Gopher WBB and MN Frost lose.
Anthony Edwards misses All-Star tourney with a bad groin.
USA plays Sweden tonight in the Four Nations.
Canadian hockey fans booed the American national anthem again during Saturday’s USA-Canada match. Several GOP lawmakers, including Rep. Tom Emmer, responded by calling Canada the “51st state.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4hYky7j
Extreme cold temperatures hit this week, with overnight wind chills below -30 statewide. FOX: https://fluence-media.co/4hwCPcd
Minnesota is on track to end flu season with the highest number of hospitalizations in over a decade. KSTP: https://fluence-media.co/410FPGO
REPUBLICAN: Adam Schwarze, a former congressional candidate in the 3rd Congressional District, was the guest on Sunday Take this week. Schwarze declared his candidacy for the open Senate seat on Thursday. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4gNCzUW
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TODAY: To commemorate Presidents Day, a “No Kings Day” protest is scheduled to begin on the Minnesota Capitol grounds at 12:00 noon today as part of a nationwide movement against Pres. Donald Trump and Elon Musk organized by the group 50501. An event flier reads: “It’s called Presidents Day, not Kings Day. 50 states, 50 protests, 1 movement.” An additional flier shared on Reddit says protesters will begin marching to the Capitol at 11:45 a.m. FLIERS: https://fluence-media.co/41goYRw https://fluence-media.co/411om11 SCHEDULE: https://fluence-media.co/42ZXcKC
MORE: At least one additional “No Kings Day” protest is scheduled in Minnesota today, beginning at 4:00 p.m. in Duluth. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/41kIRqR
KLOBUCHAR: Sen. Amy Klobuchar was a featured guest on CNN’s “State of the Union” yesterday. When asked if the federal government is experiencing a constitutional crisis, Klobuchar said the U.S. is “not quite there yet,” but she thinks there is “a major assault on the justice system” going on. She called for Republican lawmakers to start standing up to Pres. Donald Trump “instead of simply accepting and acquiescing every step of the way.” Klobuchar also said that as far as she knows, Gov. Tim Walz “is running for governor” in 2026 despite an open Senate seat. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hHeVuw
TRUMP/MUSK: The Star Tribune interviewed both of Minnesota’s senators and six of its eight House representatives to hear their thoughts on Pres. Donald Trump and Elon Musk. The lawmakers were split on partisan lines over whether Trump and Musk are engaged in unconstitutional executive overreach or doing what voters asked them to do. Excerpts are below:
● Via DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar, QUOTE: “They have this great opportunity to try to shape the future budgets and make things more efficient within the agencies. But instead, they’ve somehow twisted this into this unconstitutional power grab.”
● Via DFL Sen. Tina Smith, QUOTE: “Over the last two and a half weeks, [my office] received over 81,000 messages. … [Trump and Musk] are trying to figure out how to vacuum up as much money from all of us, so that they can pay for big huge tax cuts for wealthy people, billionaires and big corporations.”
● Via GOP Rep. Tom Emmer, QUOTE: “Donald Trump has done more in the first three weeks of his administration than his predecessor did in his entire 50-year career. You’ve got to keep in mind that 77 million people voted for Donald Trump, demanding that he do exactly what he’s doing.”
● Via GOP Rep. Pete Stauber, QUOTE: “No matter what administration, the first 100 days are always real busy with changes, and the Trump administration is doing exactly what he promised the American people when he was on the campaign trail.”
GOP Reps. Brad Finstad and Michelle Fischbach did not respond to interview requests. See the full article for more details. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QnHph0
SMITHOMAR: Sen. Tina Smith and Rep. Ilhan Omar sat for one-on-one interviews with local media outlets over the weekend. Smith spoke to KSTP’s Tom Hauser about her decision not to run for reelection, while Omar spoke to WCCO-TV’s Esme Murphy about her opposition to Pres. Donald Trump over his cuts to refugee aid and numerous other programs. SMITH: https://fluence-media.co/4k4Lh4i OMAR: https://fluence-media.co/4aZkTEN
SENATE RACE: Here is an update on which Minnesota officials have declared interest in Sen. Tina Smith’s Senate seat since Friday. Smith announced late last week that she will not run for reelection in 2026.
