Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce hosts 2022 Legislative Update

(ABC 6 NEWS) – On Thursday, people in Rochester had a chance to hear from local legislators on what is happening in Saint Paul as the legislative session is coming to an end.

Legislators touched on many topics from where they think the $9.25 billion surplus should be used to what they hope becomes the main focus for the future of Minnesota.

Lawmakers said this is an abnormal session with an upcoming election, redistricting, and the large budget surplus. They said with a little over a month left it is hard to predict what could happen.

Our local lawmakers are hoping for different things whether that be help for childcare, changes to ease the workforce shortage, or providing relief to businesses impacted by COVID-19.

"We know that the first few years of kids’ lives is when their brains are developing and that sets them for the path for the rest of their life. And so as we look to the future making sure that our littlest Minnesotans have what they need the care that they need and the early learning that they need," DFL Representative Liz Boldon said.

Lawmakers also discussed the importance of keeping people in Minnesota to do business and work.

"We should look at some temporary relief that a lot of regulations that the government has put on our backs we constraint our businesses here in the state of Minnesota to the level that we push businesses to do business elsewhere," Republican Representative Nels Pierson said.

"We need to have a competitive environment. We sell our going fishing going out to the lake, but we should be selling a stronger economy a more cooperative government that works with our community," Republican Representative Duane Quam said.

"Some other states do have warmer weather I think we do lose a lot of retirees when they can leave their job and go to a warmer place no question about that, but Minnesota is a great state and it is a great place to live and it has never been a low tech state since I’ve lived in it," DFL Representative Tina Liebling said.

DEED Commissioner Steve Grove shared his perspective on priorities and outlook on this legislative session.

Lawmakers head back to Saint Paul on April 19th after Easter Break and the 2022 legislative session is set to end on May 23rd.