Senate schedules March 18 joint hearing on University of Minnesota regent nominations; re-refers senate file

The Minnesota Senate on March 17 adopted a concurrent resolution setting a joint meeting of the Senate and House higher education committees for March 18 at 6 p.m. to consider nominations to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents, and approved a motion to withdraw and re-refer a senate file from the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection to the Committee on Health and Human Services.

Senator Fati moved adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 3, saying, "This concurrent resolution sets the date for a joint meeting of the senate and house higher education committees, as tomorrow, March 18 at 6PM. The joint hearing is held every 2 years to consider the nomination of candidates to the University of Minnesota Minnesota Board of Regents. This is the date we are agreed upon with the higher education co chairs in the other body, and I would ask for member support." The resolution was adopted by voice vote.

Senator Wicklund moved to withdraw and re-refer a senate file from the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection to the Committee on Health and Human Services. During floor colloquy, Wicklund acknowledged it was his bill and said he had spoken to both committee chairs; the motion was adopted by voice vote. The transcript contains two inconsistent bill identifiers in the course of that exchange (the motion is introduced as "Senate file 23" and later recorded as "Senate file number 2,323"). The Senate record on the floor indicates the re-referral was approved, but the floor transcript does not resolve which bill number is the final, authoritative identifier.

The Senate also approved the committee reports printed in the day's agenda by voice vote after a motion to adopt the reports. Earlier in the session the presiding senator acknowledged a quorum and announced the introduction and first reading of bills on the agenda; bill referral changes that had been noted on the introduction calendar were announced to the chamber.

Other procedural floor actions included a motion placing the Senate under call and a motion instructing the sergeant at arms to bring in absent members; those measures were handled through floor procedure and voice responses.

Votes at a glance

- Adopted: Committee reports printed in the agenda. Motion to adopt moved on the floor and approved by voice vote; no roll-call tally recorded in the transcript.

- Approved: Motion by Senator Wicklund to withdraw and re-refer a senate file from the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection to the Committee on Health and Human Services. Motion recorded as carried by voice vote. Transcript contains inconsistent bill numbering ("Senate file 23" and "Senate file number 2,323"); the transcript does not provide a roll-call tally.

- Adopted: Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 3, setting a joint hearing for March 18 at 6 p.m. to consider University of Minnesota Board of Regents nominations. Motion carried by voice vote.

The joint hearing established by the concurrent resolution is the biennial convening for consideration of regent nominations and, per the sponsor’s remarks, was scheduled in agreement with the higher education co-chairs in the House. No additional debate or amendments to the resolution were recorded on the floor.

The Senate returned later in the day to adopt a Human Services Committee report (as noted on the floor), and moved to recess/raise the session near the end of the printed proceedings recorded in the transcript.