● Via MinnPost’s Peter Callaghan, Attorney General Keith Ellison indicated he may be open to a Senate run during a Friday press conference. Ellison said he has not made a decision yet, but he will “say more in a few days.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/410nxp2
● State Sen. Zach Duckworth (R-Lakeville) shared on social media that he is not interested in running for U.S. Senate, but he implied he will try running for governor. DUCKWORTH: “For those asking about the US Senate seat — I’m flattered and would love nothing more than to serve my country at a higher level, but I have four amazing reasons to stay close to home in Minnesota. Someone told me the governor’s residence has enough bedrooms for 4 kids, though…” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/3Qnu08w
● Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-5th) was reportedly interested in a Senate run on Thursday, and on Friday, her campaign sent out an email to supporters asking them to vote on whether or not she should run for Senate. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4jYJEoB
● Former GOP state Rep. Pat Garofalo implied on social media that he is interested in a Senate run. GAROFALO: “Minnesotans would be best served if the competition for the US Senate seat [included] a Republican who knows the difference between a budget and a blank check, who is forward thinking on energy issues, has libertarian tendencies on issues like cannabis/marriage equality, a track record of fighting and winning against the teachers union, someone who has stepped up and opposed the half baked extremism of failed candidates like Royce White, [etc.] … Do you know anyone who fits those criteria? Don’t you think they’d make a damn good US Senator?” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/414jPe0
● Axios reports that Ryan Wilson, the Republican candidate for state auditor in 2022, is a “potential candidate” for Senate. Wilson came closer to winning his statewide contest than any other GOP candidate that year, losing by just 0.34%. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gM88i6
MORE: Republican Adam Schwarze, a former congressional candidate in the 3rd Congressional District, was the guest on Sunday Take this week. Schwarze declared his candidacy for the open Senate seat on Thursday, and he discussed why he is running and what he thinks he will bring to the table as a senator. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4gNCzUW
ICYMI: Read Friday’s morning take at The Daily Agenda for an extensive list of potential Senate candidates who declared interest on the day of Sen. Tina Smith’s announcement. READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QnAZOW
RFK JR: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “The Senate confirmed…Robert F. Kennedy. Jr. as secretary of Health and Human Services [last week]. … Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was the only Republican to vote ‘no.’ In a statement, McConnell said a childhood bout with polio heavily influenced his decision. … Rep. Kelly Morrison, D-3rd District, an OB-GYN, joined other Democratic members of Congress in a press conference warning about RFK Jr.’s approach to medicine.” MORRISON: “In his role as HHS Secretary, RFK Jr. [could] increase restrictions on the abortion pill, he could pull it from the U.S. market altogether, and he could end access to this safe and effective option even in states where abortion is legal.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jYV9wd
USDA: via Reuters, VERBATIM: “U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has fired probationary staff at two U.S. Department of Agriculture research agencies and its farm loan agency, three sources familiar with the situation said on Friday. … The affected research staff worked at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which supports agricultural science and technology research, and the Economic Research Service, which produces reports and data on the farm economy. Also fired were probationary loan officers at the Farm Service Agency, which processes farm loans and administers other farm programs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k32XwX
RESPONSE: via a Sen. Amy Klobuchar statement, KLOBUCHAR: “U.S. Department of Agriculture employees support farmers and ranchers, invest in rural communities, prevent wildfires, protect our natural resources, and more. It is one thing to institute reforms. It is another to mandate across-the-board layoffs that stop or delay work on avian flu, wildfires, rural hospitals, and loans for farmers and ranchers. This will hurt U.S. agriculture and rural Americans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41gG41L
CHILDCARE: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Rep. Kristin Robbins, (R) Maple Grove, is now preparing a bill she hopes to introduce this week which will make it easier for state regulators to halt CCAP payments to daycare providers who’ve been warned repeatedly about serious violations which could possibly jeopardize the health and safety of children. ROBBINS: “Right now, they have some authority to stop payments, but it is not required. So, they’re not exercising it as we have seen in some of the C-CAP cases you found,” said Robbins. “The statute says they ‘may’ stop payment under certain conditions. It doesn’t say they ‘must.'” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3QHhqBv
