[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6640683,"mediaKeyId","2549892-d68b3262f4e5639ef94880384703ef25","parentId",2549892,"title","Committee hears bill to modernize remote participation rules for local boards; laid over","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",6657000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2549892-d68b3262f4e5639ef94880384703ef25&start=6657&end=6657","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2549892-d68b3262f4e5639ef94880384703ef25/thumbnail_6657000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6640683/Minnesota/Committee-hears-bill-to-modernize-remote-participation-rules-for-local-boards-laid-over","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640683-2684df4c949ad035c8e246d2bfe71ac4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775988678&Signature=NtIoDPMKTji2~lc7-idy42P73JWhlOnH24xo3V0s3NJu~Ky2IQ7ZQIs0SRH-JfiegLysOC6c1DQbYY-YuBbtvjSOGxS54l~8eawLw3~PMcbXSts9YEMEjUWXr0M2y~5Yt21olrmxF-2LPBu46ZzS595ykXPtPxh0cd6OlDXrwtk4TRXV94APfvQG6RO6wC3iA6Cq4xOePAhpDvyITIipglp~EPcAbLaSx7qJvo~EH6casyWIhULkof6tShdS2TZNlUBRgDboJvmnYFFc-rmaOBh1cVkEuQ03IQrdLe0JZDHRgLLmX1UJGCSYUQsk3PpUvVp-4bnwaFAQpP6EevtvdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Minnesota Legislature","date","2025-03-11T19:57:10.66Z","article","Senate File 787, a measure to amend Minnesota’s open-meeting law to modernize remote participation rules for local governing bodies, was heard March 11 by the Senate State and Local Government Committee and laid over.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Mann, described changes intended to remove statutory barriers that prevent officials from participating remotely when unavoidable circumstances arise — for example, when a member must stay home to care for an ill spouse, loses childcare at the last minute, or has a mobility issue. The bill would remove language requiring a member’s home to be open and accessible to the public as a condition of remote participation, allow more than three remote meetings under specified circumstances, and adjust notice requirements.

School-board and education witnesses said the bill addresses frequent, practical problems for locally elected officials. Laura Oxnavad, a school-board member representing suburban districts and testifying for the Association of Metro School Districts and the Minnesota School Boards Association, said several local examples where current law prevented participation: a board chair unable to join remotely after a positive COVID test when his location had not been posted three days prior; a member who could only watch but could not participate when a child became ill; and a member who attended in person despite being ill because remote participation was not allowed. Terry Morrow, general counsel for the Minnesota School Boards Association, said such calls are the most common issue the association receives and that the law predates the Zoom era.

Committee members had no substantive objections on the record and the bill was laid over for further consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee on State and Local Government - 03/11/25","oneSentenceSummary","Senate File 787 would relax restrictions on remote attendance for local elected bodies (e.g., school boards), remove unsafe notice requirements and allow more than three remote meetings in certain circumstances; the committee heard multiple school-board witnesses and laid the bill over.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MN, Minnesota","taxId",77817,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6640688,"Committee hears supporters for adding Dylan and Prince to state-song list; bill laid over",1423,2504000,3927000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2549892-d68b3262f4e5639ef94880384703ef25&start=2504&end=3927","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2549892-d68b3262f4e5639ef94880384703ef25/thumbnail_2504000.jpg","/articles/6640688/Minnesota/Committee-hears-supporters-for-adding-Dylan-and-Prince-to-state-song-list-bill-laid-over","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640688-be92813e0443ce9df4d8376f06f9f323/orig.mp4?Expires=1775988678&Signature=XFVxH3AVpU75f~OSZ-p2JZFEMPA1GqlEV4Zs6l9W6dzcbUy7q9N9vGA9zwWRB1mHhGitx8aSTd-Q0e7k28~m0twQYtX2RHRGoTkTrDnqnrJtiZOXHXVWMgkuhTNrXWAs2LbmJjsIvLeQydEsTYXETm2n8wwnMFgQS16PK22c-w0WibO6tzHw1RU690sBplnpUxNueNBJUkicfkr7NJ8OW4uEmKG3v-eu6v-l04o2tQu4Z5x1cuOAqAM-fFlc1zb8r~o6C9zNP8cNgicgAB9NDOIPnNYKev2ZHtYl7G3aCLPsUW8LRagn35BtXrTZMkNEg-gFVvsWEsSAbMKHhyTZbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate File 1592, a bill to add additional state songs to Minnesota law and to codify “Hail Minnesota,” was heard March 11 in the Senate State and Local Government Committee and laid over for possible inclusion.

Author Senator Rob Kupak (appearance and spelling as recorded in the hearing) told the committee the measure would place “Hail Minnesota” into statute and add two additional songs — Bob Dylan’s “Girl from the North Country” and Prince’s “Purple Rain” — to reflect the state’s musical heritage. Several testifiers described the historical and cultural ties.

