ST. PAUL 鈥� Lawmakers will face a new reality next week as the Minnesota House is set to return to a 67-67 tie, reverting back to co-chair committees. With their last week of a 67-66 majority, House Republicans pushed several bills on the floor, including a successful passage Monday, March 10, of whistleblower protections targeting fraud, waste and abuse.
Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury, spoke on her own behalf during an Ethics Committee hearing this week, asking for the chamber to allow her trial on a burglary charge to play out before making any decision about her position in the Senate.
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Whistleblower protections
The Minnesota House passed a bill Monday to strengthen whistleblower protections, specifically in regard to anyone raising a flag on possible fraud, waste or abuse of state money.
The bill ( ), authored by Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Maple Grove, enhances existing state protections by extending coverage to all state employees rather than just classified workers. It also broadens the scope of protected agencies to include law enforcement and government entities and explicitly makes the reporting of fraud or misuse of authority a protected disclosure.
鈥淲e already have a pretty robust whistleblower protection law, but it doesn't specifically provide protection for fraud, waste and abuse," Robbins said on the floor Monday.
The bill also adds a provision to protect reports of personal gain, defined as benefitting a person; that person's spouse, dependent or in-law; or an in-law of that person's child.
Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, said at an unrelated press conference Monday that it doesn鈥檛 鈥渕aterially change the law.鈥�
鈥淭he law is already there to protect whistleblowers,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t's kind of like a belt and suspenders. But what's the harm? I don't think it's really that additive, but there's not necessarily a reason to oppose it either.鈥�
The bill passed unanimously 133-0 off the House floor and now moves to the Senate.
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New state songs
The Senate State and Local Government Committee heard a bill on Tuesday, , authored by Sen. Rob Kupec, DFL-Moorhead, to add Prince鈥檚 鈥淧urple Rain鈥� and Bob Dylan鈥檚 鈥淕irl from the North Country鈥� as official state songs of Minnesota. The songs would join the existing state song, 鈥淗ail Minnesota,鈥� which was written by University of Minnesota students in 1904.
Prince鈥檚 older sister, Sharon Nelson, testified in support before the committee Tuesday, saying her family was humbled and honored to hear the proposal.
鈥淧rince poured his heart and soul into music day and night, night and day, and Purple Rain was no exception,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was more than just a song. It was a movement, a story, and a symbol of all emotion and unity that touched people around the world 鈥� Prince loved his home state. Anytime you're in another state, let's say Colorado, 'Purple Rain' comes on, everybody stops and they listen.鈥�
The bill met some resistance from Sen. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, who on Tuesday said he would prefer Minnesota stay uniform in having one selection for state symbols, like the state's single state bird, tree or flower.
鈥淚 don't want us to be Tennessee and have 13 or 14,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ne would be the answer, in my mind, if you have something official. If all things are a priority, nothing's a priority.鈥�
Ethics committee hears from Sen. Mitchell
Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury, on Thursday received her second ethics committee hearing since burglary charges emerged in April.
The committee convened after Senate Republicans filed a Feb. 18, saying she voted in a conflict of interest during an from the Senate on the floor Jan. 27.
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Mitchell faces a first-degree felony burglary charge from April 2024 for allegedly breaking into her stepmother's home in Detroit Lakes. She said she was retrieving items belonging to her late father, who died in 2022. Mitchell pleaded not guilty to the charge in August and said she has no plans to resign.
The hearing was one of the first times Mitchell has spoken publicly about her case, as her attorneys were not present Thursday. Mitchell maintained that she has due process rights and the ethics committee should delay their decision until legal proceedings are concluded.
Mitchell also said her constituents have expressed that they would like her to stay in her seat.
鈥淭hey have asked me to stay and keep working for them, and they deserve representation,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o again, I ask that you follow the course that you have already taken, the course of Senate custom, and delay a decision until the appropriate time.鈥�
A hearing on Mitchell鈥檚 trial was scheduled for Jan. 27 but was delayed in May so she could focus on her duties as senator. The trial has been pushed almost a year from its original date of June 2024 to its new date of May 19.
Bills to watch
Nuclear moratorium repeal
Efforts to repeal the state鈥檚 nuclear moratorium resurfaced this year in / . The House鈥檚 bill is on to its second committee while the Senate bill was laid over in committee for possible inclusion in a larger bill.
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Sports betting
Lawmakers are again looking at legalizing sports betting in Minnesota. There are three versions of the bills. / was laid over in committee, while and have yet to receive hearings.
Housing reform
This year鈥檚 resemble last year鈥檚 push to create more multi-family housing across the state in the 鈥淪tart Home Act,鈥� / , the "Transforming Main Street Act" and the "More Homes, Right Places Act" . The Starter Home Act received a hearing in the house, while the other proposals await a hearing.
Paid family and medical leave repeals, modifications
While the House failed on Monday to pass to delay the paid family medical leave program by a year, House Republicans have introduced full repeals in and , as well as a bill to modify PFML for certain employers in . The repeal and modification proposals for PFML have yet to receive hearings.
Enhancing ICE cooperation
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Republicans have with local law enforcement for violent offenders and data sharing in / . The House bill is headed to its second committee, while the Senate bill has yet to receive a hearing.
Environmental permitting reform
In a bi-partisan effort, lawmakers are eyeing environmental in / , saying it鈥檚 too costly and time-consuming for Minnesotans. The House bill is headed to its third committee, while the Senate bill has yet to receive its first hearing.
Equal Rights Amendment
In a constitutional amendment that would go to voters in 2026 if passed, and seek to enshrine an Equal Rights Amendment to Minnesota鈥檚 constitution, prohibiting discrimination based on race, gender identity, sexual orientation, 鈥減regnancy outcomes鈥� and more.
Inspector general
Establishing an Officer of Inspector General is one of many provisions lawmakers have introduced in a bipartisan fashion to address waste, fraud and abuse in and / . The House bill is headed to its sixth committee while SF856 is headed to its fifth and SF1219 has yet to receive its first hearing.
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Ethnic studies
House Republicans are aiming to for K-12 in . The bill received its first hearing and is headed to its second committee.
The Trust Project