MPLS: via the Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis’ plans to foster public safety “beyond policing” are a mess…Just a few years ago, the effort to create a new model to deter violence seemed to unite elected officials, neighborhoods and civil rights activists. Today, the vision is mired in political finger-pointing and accusations of failed oversight of taxpayer dollars…City Council members now say they’ve lost faith in Minneapolis’ own Neighborhood Safety Department. Temperatures are running high at City Hall. A north Minneapolis pastor disrupted a public meeting last week, threatening council members and accusing them of betraying the cause. Several council members who had proposed offloading some programs to Hennepin County ultimately backed off Thursday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hE2Jux
RECALL: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Republican Party is following through on a promise to recall House DFL lawmakers who did not show up for the first three weeks of the legislative session. … A spokeswoman for the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office confirmed on Friday that 10 recall petitions had been filed so far [last] week — including one against a Republican lawmaker. Petitions against Rep. Melissa Hortman, Rep. Brion Curran, Rep. Kristin Bahner, Rep. Lucy Rehm, Rep. Julie Greene, Rep. Steve Elkins were reviewed, met the requirements under state statute and were forwarded to the courts. The Secretary of State’s office is still reviewing petitions against Rep. Matt Norris, Rep. Brad Tabke, and Rep. Dan Wolgamott. … While Republicans threaten recalls over claims of nonfeasance, Democrats have said they could bring recall petitions of their own over malfeasance, as was the case with Rep. Duane Quam. … GOP Chair Alex Plechash [said] he expects this could be a 10-month process.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4bkgHzH
MORE: via Forum News Service, VERBATIM: “Signature gathering is underway in 40 other districts, the [Republican] Party said in a release, and recall petitions are anticipated for all 66 Democratic House seats. … House Republicans have distanced themselves from the recall efforts. When asked [if] the recall effort should be discontinued in light of the successful power-sharing agreement, Speaker Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, declined to offer her opinion.” DEMUTH: “That’s a great question for the state party. … We’re not involved in that process.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k1kZja
SPORTSBETS: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The effort to legalize sports betting in Minnesota is off to a weak start this legislative session, with a proposal backed by competing gaming industry groups already facing resistance from Democratic-Farmer-Labor and Republican lawmakers. … Sen. Matt Klein, DFL-Mendota Heights, is carrying a bill that’s the product of a compromise between the tribal gambling association, horse tracks and charitable gaming groups. … Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, [is] sponsoring a more restrictive sports betting bill. … Marty’s bill doesn’t allow online betting, [while] Klein’s bill would allow mobile and in-person sports betting exclusively operated by tribal casinos.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CK4veG
(DISCLOSURE: Sports Betting Alliance is a client and sponsor of Fluence)
DELIVERY FEE: via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “Minnesotans are paying 50 cents more on [$100-plus] deliveries thanks to a law change that took effect last summer — designed to raise more funding to support road and bridge repairs. But a bill that would ditch that delivery fee, less than one year after implementation, advanced in the state legislature [last] week. … Rep. Jim Joy, R-Hawley, introduced [the] legislation this session to repeal the law and also undo some gas tax increases. He believes it's necessary to help Minnesotans struggling with the high cost of living. ….” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/41mm7Xy
POLICE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “After seeing communities agree to double-digit raises in one of the most competitive job markets for police officers in decades, Twin Cities leaders are asking: How much is public safety going to cost? Agencies across the metro are offering generous signing bonuses and historic salary increases to attract new officers and retain those they have. … Jeff Potts, executive director of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, [said] ‘The theme right now in Minnesota law enforcement is: Everyone is a recruiter.’ … Hiring is unlikely to get easier or cheaper [because] departments across the country face similar challenges.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i3cz91
CASH BAIL: via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “A new report recommends that Minnesota should eliminate cash bail and instead create a system that is not based on people’s access to wealth. Minnesota’s pretrial system relies heavily on monetary bail and disproportionately impacts people of color and low-income residents, says the study, which was released Friday. The report was authored by the Minnesota Justice Research Center, a nonpartisan and nonprofit organization committed to criminal justice reform. The Minnesota Legislature asked the center to conduct the report in 2023 and provide recommendations to reform the state’s pretrial system.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40YNGoh
