legislature Archives - Page 10 of 14

Governor Dayton Threatens Fate of Tax Code Bill Over School Funding

Dayton requested $138 million for 59 school districts struggling with budget deficits

May 14, 2018

TJ Nelson,

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Gov. Mark Dayton says he won’t sign a bill squaring Minnesota’s tax code to sweeping federal changes if Republican lawmakers don’t include emergency funding for schools. Passing a so-called tax conformity bill to avoid confusion and some tax increases for people has been a major focus this year. But Dayton says schools need additional money as…

Minnesota Lawmakers Have One Week To Finish Up Session Work

Lawmakers could leave the Capitol without passing another bill

May 13, 2018

TJ Nelson,

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Just like they started the session, Minnesota’s Legislature is entering the homestretch with a long to-do list. But now they have just over a week to finish it. Republicans who control the Legislature and Gov. Mark Dayton are at odds on how to restructure Minnesota’s tax code, how to change health care programs and whether to…

Bill matching state & federal tax codes passes MN House

April 30, 2018

KVRR Staff,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The Minnesota House has passed a bill matching the state’s tax code with new federal tax cuts. The GOP-backed proposal that cleared the House Monday includes modest income tax rate cuts for more than two million Minnesotans and a slight increase to the standard deduction. But it would also cause slight tax increases for some…

Administrative Rules Committee Approves Medical Marijuana Rules

Drug Should Be Available Later in 2018

March 12, 2018

TJ Nelson,

BISMARCK, N.D. — You can check off another box on North Dakota’s road to legal medical marijuana. The Legislature’s Administrative Rules Committee has signed off on proposed rules for the program. They cover such things as testing, security and transportation requirements. The Health Department can now move forward with application periods for medical marijuana manufacturers, dispensaries, patients and caregivers. The…

Bill Would Allows Loans Out Of Legacy Fund For Roads And Bridges

Two Republican Minot Lawmakers Proposed The Legislation

March 4, 2018

TJ Nelson,

BISMARCK, N.D. — Part of North Dakota’s oil tax savings account could be used to make low-interest loans to communities facing big and expensive infrastructure projects. Backers of the Republican drafted legislation want to use up to 15 percent of the Legacy Fund’s principal every two years for projects such as flood protection and water systems. Two Minot lawmakers are…

Democrat-Backed Gun Bills Put On Hold By Republicans In St. Paul

Gun Rights Advocates Argued The Bills Would violate Constitutional protections

March 1, 2018

TJ Nelson,

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Republicans in the Minnesota House have put on hold a pair of Democratic-backed bills meant to restrict guns. The House Public Safety committee voted to table bills that would have expanded background checks and allowed family members or police to temporarily take a gun from someone suffering a crisis. Nearly every Republican voted to table the…

Minnesota Has $329 Million Budget Surplus

After previous indications that the Legislature may have to fill a budget shortfall

February 28, 2018

TJ Nelson,

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Gov. Mark Dayton isn’t ready to start laying out specific plans for using a $329 million budget surplus. State budget officials delivered the good news of a surplus after previous indications that the Legislature may have to fill a budget shortfall. But the Democratic governor called the surplus modest and cautioned lawmakers against overspending. Dayton says…

Petition To Change Sunday Shopping Laws In North Dakota Comes Up Short

Group Changes Tactics And Will Push For Legislation To Remove Blue Laws

February 1, 2018

TJ Nelson,

FARGO, ND — A petition drive to change North Dakota’s Sunday shopping laws has come up very short. The man behind the petition, Fargo businessman and now political candidate Brandon Medenwald, says only about 5-thousand of the more than 13-thousand signatures needed were collected. Medenwald will now focus on pushing for reintroduction of a bill next year to remove the…

Protests Against Sexual Harassment on Minnesota’s Capitol Hill

Two other women have come forward and are accusing U.S. Senator Al Franken of misconduct

November 17, 2017

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ST. PAUL, Minn. — Multiple political and nonprofit organizations descended on Minnesota’s Capitol to show their support for people who have been sexually harassed or assaulted in the workplace. A crowd gathered with signs and many current and former lawmakers stood up to speak out about Democratic State Senator Dan Schoen and Republican State Representative Tony Cornish, who are…

ND Oil Industry Not Backing Some Proposed Rule Changes

The North Dakota Petroleum Council calls it a "backdoor reporting requirement'' that goes far beyond what the Legislature intended

October 12, 2017

TJ Nelson,

NORTH DAKOTA — North Dakota’s oil industry is opposing some proposed rule changes. The Mineral Resources Department proposes that oil companies still file a document after cleanup of any spill that wasn’t reported. The North Dakota Petroleum Council calls it a “backdoor reporting requirement” that goes far beyond what the Legislature intended. Another proposed rule would require a full…