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Home , Anne Neu, Bill Ingebrigtsen, Bill Weber (politician), Carrie Ruud, Cheryl Youakim, Kurt Daudt

2021 Legislative Session WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?

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 2021 Session – How Will This Work? Minnesota only divided Legislature in U.S. ◦ Republicans control Senate, Democrats control House

House of Representatives ◦ Committee meetings, floor sessions and legislator meetings all virtual ◦ Limited attendance by members for House floor sessions

Senate ◦ Hybrid in-person/virtual meetings for committee meetings, socially distanced floor session, most legislator meetings virtual

mncorn.org Legislative Leadership – MN House

Speaker Minority Leader (D) (R) Brooklyn Park Crown Term: 9 th Term: 6 th

Majority Leader Deputy Minority Leader (D) Brindley (R) St. Louis Park North Branch Term: 7 th Term: 3 rd Committee Leadership – MN House

Taxes Agriculture Finance and Policy – Dillworth – Esko Term: 11 th Term: 5th

Property Tax Division Environment & Natural Resources Finance – Hopkins and Policy Term: 4 th – South St. Paul Term: 9 th Committee Leadership – MN House

Legacy Finance Transportation Finance & Policy Leon Lille – White Bear Lake – Minneapolis Term: 9 th Term: 10th Legislative Leadership – MN Senate

Majority Leader Minority Leader (R) (D) Nisswa Woodbury Term: 4th Term: 3 rd

Deputy Majority Leader Mark Johnson (R) East Grand Forks Term: 2 nd Committee Leadership – MN Senate

Agriculture and Rural Environment & Natural Development Policy & Resources Policy and Finance Legacy Finance – Elbow – Breezy Lake Point Term: Term: 4 th

Environment & Natural Resources Finance – Alexandria Term: 5 th Committee Leadership – MN Senate

Taxes Transportation Finance & Policy – Rochester Scott Newman – Hutchinson Term: 4 th Term: 4 th

Property Taxes – Luverne Term: 3 rd Issues for 92st Legislature • Pass two-year state budget • Projected $1.3 billion deficit for FY 2022-2023 • Violate budget outlook due to COVID-19 • Governor Walz proposed budget

• COVID-19 • Additional response measures? • Governor emergency powers and legislative role • COVID-19 economic recovery

mncorn.org Executive Branch Leadership

Department of Department Revenue Management and Budget Robert Doty Jim Schowalter • Property tax – Ag2School • State budget chief Credit • Budget forecast • Business & Corporate taxes – Section 179 Conformity • Beginning Farmer Tax Credit (MDA/DOR)

mncorn.org Executive Branch Leadership Department of Agriculture Department of Natural Thom Petersen Resources •Support agriculture production Sarah Strommen and value-added •Irrigation permits •Pesticide and Commercial Fertilizer •Public Waters Inventory •Governors Council on Biofuels •Neonics and wildlife Pollution Control Agency Laura Bishop Department of Transportation •Permitting for livestock and Margaret Anderson Kelliher agriculture processing •Administer transportation facilities funding for roads and bridges •CA Vehicle Emissions •Sustainable Transportation Standards Advisory Council recommendations – electric •Climate Change vehicles Agriculture Policy Protect Tax Policy Gains • Ag2School credit • State conformity on Section 179 – capital equipment expensing Agriculture Research and Investment • AGREETT and AGRI (MDA budget) Health care • Cost of insurance, access to care Transportation • Additional funding for roads and bridges in greater Minnesota • Transportation regulations Broadband • Rural connectivity and reliability Climate Change ◦ Voluntary efforts (soil health) vs. new regulation

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 • California Vehicle Emissions Rules

mncorn.org Better Fuel Initiative

The Better Fuel Initiative aims to further increase awareness, understanding and usage of biofuels in Minnesota.

#BetterFuel4MN www.betterfuel.org

mncorn.org Statewide E15 – Increase MN Biofuel Standard Our Top Priority - Better Fuel Initiative • Increase existing biofuel standard from 10 to 15 percent • Add value to ethanol and corn already produced in MN • First state in nation to adopt new standard • MCGA needs your help to support to this policy initiative! Text “MCGA” to 50457 to sign up for calls-to-action Brian Thalmann testifies before House Agriculture Committee on Better Fuel Initiative – February 2020

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

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