CAREGIVERS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigrants and refugees has some members of the caregiving industry, and those who rely on it, on high alert. … The direct support workforce relies heavily on immigrants and refugees to serve Minnesotans who need assistance [and] is already failing to meet a growing demand. … [Workers] generally need valid immigration paperwork to meet background check requirements, experts in the field said, but they added that’s not always the case for workers' family members, who could be swept up in mass deportations. They are also worried about the president’s suspension of refugee resettlement.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40VONFc
LISTENING, LEARNING AND REDEFINING INDIGENOUS PARTNERSHIPS: “We want to build partnerships with Indigenous Nations. We continue to listen to and learn from Indigenous leaders and communities, and that’s informing how we engage communities in B.C. and across North America,” said CEO Greg Ebel of Enbridge’s approach to be the “first-choice partner” for Indigenous Nations interested in pursuing energy infrastructure opportunities. READ MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3Yht20R (SPONSORED: Enbridge)
MPLS: In a joint press release, advocacy groups TakeAction MN, OutFront MN, New Justice Project, T.O.N.E. U.P. and others called on Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to condemn recent threats against City Council members. EXCERPT: “Last week, members of the Minneapolis City Council faced violent threats and homophobic remarks — both in Council chambers and online — because of mistruths peddled by Commissioner Toddrick Barnette. … Regardless of his stance on any given policy proposal or issue…we are calling upon Mayor Frey to unequivocally condemn the threats of political violence to Council Members.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gPyob7
ST PAUL: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Residents in the West Seventh Street area opposed to a planned compressed natural gas fueling station for St. Paul’s designated new citywide trash hauler have been dealt a setback. … The St. Paul Planning Commission’s zoning committee voted 3-2 [last week] to deny their appeal of a staff-driven zoning clarification that paves the way for FCC Environmental to pursue a $25 million fleet maintenance and truck dispatch facility. … The recommendation will be forwarded for consideration by the full planning commission, which meets [this] Thursday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gPn66S
MET COUNCIL: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Suburbs on the fringe of the Twin Cities metro get to plan for a little more space between houses after the Metropolitan Council compromised [last] week on a plan to push more density in the coming decades. … Originally, the plan called for ‘suburban edge’ cities to reach a minimum density of four housing units per acre to use land in the growing region more efficiently. But many of the suburbs balked, saying the higher minimum was a one-size-fits-all approach that didn’t account for local development challenges. [Last week], the Met Council approved a lower requirement of 3.5 housing units per acre.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CIl2zN
MARCH: via WCCO Radio, VERBATIM: “Activists and supporters [took] to the streets for a march in Minneapolis in honor of missing and murdered Indigenous Minnesotans. … Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan was also in attendance at the march to present a proclamation marking Feb. 14, 2025 as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Day. Flanagan, who is indigenous to the White Earth Tribe, spoke just before the march began.” FLANAGAN: “This march gets bigger and bigger every year. The power of simply taking up space and being here together is one of the most powerful things that we can do in this moment.” READ/LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4b5n75f
DEI: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “A Minneapolis theater organization says it will decline federal funding in order to preserve its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis’ Seward neighborhood, which supports programming for playwrights, recently made an appeal to donors after receiving orders from the National Endowment for the Arts to cease operating ‘any programs promoting 'diversity, equity, and inclusion'’ or be denied federal funding. … The Playwrights’ Center wrote in an email [that] ‘We will continue to support a beautifully diverse and inclusive group of playwrights.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CTtE6y
LGBTQ: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “A federal judge granted Minnesota's request for a temporary restraining order against an executive order that would end federal funding to medical institutions providing gender-affirming care. The order comes in the context of the lawsuit Attorney General Keith Ellison filed on Feb. 7 with the attorneys general of Washington and Oregon challenging the constitutionality of the order. … In granting the states’ request for a temporary restraining order, Judge Lauren King of the Western District of Washington writes that the president’s order ‘blatantly discriminated against trans youth.’ The order lasts 14 days and is in effect in the states of Minnesota, Washington, and Oregon. A hearing at which Minnesota, Washington, and Oregon will argue for a preliminary injunction against the order is scheduled for Feb. 28.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hF7BQe
