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MN Legislative Changes WHAT IT MEANS FOR AGRICULTURE AND YOUR FARM OPERATION

mncorn.org About me •Senior Public Policy Director at Minnesota Corn Growers Association • [email protected] or 952-460-3604 • Twitter - @ajbilek •Grew up in Wadena County •Graduated from Staples-Motely H.S. •University of St. Thomas • BA Political Science and Environmental Studies •15 years experience in public policy and legislative affairs

mncorn.org Policy and Political Landscape

mncorn.org New Executive Branch Leadership

Governor Tim Walz Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan

mncorn.org • Won 21 of 87 counties and won by over 400,000 votes

• Highest midterm election turnout since 2002

• Governor Walz has stressed a different approach than Dayton on policy issues.

• Engagement with affected stakeholders first.

Executive Branch Leadership Department of Agriculture Department of Natural Thom Petersen Resources • MN Farmers Union, Director Sarah Strommen of Government Relations – 16 • Assistant Commissioner DNR years • Ramsey City Council and Mayor • Horse farm, Pine County • Friends of the Boundary Waters and Minnesota Land Trust

Pollution Control Agency Laura Bishop Department of Transportation • Best Buy – chief sustainability Margaret Anderson Kelliher and corporate responsibility • Minnesota High Tech officer and government Association relations – 14 years • Minnesota House of • Assistant Commissioner, Representatives – 12 years Department of Administration • Speaker of the House under Governor Ventura

mncorn.org Executive Branch Leadership Department of Human Department of Commerce Services Steve Kelley Tony Lourey • State Senate, 1997-2007 • since • Humphrey Institute of Public 2006 Affairs, University of Minnesota • Beef farm in Pine County • Energy and telecommunications • Health and human services policy consultant

Department of Employment Department of Health and Economic Development Jan Malcom Steve Grove • Commissioner under Dayton • Founding director of Google (one-year) and Governor News Lab Ventura • Northfield native • University of Minnesota, School of Public Health mncorn.org Executive Branch Leadership

Department Revenue Department of Cynthia Bauerly Management and Budget • Commissioner under Dayton Myron Frans since 2015 • Revenue and MMB • Deputy Commissioner at Commissioner under DEED Dayton • Federal Elections • Tax attorney Commission

mncorn.org MN House Election • DFL flipped 18 seats to gain control of MN House 75-59 – all DFL gains occurred in suburban districts

• 39 new members of the MN House (28%) • 34 – DFL 5 – GOP

• MN is the only legislature in the U.S. to have divided control

• Senate is currently 34-32 • Special Election for District 11 on February 5

mncorn.org New Legislative Leadership – MN House

Speaker Minority Leader (D) (R) Brooklyn Park Crown Term: 8 th Term: 5 th

Majority Leader Deputy Minority Leader (D) Anne Neu (R) St. Louis Park North Branch Term: 6 th Term: 2 nd

mncorn.org Committee Leadership – MN House

Agriculture & Food Environment & Natural Finance and Policy Resources Policy Jeanne Poppe – Austin – Bemidji Term: 8 th Term: 5 th

Environment & Natural Greater MN Jobs & Resources Finance Economic Development Finance – South St. Paul – Winona Term: 8 th Term: 17th

mncorn.org Committee Leadership – MN House

Taxes Property & Local Tax Division – Dillworth Diana Loeffler – Minneapolis Term: 10th Term: 8 th

Legacy Finance Transportation Finance & Policy Leon Lille – White Bear Lake – Term: 8 th Minneapolis Term: 8 th

mncorn.org Legislative Leadership – MN Senate

Majority Leader Minority Leader (R) (D) Nisswa Cook Term: 3 rd Term: 5 th

Deputy Majority Leader (R) Ham Lake Term: 3 rd

mncorn.org Committee Leadership – MN Senate

Agriculture, Rural Environment & Natural Development & Resources Policy and Housing Finance Legacy Finance – Elbow – Breezy Lake Point Term: 2 nd Term: 3rd

Agriculture, Rural Environment & Natural Development & Resources Finance Housing Policy – – Luverne Alexandria Term: 2 nd Term: 4th

mncorn.org Committee Leadership – MN Senate

Taxes Roger Chamberlain – Lino Lakes Term: 3 rd

Transportation Finance & Policy Scott Newman – Hutchinson Term: 3 rd

mncorn.org Big Policy Issues for 91st Legislature • Pass two-year state budget • Projected $1.5 billion surplus for FY 2020-2021 • Slower revenue growth projected for FY 2022-2023 • Projected $456 million surplus for FY 2022-2023

• Healthcare • Cost of insurance and access to care • Mental health • Elder abuse

• Transportation • Long-term funding? One-time spending?

• Education

• Tax conformity/reform

mncorn.org Agriculture - Policy Defense • Crop protection tools • Pollinators/neonics

• Environmental regulation/water quality

• Fees and taxes • New proposed fees/increase water permitting fees

• Energy policy proposals that impact agriculture

mncorn.org Agriculture - Policy Offense Tax Relief and Certainty • Buffer property tax relief • State conformity on Section 179 – capital equipment expensing and bonus depreciation • Homestead credit for ownership and operating entities Agriculture Research • Additional funding for Ag Research, Education, Extension and Technology Transfer Program (AGREETT) Health care • Cost of insurance, access to quality care • Farmer mental health Transportation • Additional funding for roads and bridges in greater Minnesota • Transportation regulations

mncorn.org Thank you! Amanda Bilek Senior Public Policy Director Website: www.mncorn.org Twitter: @ajbilek Email: [email protected]

mncorn.org