Betsy McCann, a longtime marching-band director, recounted the long performance history of “Hail Minnesota” at university events and said the song had been designated by the legislature in 1945 but had not been codified in statute. Ted Fiskebold, who drafted the proposal years earlier, told the committee he hoped adding Dylan and Prince would renew interest across generations.

Sharon Nelson, Prince’s sister, testified on behalf of the Nelson family and said Purple Rain’s designation “is an honor that I know would have meant so much to him.” Mary Palsich Keyes, speaking from Hibbing, described local ties to Bob Dylan and a memorable concert performance of “Girl from the North Country” in Hibbing.

Committee members asked whether multiple official songs was appropriate and noted precedent in other states with multiple designated songs. Senator Kupak said the list would preserve the historic song while allowing recognition of later works that resonate with other generations. With no further debate, the committee laid the bill over for possible inclusion.","Senate File 1592, which would codify Hail Minnesota as the state song and add Bob Dylan's 'Girl from the North Country' and Prince's 'Purple Rain' to a statutory list, received testimony from musicians, family members and Hibbing tourism representatives and was laid over for possible inclusion.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6640694,"Committee backs producer-responsibility e-waste bill after hours of testimony on fires, county costs and producer obligations",2784,3886000,6670000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2549892-d68b3262f4e5639ef94880384703ef25&start=3886&end=6670","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2549892-d68b3262f4e5639ef94880384703ef25/thumbnail_3886000.jpg","/articles/6640694/Minnesota/Committee-backs-producer-responsibility-e-waste-bill-after-hours-of-testimony-on-fires-county-costs-and-producer-obligations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640694-43fe3e7db358f59fdf9dcd93cdb47674/orig.mp4?Expires=1775988678&Signature=Kc-3icE0SmzK03eanas8t~97Fvh0eJn8HH98CgfDgWpCGUMiSiMN9FcktbK0oHUKF4N3BWwHAMvIOXe~VYbCna0RiR57s0ZjWlV8p5pxWrvJtaxCHEMQuBTBqhiFjZP-BXkTN1jV9K2dHYuTOkPS7xSu0yjTaAOLSnhUIsSFgsPptyXWxldtK95Pi2dDKlV6iTugfndoVJLCBfmIHLSEaLXJMrlVYKRZr2IVITlcRHzvxOH3YtqsNiH2zl5OMPBO92PXN5tPp502Y4jUtH-ELpPv8YQR1KfQoAZSxQxDngtf-t0pOL4m8uAzOX1~vBrXK8EeDTpdHh653hysg2YtDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Minnesota Senate State and Local Government Committee on March 11 voted to recommend Senate File 1690, a comprehensive update to the state’s electronic waste and battery recycling system, and referred the bill to the Judiciary Committee.

Senate File 1690 would replace parts of Minnesota’s existing electronics recycling framework with a producer responsibility program that requires manufacturers and importers to organize or contract with a nonprofit stewardship organization to fund and operate statewide collection, recycling and education for products containing batteries, cords or circuit boards. The bill expands covered items to reflect modern electronics and would incorporate battery-specific provisions designed to reduce fires at recycling facilities.

Supporters from local governments and recyclers said the current system leaves counties and local collectors to absorb substantial costs and safety risks. Brian Martinson of the Association of Minnesota Counties said costs to counties can be large: “In Itasca County, $50,000 a year… Hennepin County spends over $300,000 a year on just battery management.” Miriam Holzinger, co-president of Eureka Recycling, described repeated lithium-battery fires at sorting facilities, sometimes weekly, and said catastrophic losses have forced large insurance increases; she cited a transfer-station destruction in Blaine in 2018 as an example. Maria Jensen of RECA highlighted the economic opportunity: Minnesota’s e-waste stream contains an estimated $3.1 billion in recoverable metals annually and increased collection could create jobs and greater local processing capacity.

Industry groups raised concerns. Andrew Morley of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Tony Koulas representing the Consumer Technology Association opposed the bill as drafted, saying it would expand obligations beyond existing programs, impose new fees and make Minnesota a national outlier in scope. Morley noted a high level of existing coverage and warned of added business costs. Koulas said manufacturers support recycling but object to the bill’s expanded definitions and a stewardship organization model of this scale.

Agency and administrative witnesses described program mechanics and enforcement. Kirk Kudalka, assistant commissioner at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, said manufacturers are not fully meeting current statutory obligations, that roughly 20% of collected materials are not covered by producer programs, and that lithium batteries are not adequately managed today. He said the bill includes an optional rulemaking authority for MPCA to administer the new program and address technical issues.

Committee members pressed on constitutional and fiscal questions: whether requiring manufacturers to contract with or form a nonprofit stewardship organization raises legal or contract-clause issues; how costs would be apportioned among producers; and whether costs would change consumer prices or push sales to neighboring states. Assistant Commissioner Kudalka and witnesses said the stewardship organization would set member fees and apportion costs internally, and that similar programs exist in other states though the bill’s scope is broader than existing models. A formal fiscal note had been requested but not completed at the hearing.

