043 (Pursell) Farm-to-school program established, and money appropriated.
  • H.F. 1981 (Rehm) Good food access program funded, and money transferred.
  • H.F. 1637 (Sencer-Mura) Urban agriculture grant funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • H.F. 1744 (Sencer-Mura) The Good Acre grant funding provided for the Local Emergency Assistance Farmer Fund program, and money appropriated.

HANDOUTS: Handouts MUST BE IN PDF FORMAT and emailed to the committee administrator by 12 p.m. (noon) the business day before the hearing. If you are bringing hard copies, bring 40 copies. Note: submitted written testimony is public and will be included in the official committee record. It may be posted to the committee webpage if received by deadline.

TESTIFYING: Testimony is limited. The number of testifiers and length of time permitted is at the discretion of the chair, and is subject to change. Please plan accordingly. If you would like to testify, please email the committee administrator by 12 p.m. (noon) the business day before the hearing.

DOCUMENTS: Meeting documents may be found on the Agriculture Finance and Policy webpage.

ACCESSIBILITY: To learn more about requesting an accommodation, please visit the FAQs for Disability Access. If you have further questions on accommodations or accessibility, please contact the Committee Administrator.

*Agenda items (including bills) may be added or removed, and/or order may change.

Bills:

  • HF1637 (Sencer-Mura) – Urban agriculture grant funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF1744 (Sencer-Mura) – The Good Acre grant funding provided for the Local Emergency Assistance Farmer Fund program, and money appropriated.
  • HF1981 (Rehm) – Good food access program funded, and money transferred.
  • HF2043 (Pursell) – Farm-to-school program established, and money appropriated.

Attachments:

Attend this Capital Investment Committee Meeting (House)

Monday, February 27, 2023 at 1:00 PM
Chair: Rep. Fue Lee
Committee members
Location: Room 120 State Capitol

Agenda:

  • HF 24 (Jordan) Authority modified to ensure safe drinking water, drinking water revolving fund provisions modified, grant program established to replace lead drinking water service lines, grant program established for mapping lead service lines, report required, and money appropriated.
  • Amendments to HF 24 (Jordan) and HF 463 (Vang) are due by 1:00 pm on Friday, February 24. Please email amendments to: jenny.nash@house.mn.gov
  • Office of Legislative Auditor Report on Sustainable Building Guidelines

To learn more about requesting an accommodation, please visit the FAQs for Disability Access. If you have further questions on accommodations or accessibility, please contact the Committee Administrator.

Bills:

  • HF24 (Jordan) – Authority modified to ensure safe drinking water, drinking water revolving fund provisions modified, grant program established to replace lead drinking water service lines, grant program established for mapping lead service lines, report required, and money appropriated.

Attachments:

Follow these bills in the Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee

Meets: Tuesday and Wednesday 3:00 p.m. in Room 200
Committee Chair: Rep. Patty Acomb (45B)
Vice Chair: Rep. Larry Kraft (46A)

Membership — A list of committee members and staff

Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 3:00 PM

Chair: Rep. Patty Acomb
Location: 200- State Office Building

Agenda:

Presentation on FORTIFIED Program from the IBHS

  • HF1990 (Acomb) – Solar for schools program technical changes made.
  • HF1991 (Acomb) – Solar for schools program funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF2009 (Lislegard) – Grant funding provided to promote mine vehicle electrification pilot program, and money appropriated.
  • HF2011 (Lislegard) – Existing high-voltage direct current transmission line from North Dakota to Minnesota upgrade funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF2032 (Smith) – Clean energy resource teams funding provided, and money appropriated.*Items may be added to the agenda.

If you wish to submit written testimony or testify in person, please send the written testimony or the request to testify to Mike.Molzahn@house.mn.gov by 1 p.m. the day before the meeting. Written testimony is preferred and will be accepted after the deadline. In-person testimony may be limited due to committee time constraints.

