Capitol Review: Atkins, Metzen Send Bills to Committees

Editor's Note: Capitol Review is a look at what your state legislators are doing at the Minnesota Capitol—how they're voting, the bills they're writing and the issues they're getting behind. Come back to Inver Grove Heights Patch weekly for a new Capitol Review. 

It’s been a busy few weeks for introducing legislation at the State Capitol. And, it appears that the lawmakers representing Inver Grove Heights—Rep. Joe Atkins and Sen. James Metzen—did their share of authoring bills.

Here is a glance at the bills introduced recently.

State Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL-District 39B) of Inver Grove Heights

• Chief-authored a bill to provide funding for the South St. Paul floodwall extension. The bill (HF2471) was referred to the House Jobs and Economic Development Finance Committee on Feb. 23.

• Chief-authored a bill to provide funding for predesign and design of the South St. Paul floodwall extension. The bill (HF2472) was referred to the House Jobs and Economic Development Finance Committee on Feb. 23.

• Co-authored a bill changing laws for debt settlement services agreements. The bill (HF2500) was referred to the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee on Feb. 27.

• Co-authored a bill requiring children’s products that contain harmful chemicals to be reported. The bill (HF2543) was referred to the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee on Feb. 27.

• Co-authored a bill regulating travel insurance. The bill (HF2544) was referred to the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee on Feb. 27.

• Co-authored a bill modifying the Health Care Bill of Rights’ continuity of care provision. The bill (HF2550) was referred to the House Health and Human Services Finance Committee on Feb. 27.

• Co-authored a bill clarifying the debt management and settlement exemption for attorneys. The bill (HF2569) was referred to the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee on Feb. 29.

• Chief-authored a bill permitting bulk wine purchase and use by farm wineries. The bill (HF2633) was referred to the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee on March 5.

• Co-authored a bill regulating portable electronics insurance sales. The bill (HF2638) was referred to the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee on March 5.

• Co-authored a bill prohibiting insider trading for government officials and staff. The bill (HF2659) was referred to the House Government Operations and Elections Committee on March 5.

State Sen. James P. Metzen (DFL-District 39) of South St. Paul

• Chief-authored a bill authorizing the Dakota County Development Authority’s redevelopment tax increment finance district. The bill (SF2040) was referred to the Senate Taxes Committee on Feb. 23.

• Co-authored a bill modifying provisions to the residential building contractor recovery fund. The bill (SF2065) was referred to the Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Committee on Feb. 23.

• Co-authored a bill clarifying the definition of home solicitation sales. The bill (SF2067) was referred to the Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Committee on Feb. 23.

• Co-authored a bill to provide funding for the South St. Paul floodwall extension. The bill (SF2079) was referred to the Capital Investment Committee on Feb. 23.

• Co-authored a bill dealing with telecommunications regulations. The bill (SF2080) was referred to the Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee on Feb. 23.

• Co-authored a bill dealing with defining solicitor for federal nexus and Internet sales tax purposes. The bill (SF2082) was referred to the Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Committee on Feb. 27.

• Co-authored a bill establishing Racino and allocating revenue from it. The bill (SF2085) was referred to the Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans Committee on Feb. 27.

• Co-authored a bill dealing with unofficial fiscal note data classification. The bill (SF2121) was referred to the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on Feb. 27.

• Chief-authored a bill modifying turkey license distribution. The bill (SF2162) was referred to the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

• Co-authored a bill dealing with renewable development account regulations. The bill (SF2181) was referred to the Senate Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee on March 5.

• Co-authored a bill dealing with community energy technical assistance and outreach. The bill (SF2216) was referred to the Senate Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee on March 5.

• Co-authored a bill dealing with the speed limit on Interstate 35E through St. Paul. The bill (SF2230) was referred to the Senate Transportation Committee on March 5.)

• Co-authored a bill establishing a jobs training program. The bill (SF2274) was referred to the Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Committee on March 5.

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