Minnesota Legislature
Northern MN helium discovery prompts proposed regulatory framework for gas, oil production
By Margaret Stevens
Perhaps best known for filling party balloons and causing Mickey Mouse voices, helium is a critical element for many industries ranging from semiconductors to fiber optic cables. One of its biggest uses is as a coolant for MRIs.
A new mining boom could be underway on the Iron Range following the discovery of a large, highly concentrated reservoir of the colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-toxic gas.
Helium’s discovery in northern Minnesota earlier this year is a win for an area that could use it, said Rep. Roger Skraba (R-Ely). Leaders recognized the potential immediately, he said, but soon asked the question: “Now what?”
The answer could come from HF5350 that would establish a fair royalty structure on state lands and provide environmental protections while developing the industry, said Rep. Dave Lislegard (DFL-Aurora), who sponsors the bill.
Recent Dailies
Eight supplemental budget bills expected to become three during ways and means hearing
By Rob Hubbard
There’s a lot of merging traffic planned for Thursday’s House Ways and Means Committee hearing.
With less than four weeks remaining in the 2024 session, the agenda is design...
House workforce panel approves proposed updates to paid leave law
By Tim Walker
It’s been nearly a year since the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act became law, and officials from the department in charge of implementing it are asking for changes to help man...
Bill to update law around family court proceedings about ‘what’s best for the kids’
By Tim Walker
Corporations have mission statements defining its business, objectives, and how it will reach those goals.
The state may create something like a mission statement to guide f...
House passes protections for renters embroiled in utility disputes
By Rob Hubbard If you’re a renter, how you pay for your power, heat and water can be problematic if your landlord does the billing instead of the utilities. There have been instances in wh...Education policy conference committee lays out differences in House, Senate bills
By Brian Basham
With a laundry list of differences, the education policy conference committee met Wednesday to walk-through the differences between the House and Senate bills.
Largely, the ...
Northern MN helium discovery prompts proposed regulatory framework for gas, oil production
By Margaret Stevens
Perhaps best known for filling party balloons and causing Mickey Mouse voices, helium is a critical element for many industries ranging from semiconductors to fiber optic cables...
Week in Review: April 15-19
By HPIS Staff
A look back at what happened in the Minnesota House of Representatives the week of April 15-19.
House Taxes Committee sends its final bill onward
By Rob Hubbard
While the 2023 tax law was mostly about targeted tax relief for lower earners and higher tax rates for those at the other end of the income spectrum, the product of this year’s ...
Health panel approves supplemental budget bill; next stop, ways and means
By Miranda Bryant The House Health Finance and Policy Committee passed a $43 million supplemental health budget bill Friday on a party-line vote. Sponsored by Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL-Rocheste...House panel OK’s finance bill that sponsor says aims to tackle a Minnesota ‘workforce in crisis’
By Tim Walker
Legislation to distribute $16.75 million in onetime fiscal year 2025 funding among more than 40 organizations and municipalities for job training programs and other workforce de...
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Ways and Means Committee OKs proposed $512 million supplemental budget on party-line vote
By Mike Cook
Meeting more needs or fiscal irresponsibility is one way to sum up the differences among the two parties on a supplemental spending package a year after a $72 billion state budg...
Minnesota’s projected budget surplus balloons to $3.7 billion, but fiscal pressure still looms
By Rob Hubbard
Just as Minnesota has experienced a warmer winter than usual, so has the state’s budget outlook warmed over the past few months.
On Thursday, Minnesota Management and Budget...
