How are Hopkins Lawmakers 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 set to resume today, Hopkins Patch took a look at some of the key bills authored by your legislators—Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-District 44) and Rep. Steve Simon (DFL-District 44A).

Sen. Ron Latz 

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.

Homestead and commercial-industrial property improvements (SF0552)

• What it does: Also called the “” bill, this legislation would give businesses a break on tax assessments that would likely increase with renovations and other investments into old buildings. That, in turn, would lead to lower taxes.
• Introduced: March 3
• Status: No action since introduction; still in the Taxes Committee.

Simon has sponsored a companion bill, HF0877.

Assisted reproduction (SF0727)

• What it does: Clarifies paternity when assisted reproduction is used.
• Introduced: March 10
• Status: No action since introduction; still in the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.

Simon has sponsored a companion bill, HF0644.

Children certified as adults held in juvenile facilities

 (SF0728)

• What it does: Allows juveniles who are charged as adults to be held in secure juvenile facilities until the conclusion of criminal proceedings.
• Introduced: March 10
• Status: No action since introduction; still in the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.

Vehicle dealer service contracts (SF0738)

• What it does: Prohibits dealers from selling a service contract from an unregistered provider.
• Introduced: March 10
• Status: No action since introduction; still in the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee.

Public safety, judiciary, corrections, and human rights appropriations

(SF0895)

• What it does: Sets aside nearly $2 billion for various expenditures spread over 2012 and 2013. Also authorizes the acquisition of a utility and access easement for the Faribault prison.
• Introduced: March 17
• Status: No action since introduction; still in the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.

Minnesota Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (SF1104)

What it does: Regulates  regulating the organization and
operation of limited liability companies.

• Introduced: April 7
• Status: No action since introduction; referred to the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.

Simon has sponsored a companion bill, HF1274.

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.

Rep. Steve Simon

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 favorable hearing 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.

Automatic voter registration (HF0510)

• What it does: Automatically registers residents to vote when they apply for a driver’s license, instruction permit or identification card. Residents could opt out. Applications would be checked to determine if the applicant is ineligible to vote.
• Introduced: Feb. 14
• Status: No action since introduction; still in the Government Operations and Elections Committee.

Election fraud penalties (HF0700)

• What it does: Specifies criminal penalties for elections violations.
• Introduced: Feb. 24
• Status: No action since introduction; still in the Government Operations and Elections Committee.

Building code administrators and inspections (HF0943)

• What it does: Establishes a building code administrators and inspection board.
• Introduced: March 7
• Status: No action since introduction; still in the Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee.

Latz has sponsored a companion bill, SF1049.

Drug and alcohol testing (HF1422)

• What it does: Changes drug and alcohol testing rules for professional athletes.
• Introduced: April 11
• Status: No action since introduction; still in the Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee.

Voting records (HF1532)

• What it does: Requires the secretary of state to compare court data to voting registration records.
• Introduced: April 18
• Status: No action since introduction; still in the Government Operations and Elections Committee.