How Are St. Louis Park Legislators Faring So Far?

Last week, Minnesota legislators returned to their home districts for their traditional Passover and Easter break. With the break over and the session resuming today, St. Louis Park Patch took a look at some of the key bills authored by your legislators—Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-District 44), Rep. Steve Simon (DFL-District 44A) and Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL-District 44B).

School District Fund Flexibility (SF0166)

• What it does: Allows school districts to use operating capital for certain school closing costs.
• Introduced: Jan. 31
• Status: No action since introduction; still in the Education Committee.

Simon has sponsored a companion bill, HF0071.

St. Louis Park railroad noise (SF0407)

• What it does: Sets aside $700,000 worth of bond proceeds to pay for barriers that mitigate noise associated with freight rail changes in St. Louis Park.
• Introduced: Feb. 21
• Status: No action since introduction; still in the Capital Investment Committee.

Simon has sponsored a companion bill, HF0688.

Transportation commissioner subpoena powers (SF1219)

• What it does: Gives the commissioner of transportation subpoena powers.
• Introduced: April 18
• Status: No action since introduction; referred to the Transportation Committee.

Elections (HF0165)

• What it does: Allows 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections, provided they turn 18 before the next general election.  
• Introduced: Jan. 20
• Status: No action since introduction; still in the Government Operations and Elections Committee.
  

Redistricting (HF0406)

• What it does: Creates a redistricting commission consisting of five retired judges to draw the boundaries of legislative and congressional districts every 10 years. Each party would get a hand in selecting the commission — the majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the Senate, the speaker of the House and the minority leader of the House would each appoint one member. The four judges would then select the fifth.
• Introduced: Feb. 7
• Status: No action since introduction; still in the Redistricting Committee. The bill garnered some discussion—and picked up a few new co-authors—as new Census numbers came out during the session, but further action has not been taken to date, and Simon said he is “not optimistic” it will pass this session.

Store-branded merchandise in liquor stores (HF0448)

• What it does: The so-called “Four Firkins bill;” would allow liquor stores to sell store-branded merchandise.
• Introduced: Feb. 10
• Status: Two weeks ago, it received a in the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee, and the bill is likely to pass as part of an omnibus liquor package.

Latz has sponsored a companion bill, SF0323.

Early voting (HF0733)

• What it does: Provides early voting during Minnesota elections by laying out required times and places for voting before election day—and notifying voters about them.
• Introduced: Feb. 28
• Status: No action since introduction; referred to the Government Operations and Elections Committee. Several authors have been added to the bill.

Funds for the Perpich Center for Arts Education (HF0897)

• What it does: Provides $2.5 million in funding to Golden Valley's over the next two years.
• Introduced: March 7
• Status: No action since introduction; referred to the Legacy Funding Division.

Absentee voting without an excuse (HF0732)

• What it does: Amends current state law by removing a list of requirements for voting absentee.
• Introduced: Feb. 28
• Status: No action since introduction; referred to the Government Operations and Elections Committee. Several authors have been added to the bill.