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Ag, commerce funding bills clear MN Senate

ST. PAUL — Minnesota Sen. Gary Dahms, R-Redwood Falls, reported that two bills cleared the Senate on Wednesday that impacts southwest Minnesota farmers and other resident.

Both the Omnibus Agriculture and Rural Development budget bill and the Senate’s Commerce and Energy Omnibus bill, authored by Dahms, now await action by the Minnesota House of Representatives.

The Omnibus Agriculture and Rural Development budget bill would fund agriculture, rural development, and rural COVID-19 recovery. The comprehensive legislation is focused on helping Minnesota farmers while spurring innovation in the agriculture industry and providing resources for broadband expansion throughout the state.

“Our budget gives resources to Minnesota farmers, so they are able to continue to lead the world in agricultural innovation and development,” Dahms said.

He is vice chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Finance and Policy Committee.

“We focus on making sure the needs of our farmers are met by investing in value-added agriculture. We invest in reliable biofuel infrastructure and eliminate unnecessary regulations to free our emerging industries,” he said.   

Dahms release said the legislation helps the state’s agricultural community recover from the pandemic by strengthening the agriculture sector supply chains and invests in helping more meat processing facilities expand and grow. He said, ultimately these investments will provide more jobs, improve processing efficiency, and provide more purchasing options for consumers.

The budget bill also allocates $40 million over the next two fiscal years to the Border-to-Border Broadband Grant program. This funding will develop permanent broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas. This significant funding from the legislature matches the critical need that has become apparent in the wake of Covid-19.

Furthermore, the bill provides a $3.5 million grant to improve biofuel infrastructure by allowing gas stations to sell higher blends of biofuels. Dahms said this investment helps Minnesota continue to lead the nation in pioneering clean homegrown fuels like E-15.

Additionally, the budget includes grants for farm safety equipment and allows the creation of a grain storage facility safety curriculum. Mental health outreach on farms and additional mental health services are also included, continuing funding for the existing 24-hour crisis hotline.

The Commerce and Energy Omnibus bill provides funding for critical programs in the Minnesota Department of Commerce, maintains Minnesota’s reliable energy network, and continues the state’s successful reinsurance program.

Dahms is also chairman of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Committee.

“This budget funds our health insurance market, provides protection to consumers, and helps keep down the cost of doing business,” Dahms said. “Making sure we continue funding our successful reinsurance program is imperative to help make health insurance affordable to Minnesota families. Reinsurance is a crucial tool in keeping our individual healthcare market stable, so Minnesotans do not see premiums spike. Overall, this is a good budget that responds to the needs of Minnesota families, businesses, and consumers.”

The bill funds the Minnesota Department of Commerce at current levels, shores up an operating deficit in the department’s Insurance Division, and funds a grant to the Minnesota Council on Economic Education (MCEE). This grant provides financial literacy education to children, so they can successfully manage their personal budgets as adults.

The budget bill also provides the additional state funding needed to continue Minnesota’s reinsurance program in 2023 and directs the Department of Commerce to seek a waiver from the federal government to continue the program for a sixth year. Funding the state’s successful reinsurance program provides for a proven program that has already saved Minnesotans money on the costs of health care.

The energy portion of Senate File 972 focuses on measured, thoughtful changes to Minnesota’s energy and telecom policy. It contains comprehensive funding for the two-year energy budget and renewable energy development.

This bipartisan legislation allocates money for the Solar Rewards Program which incentivizes utilities using solar systems, as well as modifying utility reporting to achieve the new solar standard by July 1, 2021. This bill establishes a Solar for Schools Program to provide grants to aid in the installation of solar energy systems on or adjacent to school buildings. This would allow schools to use the solar energy system as a teaching tool that can be integrated into the school’s curriculum. 

This bill maintains Minnesota’s strong and reliable energy system while still encouraging innovation in emerging technologies for cleaner energy sources. The bill abolishes the current nuclear moratorium that would then allow for consideration of new nuclear-powered plants. Notably, this legislation also creates a state building energy conservation improvement account to implement energy conservation and energy efficiency improvements in state buildings.

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