Minority Leader Melissa Hortman (D) Kurt Daudt (R) Brooklyn Park Crown Term: 9 Th Term: 6 Th
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2021 Minnesota 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 Melissa Hortman (D) Kurt Daudt (R) Brooklyn Park Crown Term: 9 th Term: 6 th Majority Leader Deputy Minority Leader Ryan Winkler (D) Anne Neu Brindley (R) St. Louis Park North Branch Term: 7 th Term: 3 rd Committee Leadership – MN House Taxes Agriculture Finance and Policy Paul Marquart – Dillworth Mike Sundin – Esko Term: 11 th Term: 5th Property Tax Division Environment & Natural Resources Finance Cheryl Youakim – Hopkins and Policy Term: 4 th Rick Hansen – South St. Paul Term: 9 th Committee Leadership – MN House Legacy Finance Transportation Finance & Policy Leon Lille – White Bear Lake Frank Hornstein – Minneapolis Term: 9 th Term: 10th Legislative Leadership – MN Senate Majority Leader Minority Leader Paul Gazelka (R) Susan Kent (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 Torrey Westrom – Elbow Carrie Ruud – Breezy Lake Point Term: Term: 4 th Environment & Natural Resources Finance Bill Ingebrigtsen – Alexandria Term: 5 th Committee Leadership – MN Senate Taxes Transportation Finance & Policy Carla Nelson – Rochester Scott Newman – Hutchinson Term: 4 th Term: 4 th Property Taxes Bill Weber – 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] mncorn.org.