June 1997
Legislative Watch
by Bruce Kleven, MAWG/MBGA Legislative Strategist
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Prairie Grains is the
official publication of
the Minnesota
Association of
Wheat Growers,
North Dakota Grain
Growers Association,
South Dakota Wheat,
Inc., and the
Minnesota Barley
Growers Association.
The 1997 legislature adjourned at midnight on May 19 while state legislators dealt with the final pieces of setting a two-year, $20.3 billion budget. Although many of the 2,229 bills introduced in the House were not acted on this session, they remain viable for consideration next year. Here's a look at legislation the MAWG and MBGA were following:
Scab Funding
Wheat and barley growers obtained a state commitment of $1.6 million in scab research funds for the next two years. Authors of the bill were Senator LeRoy Stumpf (D-Thief River Falls), Representative Jim Tunheim (DFL-Kennedy), and Representative Tim Finseth (R-Angus). While the Senate bill always contained the scab funding, the subcommittee in the House that funds the University of Minnesota is dominated by urban legislators and that committee did not include any funds for scab research. In early May, the scab funding was agreed to by House and Senate conferees during a late-night conference committee.
Spring Wheat Breeder
Also included in the Higher Education bill is $100,000 for two years to fund a spring wheat breeder position at the U of M. The original proposal for $150,000 had to be scaled back in order to receive some amount of funding in the bill. Authors of the spring wheat breeder bill were Senator Stumpf and Representative Tunheim.
Pesticide Applicators
Minnesota pesticide laws require anyone who uses a restricted use pesticide to have a valid pesticide applicators license. While farmers could take an open book test every three years, farm employees had to take a closed book test every year. A change this year allows the employees to take the same test as the farmer (open book every three years).
Farm Permits
For years, 15-year-old farm kids could get a farm permit to drive during daylight hours on farm business. A bill passed last year required a six-month trial period before a 16-year-old could get a regular license, and this law inadvertently affected the farm permits. A bill carried by Senator Jim Vickerman (DFL-Tracy) and Representative Torrey Westrom (R-Elbow Lake) clearly exempts farm permits from the reach of the six-month trail period law.
Taxes
The omnibus tax bill contains a provision that permanently exempts used farm machinery from sales tax. For the past three years, used farm machinery has received one-year exemptions, but this year, Senator Dallas Sams (DFL-Staples) and Representative Al Juhnke (DFL-Willmar) were able to muscle through a permanent exemption. However, the proposal to also exempt new farm machinery was not adopted.
Property Tax Reform
Once again this year, talks of property tax reform were in high gear. This was especially true during the 1997 session because of the projected $2.3 billion surplus. The winners this year were homeowners, who will see a small property tax rebate in 1998, and business, which saw its class rates drop from 4.5 to 4.0. The governor would not sign a bill that did not include some kind of rebate and reduction in business classes.
Gas Tax Fails
The House failed to adopt a gas tax increase again this session. In past years, the Senate has upped the gas tax by a nickel to generate more road repair revenue. This year, the Senate passed a bill gradually increasing the tax three cents this year (one cent for flooded roads and two cents for general transportaion) and two cents next year. This bill did not pass in the House.
Flood Relief
The legislature did pass an appropriation bill providing $20 million in additional flood relief which will match federal funds. The governor and legislative leaders will probably revisit the flood issue later in the summer after the needs of flood-stricken areas can be determined with more certainty. n