Governor Tim Walz is expected to announce a plan to make changes to the Department of Human Services today, part of an ongoing effort to fight fraud. The governor’s office says he’ll introduce a proposal to “strengthen program integrity and improve how services are delivered to Minnesotans.” Last month, Gov. Walz outlined his anti-fraud package , which he says can reduce the likelihood of fraudulent actors taking advantage of human services programs. The focus on fraud has turned up over the last few years, in the wake of the large-scale Feeding our Future scheme, in which several people have been convicted of stealing hundreds of millions of dollars that were intended for child nutrition programs. 

A bill that would make drivers stop whenever a school bus turns on its red blinking lights is one step closer to becoming law. The Minnesota Senate unanimously passed the bill yesterday — it was the first bill to pass through the chamber this year. It was written after a court decision found that a driver who drove past a bus with red blinking lights on, but no stop arm out had not violated the law. The bill strikes language about the stop arm needing to be out for drivers to stop — and would require stopping on the flashing lights. DFL Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart of Minnetonka brought the bill. “Working with the State Patrol and the Minnesota School Bus Operators Association, we have developed a solution to maintain the safety of our children as they get on and off the bus,” she said. The bill is set to head to a vote in the Minnesota House later this week.

The Minnesota House will vote this week on renaming a state community solar garden program in honor of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman, who was assassinated last year. Hortman advocated strongly for the program and ushered it through the Capitol. The bill to name the program after her was passed with broad support last week. DFL House Floor Leader Jamie Long says Thursday's vote carries significance. "The first and, fittingly, agreed-to first bill will be a memorial for Speaker Hortman, which will be the naming of the community solar garden program after her,” Long said. “That was one of her signature legislative accomplishments, and one that she had on her Twitter bio for many years." A companion bill is also headed to the Senate floor with Sen. John Hoffman as a sponsor of the bill: "It really is to honor her life and legacy, because she was instrumental in getting that program started, and that's really what launched the solar industry here in Minnesota."

A bill that would allow Minnesota voters to decide whether to limit the governor and lieutenant governor to two terms in office cleared a state House committee Monday. If the constitutional amendment were passed by voters, the change would go into effect in 2030. The bill has support from members of both parties, but some legislators said the amendment seems pointless, since no governor has been elected to a third term. They also wondered why the language does not also include legislators. Representative Jimmy Gordon, a Republican from Isanti, is the bill's sponsor: "Certainly I'm open if you want to talk about term limits for the Legislature, I'm open to that discussion. But this bill is a start. We've got to start somewhere, and we want to keep it very simple and basic and to the point." Gordon says he changed the start date of the bill, because he did not want to make it about Gov. Tim Walz, who was at that point running for a third term. The bill now moves to another committee.

A state Senate committee began talking about restrictions on artificial intelligence, specifically about banning kids from using AI chatbots. Sen. Erin Maye Quade, DFL-Apple Valley, brought forward five bills during a Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee hearing that were held for additional workshopping later. Some had bipartisan backing, which will be key if they’re to pass through the narrowly-split Legislature. The proposal to prohibit use of chatbots by minors would set up an option for those adversely affected by the chatbots to file a civil lawsuit against an AI company. Those found guilty of allowing minors to access the chatbots and facing damages could face a penalty of up to $5 million. Maye Quade said the internal changes required to do that would largely be up to AI companies to make. Industry officials said the policy could keep Minnesota children from accessing helpful technology services.

A bill that would mandate CPR training for Minnesota high school and middle school coaches moved forward Monday.  Currently not all coaches know CPR or how to use an automated external defibrillator. Danielle Tirevold told the Senate Education Policy Committee Monday that when her daughter Gianna suffered cardiac arrest while playing softball she did CPR on her daughter for so long her knees bled before an AED shocked Gianna back to life. “We shouldn't have to stand by and watch a mother do everything in her power with her own two hands to save her child while everybody else stands and prays because they don't know what else to do,” Danielle Tirevold told the committee. Gianna’s coach Rick Thomas told the committee, “It was the most helpless feeling in this world that I've experienced, to see someone you care so much about dying in front of you, and you don't have the training to know how to help them.” The committee approved the bill on a bipartisan vote. 

Boys high school hockey tournament champion teams got some chirping going on the Minnesota Senate floor Monday — but no hockey hair shoutouts were given. Moorhead Sen. Rob Kupec called Moorhead’s 5-4 come-from-behind victory in overtime one of the top three comebacks in Minnesota hockey history. Sen. Mark Johnson of East Grand Forks added that Warroad, which is in his district, also won the Class A championship in overtime, and that he represents also parts of Clay County, where Moorhead High School is located. “I would like to point out too that my Senate district, district number one, is the top-rated district in this state for a number of reasons, but particularly because we bring home state hockey championships,” he said. Shoutouts were also given to the other teams in the tournament.