LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

2022 Legislative Session Nearing Completion

In a year where every representative, senator, and Governor are up for reelection in the fall, it is no surprise that there has been little bipartisanship at the legislature. To that end, issues that were initially thought to have support across party lines and be urgent enough to be resolved in the first weeks of session remained in limbo until the final weeks of session.

Most notably, a long-overdue deal to refill the unemployment insurance trust fund and provide frontline worker bonus payments was reached by party leaders and the Governor. A more expansive list of eligible workers than previously agreed to will receive one-time bonus checks of up to $750, with $500 million now set aside for bonus checks, a DFL House priority. In return, the unemployment insurance trust fund will be replenished to pre-pandemic levels of $2.7 billion, a Senate Republican priority.

It’s unclear whether this bipartisan goodwill will continue as leaders determine what to do with the remaining budget surplus of approximately $7 billion. Senate Republicans favor a substantial tax relief bill, while House Republicans want supplemental spending bills. With the legislative session required to end on May 23, these last few weeks will be telling.

The Salvage Title Task Force provisions that AASPMN advocated for - which preserve the definition of “high value” and “late model” - are included in both the Senate and House Transportation Omnibus bills. The next stop for both bills is a joint conference committee with Senate and House members.

Additionally, AASP-MN members will be interested in a tax provision that is in the Senate Tax bill. This provision would permanently phase out the state’s commercialindustrial property taxes for businesses, including auto repair shops. Currently, this provision is not in the House Tax bill and is unlikely to be included in a final package, but it is currently in play and has generated much discussion at the Capitol. We will follow the conference committee and update members if this emerges and is sent to the Governor to be signed into law.

Lastly, as previously mentioned, AASP-MN sponsored a bill that would require insurance providers to approve or deny claims within three days of submission. AASPMN has secured lead authors who will continue to serve as strong advocates. This lays the foundation for an extended advocacy effort that will run into next year. Over the summer, we will do more issue-campaign planning and potentially look for legislation to address short-pay and prevailing-rate issues that are becoming increasingly problematic for members.

by Sam Richie & Shannon K. Mitchell, AASP-MN Lobbyists