Olson Bills Focus on Environment and Education

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With the Legislature tackling the budget, local representatives are introducing and fighting for a wide range of bills.

State Sen. Gen Olson (R-Minnetrista), whose district includes the communities that ring Lake Minnetonka, is among several authors of a bill which would expand the definition of invasive species and require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to include in legislative reports a plan of action to protect at-risk or infested waters. The proposed bill would modify or implement regulatory measures on both public and private watercraft in an effort to curb the spread of invasive species and put in place new penalties for watercraft violating state statutes.

Proposals also include requiring emergency response vessels to be outfitted with drain plugs and requiring service provider permits.

The bill was introduced Thursday and sent to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee for review.

Olson also was the chief author of a bill that would dedicate a percentage of funds in Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund for the purposes of funding the Minnesota State Arts Board. The bill was introduced last Monday and sent to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee for review and discussion.

Here’s a brief recap of bills authored by your local state legislators:

Senator Olson was one of three chief authors of a bill introduced last week that would give school boards the power to reorganize as education boards. The bill, according to a summary provided by the Legislature’s Public Information Office, would give education boards authorization “to approve, oversee and hold accountable a system of schools, allowing voters to petition for elected conversion, specifying purpose, duties, facilities, limit of power, area learning center (ALC) autonomy, school revenue, statutory exemption, and commissioner of revenue notice; making conforming changes.”

The bill was introduced last Tuesday and referred that same day to the Senate’s Education Committee, which Olson chairs. The committee expects to discuss the proposal this week.

Rep. Connie Doepke (R-Orono)—Authored a bill to give Hennepin County the authority to impose a mortgage registry and deed tax. HF1242, introduced March 21, currently sits on the desk of the House’s Government Operations and Elections Committee.

Doepke is one of several authors of a bill that would modify how the state calculates formulas for K-12 funding, special programs and transportation. The bill has been sent to the Education Reform Committee for review.