Friends and neighbors,

This past Monday the Senate passed emergency funding for law enforcement. During these tumultuous times, it is vitally important for all of us to feel safe in our own homes, communities, and streets. SF 2441 secures $2.75 million for the law enforcement response to civil unrest through the Interstate Emergency Management Assistance Compact and $6.3 million to pay for Minnesota State Trooper and Conservation Officer expenses related to the unrest and Chauvin trial.

I would like to thank the State Troopers from Ohio and Nebraska that came to Minnesota this week to help keep our people and property safe. When Governor Walz requested assistance, the Ohio and Nebraska State Highway Patrol stepped up and sent troopers to Minnesota to assist alongside our own police officers, Troopers and National Guard in keeping people safe and protecting property during the Derek Chauvin trial verdict. We appreciate your service! 

LEGISLATIVE RECAP

EDUCATION
On Thursday, the Senate passed SF 960. It is a student-focused budget bill which empowers parents and provides resources (with NO mandates) to help students recover from a year of shifting learning models. It supports proven strategies for improved educational outcomes and allocates funding for students and schools.

• We know we need to get more teachers in the pipeline; both because of regional and subject-area shortages, as well as a need to increase the diversity of our teacher population. This provides the needed changes to increase pathways for teachers to get to the classroom and keep new teachers there
• The disruptions to learning due to COVID hit students hard, and this distributes $60 million in one-time Classroom Support Aid fairly across all districts in Minnesota
• By creating Educational Savings Accounts, we empower all families to make learning decisions which meet their own needs. This could mean tutoring, specialized therapies, supplies or transportation to school
• There are billions of dollars flowing to education through federal bills, including approximately $500 million through the CARES Act of early 2020, over $500 million in the CRRSA Act in late 2020, and $1.4 billion in the ARP Act in early 2021.

These dollars mostly flow directly to school districts and are focused on learning loss, summer school, and helping school districts with the challenges of teaching with COVID safety restrictions in mind.


TRANSPORTATION
The transportation omnibus bill, SF 1159, was passed this week as well. It takes care of our number one priority – improving our roads and bridges. It also focuses on core needs in transportation and will provide safer travel and less waiting in line at the DMV. Minnesotans will spend less time on the road and more time with their families. It does all of this without raising the gas tax or instituting new mileage taxes.

Some highlights of the bill:

• Provides more money to roads, bridges and other transportation projects than any time since 2008
• Increases the amount of the auto parts sales tax going to roads and bridges, ensuring significant investment in the repair and construction of Minnesota’s transportation system
• Improves services for Department of Vehicle Services users, including making it easier to use online instruction for testing, allowing third-party road testers, allowing people to buy tabs from kiosk stations, a test project for same-day drivers licenses, and allowing the application for Social Security cards online. This saves Minnesotan’s time and money

Additionally, funding for Northstar Commuter rail is eliminated and directs financial responsibility for light rail to the counties which want the systems. This will protect taxpayers from being forced to fund these type of boondoggles – Passenger rail has been a massive financial burden, forcing taxpayers to heavily subsidize little-used light rail and commuter rail lines.

It will also provide resources to increase the number of State Troopers and money to provide body-worn cameras to our Troopers. Body-worn cameras have been a trusted and proven tool for law enforcement and increasing public confidence.


For Your Information
The Department of Natural Resources announces a three-walleye bag limit, with one over 17 inch size restriction on Upper Red Lake. On April 20, the DNR announced new Upper Red Lake walleye regulations for the 2021 open water season.

For additional information, please click here 

Upper Red Lake fishing regulations are available on the Minnesota DNR fishing regulations page.


Fun Facts:
April 19 – On this day in 1775, the American Revolution begins in Lexington, Massachusetts. The “Shot Heard Round the World” took place in Concord later that day.
April 20 – In 1862 the first pasteurization test is completed by Frenchmen Louis Pasteur and Claude Bernard.
April 21 – John Adams sworn in as 1st Vice President (9 days before Washington) on this day in In 1789.
April 22 – In 1969, the first human eye transplant is performed.
April 23 – the German Beer Purity Law is passed in 1516. Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria endorses “The German Beer Purity Law” (Reinheitsgebot) and adds to it standards for the sale of beer in Bavaria, ensuring beer is only brewed from three ingredients – water, malt and hops.


That’s all for this week’s update. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me to share any thoughts, concerns, or questions you may have. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-9651 or by email at sen.paul.utke@senate.mn


Have a great week!
Paul Utke