The second week of the legislative session has come to a close. Although no bills have been passed off the Senate floor since I last wrote, I did want to keep you updated on a few other happenings in St. Paul.
The Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee, which I chair, met for its inaugural meeting on Tuesday. We had the chance to hear an overview from the Senate fiscal analyst regarding the budget and an overview of the Office of Higher Education, the
state agency that oversees colleges and universities across the state. The committee heard from the Minnesota Private College Council and several student and faculty organizations on Thursday. Minnesota is lucky to be home to many excellent public and private colleges and universities, as well as motivated and bright students. We will soon begin work on putting together the state?Äôs higher education budget; we will hear from the institutions themselves, stakeholders, students, and constituents over the coming weeks and months.
In addition, I have had the privilege of introducing a couple pieces of my own legislation this session. It is my honor to bring forward Senate File 232, a bill that would rename a portion of Highway 23 through Paynesville as the ?ÄúMedal of Honor recipient Kenneth L. Olson Highway?Äù in honor of the Paynesville resident. I also introduced Senate File 233, which is an extension of the availability of grant money for the Koronis Lake Association to fight aquatic invasive species infestation in Lake Koronis.
Finally, as a quick update to the two bills already passed by the Senate. A slightly different version of the health insurance premium relief package, which contains $300 million in relief for many Minnesotans hurt by the individual health insurance market rate increases, has also passed the House. The House and Senate will send members to a conference committee, work out the differences between the bills, and send the final bill to each body for a final vote. I expect that to happen within the next two weeks. The tax conformity bill, which provides $21 million in tax relief through various deductions, was signed into law late last week, just in time for this year?Äôs tax season.