This hearing may be viewed in person or via the House webcast schedule page: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/schedule.asp

To learn more about requesting an accommodation, please visit the FAQs for Disability Access. If you have further questions on accommodations or accessibility, please contact the Committee Administrator.

Bills:

  • HF1990 (Acomb) – Solar for schools program technical changes made.
  • HF1991 (Acomb) – Solar for schools program funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF2009 (Lislegard) – Grant funding provided to promote mine vehicle electrification pilot program, and money appropriated.
  • HF2011 (Lislegard) – Existing high-voltage direct current transmission line from North Dakota to Minnesota upgrade funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF2032 (Smith) – Clean energy resource teams funding provided, and money appropriated.
Happening in the Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee

Meets: Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. in Room 10
Committee Chair: Rep. Hodan Hassan (62B)
Vice Chair: Rep. Jessica Hanson (55A)

Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 10:30 AM

Chair: Rep. Hodan Hassan
Location: 10 State Office Building
Time Note: This committee will plan to run from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Agenda:

  • HF 1280 (Richardson) Center for Economic Inclusion funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF 1398 (Hill) Community energy transition grant program
  • HF 1528 (Norris) New markets tax credit proposed, administration of credit provided, and disclosure of information allowed.
  • HF 2093 (Hassan) East Phillips Neighborhood Institute grant funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF 1922 (Smith) Explore Minnesota Tourism Council membership modified.

If you would like to testify or provide materials for this hearing, please contact Travis Reese at travis.reese@house.mn.gov by Noon on Tuesday, February 28, 2023

To learn more about requesting an accommodation, please visit the FAQs for Disability Access. If you have further questions on accommodations or accessibility, please contact the Committee Administrator.

Bills:

  • HF1398 (Hill) – Community energy transition grant program modified, and money appropriated.
Sustainable Infrastructure Policy Committee

2023-2024 Regular Session
Meets: Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. in Room 10
Committee Chair: Rep. Erin Koegel (39A)
Vice Chair: Rep. Brion Curran (36B)

Membership — A list of committee members and staff

Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 8:30 AM

Chair: Rep. Erin Koegel
Location: 10 State Office Building

Agenda:

  • HF 2036 (Carroll) Energy use provisions modified.
  • HF 1346 (Kraft) Electric vehicle infrastructure program authorized.
  • HF 749 (Reyer) Energy guidelines required for state buildings to incorporate provisions that address resiliency with respect to climate change. (pending referral)
  • HF 2170 (Berg) Establishment of global warming impact standards required for construction materials used in state buildings and roads, global warming standards integrated into procurement process, pilot programs established to report greenhouse gas emissions from manufacture of products, grant program established, technical advisory committee established, and reports required.

Items may be taken up in any order, items may be added or removed at the Chairs’ discretion.

HANDOUTS: Handouts in Word or PDF format should be emailed to the committee administrator by 10am the business day before the hearing. Submitted written testimony is public and will be included in the official committee record. It will be posted to the committee webpage if received by deadline.

TESTIFYING: The number of testifiers and length of time permitted is at the discretion of the chair, and is subject to change. If you would like to testify, please email the committee administrator by 5pm the business day before the hearing.

DOCUMENTS: Meeting documents may be found on the Sustainable Infrastructure Policy Committee webpage.

ACCESSIBILITY: To learn more about requesting an accommodation, please visit the FAQs for Disability Access. If you have further questions on accommodations or accessibility, please contact the Committee Administrator.

Bills:

  • HF749 (Reyer) – Energy guidelines required for state buildings to incorporate provisions that address resiliency with respect to climate change.
  • HF1346 (Kraft) – Electric vehicle infrastructure program authorized.
  • HF2036 (Carroll) – Energy use provisions modified.
  • HF2170 (Berg) – Establishment of global warming impact standards required for construction materials used in state buildings and roads, global warming standards integrated into procurement process, pilot programs established to report greenhouse gas emissions from manufacture of products, grant program established, technical advisory committee established, and reports required.

Attachments: