This has been another busy week and we have been on the floor every day.
House File 2881, my bill that addresses the safety of railroad employees and the public-at-large, as well as adding clarifications to existing law was heard on Tuesday and it passed. The legislation upgrades requirements regarding the drivers and the vehicles used to transport railroad employees. Railroads use outside vendors for most train crew transportation services. These contract carriers transport operating crews to and from trains and between terminals, in all kinds of weather and road conditions.
On Friday , I presented SF 2614, a bill that gives MnDOT more flexibility in contracts that involve projects with bordering states and changes some advertising precedures. For example, it removes the requirement that MnDOT mail advertisements for contracts mentioned in the legislation since MnDOT now does all its bid advertising on the web. It passed 122-0. My HF 3038 was the companion to this Senate file. This bill will go to the Governor now for signing.
On Thursday, the House passed Rep. Schoen’s bill, SF511/ HF 435, that made modifications to the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse statute. This should be helpful in extending health care access.
On Friday, the House passed Rep. Melin’s Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research Act. This version of “medical marijuana act” is important because it is not opposed by law enforcement or the medical community. This is a more restrictive version than passed by the Senate, so it will probably go to a Conerence Committee,