Session Week Six
This week the legislature focused on ongoing committee work as legislators race to get their bills heard before the first committee deadline (March 25). The House and Senate held 102 committee meetings, up from 88 last week; a total of 414 bills have been introduced in the legislature. In addition to Monday and Thursday floor sessions, the Senate held an additional floor session on Wednesday to process bills to be referred to their next committee.
Bill to Allow Sports Betting Advances
Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL–Coon Rapids) and Rep. Pat Garafalo (R–Farmington) are spearheading a bipartisan effort in the House to legalize sports gambling.
HF 778 would make sports betting safer via regulation and would channel tax revenue to address problem gambling and youth sports. If passed, legal sports betting could take place at Native American casinos and through mobile applications operated by the tribes. The bill is supported by the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, which represents 10 different tribal nations across the state. Tuesday, the bill was heard by the House Commerce Committee and was re-referred to the State Government Finance and Elections Committee by a vote of 14-4.
Governor Urges Divestment from Russian Entities
This morning marked the 16th day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Gov. Tim Walz has responded to the invasion by encouraging the legislature to pass a bill “to direct the State Board of Investment to withdraw investments in Russian businesses and institutions”. This request, sent Monday, comes after his executive order last week to prevent state agencies from contracting with Russian entities.
A bipartisan coalition of the House and Senate have also introduced legislation to divest Minnesota’s state pension fund from Russia and codify Gov. Walz’s Executive Order.
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