2014 legislative session: What passed and what failed
Gov. Mark Dayton dubbed the 2014 legislative session an "unsession," but a healthy budget surplus fueled action on tax cuts and borrowing. At the same time, DFLers used their control of both chambers to continue passing high-profile policy bills such as a minimum wage hike and anti-bullying legislation. Even medical marijuana legislation, once thought dead, was resurrected and passed by a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers.
Senate leaders join The Daily Circuit to talk about what laws passed this session and what changes Minnesotans can expect to see from the legislation.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MAJOR LEGISLATION OF 2014:
• E-cigarette restrictions
It would ban the use of e-cigarettes in government buildings, in schools and on the campuses of the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. The measure would not ban e-cigarettes in bars and restaurants. (MPR News Capitol View)
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• Building and renovations statewide
The House passed two bills earlier this morning that spend more than $1 billion on public works projects. The bills fund the renovation of the state capitol, civic centers in St. Cloud, Mankato and Rochester and a regional water pipeline in southwestern Minnesota. (MPR News Capitol View)
• Medical marijuana deal headed toward passage
Under the bill health care professionals could authorize people to get access to pill and liquid forms of cannabis through eight sites. Smoking marijuana would not be allowed, but people who suffer from a variety of ailments would be allowed to vaporize some forms of cannabis. (MPR News Capitol View)
• Raising the minimum wage to $9.50
The proposal would raise the minimum wage for large employers in steps from the current $6.15 an hour to $9.50 an hour by 2016. The deal also includes a 90-day training wage of $7.75 an hour for teen workers. Future increases would be tied to inflation starting in 2018. (MPR News Capitol View)
• Anti-bullying law
The state will require districts to spell out how exactly they'll protect students from intimidating, threatening, abusive or harmful behavior, and how they'll track and respond to cases of bullying. (MPR News)
• Tax cuts
The $440 million tax cut package provides a long list of credits and deductions by lining up state and federal tax codes. It also repeals three new business sales taxes including a warehousing tax that was scheduled to start April 1. (MPR News)
• Women's Economic Security Act
The bill would help reduce the pay disparity between men and women by requiring businesses that contract with the state to study whether men and women are being paid the same for doing similar work. (MPR News)