PERMITTING REFORM FOR RESPONSIBLE INDUSTRIES: Jobs for Minnesotans is committed to advancing responsible industrial projects through a predictable, timely and transparent permitting process. Broad permitting reform for all responsible industries is essential to strengthening Minnesota’s communities and advancing our state’s clean energy future. (SPONSORED: Jobs for Minnesotans)
IMMIGRATION: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison sent out new guidance on Friday detailing how K-12 schools should interact with immigration enforcement on school property. It calls on school district leaders to ensure any immigration and customs enforcement officials who come to campus follow proper legal protocol. It also reminds school staff to ‘not attempt to physically prevent an ICE agent or other law enforcement officer from entering the building, even if the agent does not appear to be authorized to enter.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4b0UAOg
MED DEBT: via Office of the Atty. General, VERBATIM: “Attorney General Keith Ellison, Senator Liz Boldon, and Representative Liz Reyer announced the Minnesota Medical Debt Reset Act (SF 1347), legislation which makes a one-time, $5 million appropriation to buy and forgive the medical debt of hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans through a partnership with Undue Medical Debt, a national medical debt-forgiveness nonprofit. Undue Medical Debt estimates that $5 million could relieve approximately $500 million in medical debt from roughly 250,000 – 400,000 Minnesotans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EEOA1I BILL: https://fluence-media.co/4hH4Lu0
UMN: via a U of M press release, VERBATIM: “Recent data reflects the significant improvements the University [of Minnesota] has made in retention and graduation rates. Last year, the Duluth campus saw its highest four-year graduation rate, while the Crookston and Rochester campuses saw their second-highest four-year graduation rates. The Twin Cities campus also recorded its highest six-year graduation rate. … During its February meetings, the Board of Regents Special Committee on Student Affairs discussed student basic needs. … The Board of Regents is scheduled to meet next on March 13-14.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CX1BmJ
BIRD FLU: via an MDA press release, VERBATIM: “In order to open funds to Minnesota farmers, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Rural Finance Authority (RFA) Board has declared an emergency for three animal diseases: avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV), highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and the H5N1 flu virus. This makes zero-interest Disaster Recovery Loans available for Minnesota farmers whose operations have sustained livestock losses due to the diseases from February 12, 2025 to February 12, 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hE8hFp
IRON RANGE: via an IRRR press release, VERBATIM: “Sen. Bobby Joe Champion of Minneapolis was reappointed today to a second term on the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) Advisory Board by the Minnesota Senate Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on Rules and Administration. His term will run until Jan. 1, 2027. Champion represents District 59 and is the current president of the senate.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WYdqjd
FRESH15: The latest season of Fresh15 includes interviews with new Minnesota House members. So far, five new members have shared their goals, background and fun facts before they take office in a historic session this January.
Rep.-Elect Kari Rehauer
Rep.-Elect Wayne Johnson
Rep. Elect Julie Greene
Rep. Elect Keith Allen
Rep. Elect Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
EAGAN: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Online retailer Amazon has purchased a large chunk of the former Thomson Reuters campus in Eagan. … Amazon spent $52.5 million for three parcels that totalled a little more than 95 acres. … The seller was a subsidiary of developer Ryan Cos., which is in the process of transforming about 180 acres of the former Thomson Reuters corporate campus into a mixed-use site. The plans include a multi-story industrial building with up to 3.6 million square feet of space along with outdoor storage for trucks, trailers and vans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4305rGd
WOODBURY: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “One of Minnesota’s top-performing schools, Math and Science Academy in Woodbury, currently serves 720 students and plans to double that number by 2026. [It] will begin construction in April to expand its current grades 6-12 charter school and add a new elementary school. The $55 million project is the result of a school in high demand, according to executive director Kate Hinton. … The current school is split between four adjacent buildings, two of which the school owns and two of which they’re leasing, according to Hinton. For the project, the two buildings owned by the MSA building company, Buildings A and B, will become a K-5 school. They will no longer lease Buildings C and D.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QmPuCM