After extensive questioning and discussion, the committee adopted the bill’s amendments and, on a voice vote, recommended Senate File 1690 for passage and referred it to the Judiciary Committee for further consideration.","The committee recommended Senate File 1690 to pass and referred it to the Judiciary Committee after testimony from manufacturers, recyclers, counties and environmental groups about producer-run stewardship, battery fire risks, local costs and potential economic impacts.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6640698,"Senate committee advances bill to create consumer fraud restitution fund capped at $1 million",1946,564000,2510000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2549892-d68b3262f4e5639ef94880384703ef25&start=564&end=2510","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2549892-d68b3262f4e5639ef94880384703ef25/thumbnail_564000.jpg","/articles/6640698/Minnesota/Senate-committee-advances-bill-to-create-consumer-fraud-restitution-fund-capped-at-1-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640698-8087dce789aeb21c193d1b746719347a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775988678&Signature=cRiukZZkEYPzqGRZyQDOYtGbBKS1EBXzYxPfJ90lDAbF7GyVnWALskdQz3JfALoDOwXO3XMpQDJrCc4cPfPDcQaz2zez4pq4BMTlSNu1gWljeJKcuk67C8uZuwGixyKol4gqk5lrKywaBjFKB0ECBTnh-eTG~vnxaAbbB7AhtzVW9F0WAUTSHVciuulfyeRcj6pD6b5YtypIfaDE1YwRrSffw3eMaMvUlD4VBava6I5gJcgRRnF25ugek7tN~fJ5pOzF0~9Z461~YbdAoPP889AfqQsK23l49sILugVcO~WfZhR9VKbN8vipqVPNN-Dp06x~IHFBOX6fYWC7gaMFkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Minnesota Senate State and Local Government Committee on March 11 recommended Senate File 447, as amended, move forward after testimony from victims, AARP and the attorney general's office on legislation to create a consumer fraud restitution account.

The bill would direct 50% of certain non-restitution recoveries obtained in attorney general consumer enforcement actions, up to $1,000,000 per year, into a new consumer protection restitution account to pay restitution to identified consumers when the defendant is insolvent or otherwise unable to satisfy court-ordered restitution. The measure also treats awards from the fund as nontaxable income and excludes them from calculations for renter and homeowner tax credits, and contains an amendment fixing an effective date to “taxable years beginning in 2025.”

Supporters said the fund would give victims a path to monetary relief when criminal prosecutions or defendant insolvency leave consumers uncompensated. Thomas Elnis, state advocacy director for AARP Minnesota, said the fund “recognizes the impact of fraud and scams on individual Minnesotans” and would incentivize reporting of fraud to the attorney general’s office. Prentice Cox, a University of Minnesota law professor and former assistant attorney general, explained the mechanics: money placed in the fund would come from civil penalties, fee recoveries and other money now deposited to the general fund when restitution cannot be distributed to victims. “This bill takes 50% of those funds up to a million dollars a year and puts it into the restitution fund,” Cox said.

Victims described the financial and emotional toll of scams. Dennis Anderson said a 2023 impersonation scam left him $20,000 short and that a restitution fund “would have been a lifesaver.” Dawn Patton testified about a tech-support scam that nearly cost her $19,800, saying the experience “was incredibly stressful and deeply upsetting.”

Jessica Whitney, deputy attorney general for large consumer protection, said the office supports the bill and noted fraud affects all age groups, adding that the fund would allow the attorney general to provide compensation in cases where defendants have no assets or cannot be located. Whitney also said subdivision 8 of the proposed new section 8.37 would require an annual attorney general report identifying cases that put money into or out of the fund.

Committee members discussed fiscal and technical issues. Senators asked whether expected deposits would be reflected in the fiscal note; a fiscal analyst said potential awards are treated as a secondary cost and the fiscal note assumes no predictable recurring deposit. The committee adopted an oral amendment (A1) to update dates in the statutory effective-date language. Senator Carlson moved that the bill, as amended, be recommended to pass and be referred onward; members approved by voice vote and the measure was sent on for additional review.

The bill will be considered next in the Judiciary and Taxes committees as noted during the hearing. Supporters and witnesses urged continuing work on administrative details and the fiscal estimate as the bill advances.","The State and Local Government Committee recommended Senate File 447 as amended for further committee review after testimony from AARP, victims and the attorney general's office on a proposal to direct half of certain enforcement recoveries up to $1,000,000 annually into a new restitution account for defrauded Minnesotans.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill to modernize remote participation rules for local boards; laid over

Committee hears supporters for adding Dylan and Prince to state-song list; bill laid over

Committee backs producer-responsibility e-waste bill after hours of testimony on fires, county costs and producer obligations

Senate committee advances bill to create consumer fraud restitution fund capped at $1 million