Legislative Session Start 2008

The first day of the second portion of the biennial 2007-08 legislative session is going to tackle some legislation quite quickly.  After today, there are 44 legislative session days.

The legislative leadership is coming out of the box with attention focused on transportation and the dedicated sales tax Constitutional Amendment. The Senate Transportation Committee is scheduled to meet 15 minutes after the Senate adjourns in Capitol Room 15 and the Dedicated Funding Conference Committee which is handling the language for the Constitutional Amendment dedicating 3/8’s of 1% of the state’s sales tax, known as the Arts/Outdoors Amendment is set for a 1:30 pm in State Capitol room 107.   In the House the schedule looks like an average day when the legislature is in session.  The Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division, K-12 Finance Division, Licensing Subcommittee, Capital Investment Finance Division and the Transportation Finance Committee are all meeting.

The bill containing the language for the sales tax dedication for Arts/Outdoors Constitutional Amendment was ready for passage the last night of the legislative session, but time constraints prevented it from occurring.  We expect the passage of House File 2285 will be quite rapid and the conference committee report from May 7, 2007 will just be reaffirmed.  https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=ccrhf2285.html&session=ls85

This means the Constitutional Amendment will likely make it to the floor for third reading this week.  The provisions contained in the bill that we think are worth highlighting are:  1/3 of the receipts are dedicated to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife;  1/3 is to be deposited in the clean water fund and may be spent only to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams and to protect groundwater from degradation, and at least five percent of the clean water fund must be spent only to protect drinking water sources; 14.25% of the receipts shall be deposited in the parks and trails fund and may be spent only to support parks and trails of regional or statewide significance; The final 19.75% shall be deposited in the arts and cultural heritage fund and may be spent only for arts, arts education, and arts access and to preserve Minnesota's history and cultural heritage.

This means an outdoor heritage fund; a parks and trails fund; a clean water fund and a sustainable drinking water account; and an arts and cultural heritage fund are created in the state treasury.  There also is a provision that any land purchased from the Outdoor Heritage Fund is public land available for the public use in the taking of fish or game during those respective seasons.

It seems clear the DFL legislative leadership wants to prove they work fast and effectively.