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Nearly $12 million through the sale of tax abatement bonds is being sought to help fund a $43 million project to relocate Rochester’s Parks and Forestry Operations. The current operations facility, sitting between Mayo Field and the Zumbro River, does not have adequate space for full-time and seasonal employees, and Parks and Forestry Division Head Mike Nigbur said it’s difficult for staff to efficiently move vehicles in and out of the site. The new building will be constructed…on property purchased last year for $6 million. The new site is expected to provide 13,500 square feet of office space and up to 92,400 square feet of garage space.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/410G7gP
WILD ABOUT READING: More than 500 Minnesota classrooms and 15,000 students are participating in the “Wild About Reading” program, a partnership with Flint Hills Resources which encourages students to read more using Minnesota Wild-branded posters, reading logs, and bookmarks. Teachers set weekly reading goals and give certificates to students who complete the four-week program. Fun program incentives include classroom visits from the Wild’s mascot, Nordy – and the team dog, Rookie; a pair of tickets to a Wild home game, player signed pucks and photos; and a pizza party for a classroom. LEARN MORE: Wild About Reading SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources
From Friday’s Fluence newsletters:
SMITH: Sen. Tina Smith spoke to WCCO Radio on Friday about her decision to not run for re-election. QUOTE: “I know that Peggy [Flanagan] has been thinking about the possibility of running for the Senate for a long time. She has told me in the past that it has always been her dream. … [But] it is not my job to pick my successor. That is gonna be up to the voters of Minnesota and it’s gonna be up to these candidates, whomever they end up being, to make the case to Minnesota voters.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4gGkg3Z
HOA: via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “A Republican and a Democrat together pitched recommendations to rein in homeowners’ associations at the House housing committee [last week]. A working group convened by the Legislature spent much of the past year discussing how the state could empower homeowners in the face of rising complaints against unrestrained homeowners’ associations and property management companies. The group produced more than 150 ideas for reforms; 41 recommendations made it into the final report to the Legislature. Lawmakers will be drafting bills based on the recommendations in the coming weeks.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/41g3xQM
RESEARCH: via a Senate DFL press release, VERBATIM: “In [the] Agricultural, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee, Senator Rob Kupec presented two bills to increase state funding for agriculture research in Minnesota. This funding would support research into critical issues like avian influenza, emerging crops, and topics like rural mental health and farm transition.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k0CvnO
THEDAILYAGENDA Every day, we’re sharing significant political, business and other news in your inbox and on our new website, The Daily Agenda. If you love morning take, sign up for the other Fluence tip sheets and share our web content with your friends. SIGNUP: https://fluence-media.co/4eZwLa7
SESSION: House floor session at 3:30 p.m. Senate floor session at 11:00 a.m. HOUSE: Fraud Prevention & Oversight hears from the Office of Grants Management. Ways & Means will hear a bill requiring more reports to the legislative auditor. Elections will hear a set filing period for special elections, a higher maximum refund for political contributions, a ban on political spending for entities that receive state funding, and changes to election dates. Health hears a ban on state services for non-citizens and a ban on state agencies applying for public option waivers. SENATE: Jobs & Economic Dev. hears numerous grants and a bill creating an ombudsperson for food production safety. Judiciary & Public Safety hears mandatory fines for violating school bus stop arm laws. Transportation hears a bill to purchase surplus badges of certain employees. CALENDAR: https://fluence-media.co/4b1UUMW
TODAY: On a trade mission to the Netherlands, Governor Tim Walz will attend an In-Bound Investment Promotion Event with Brabant Development Agency. Later, he will visit the Philips Customer Experience Center and the Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael.
TODAY: Rep. Tom Dippel (R-Cottage Grove) announced he will hold a press conference at 10:00 a.m. in Hastings City Hall to discuss his new bill to fund water treatment facilities in Hastings, calling it an “outside the box” bill to “fully fund the project without relying on taxpayer dollars.”
NEXT WEEK: Axios energy and climate reporters will host a conversation with Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith and Ohio Rep. Bob Latta for their “Powering the Electric Future” event on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 a.m. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/3WY8vz0
BDAYS: attorney David Gollin, Sen. Jim Carlson, Rep. Michael Howard, critic Ross Raihala, GOP activist Regina Barr, liquor guy Phil Colich, media guy Dave Colling, RCV’s biggest fan Jeanne Massey, health policy pro Megan Koepke, comms pro Mark Daly
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