What’s New for 2023?

Christian Franzen

Happy New Year! Like the New Year the New Legislative Biennium brings with it excitement, promise and sometimes a twinge of dread. As the House and Senate begin the process of moving legislation, there are always some indicators of what is to come. A good example of this is the first bills introduced or committee and leadership appointments. These first few signs show what legislators hope to accomplish this biennium. The new DFL majority has introduced bills addressing the legalization of recreational use of marijuana, protecting abortion rights, childcare funding and federal tax conformity. Significant, Minnesota currently enjoys a 17.6 billion dollar budget surplus and the appetite for spending is evident in both political parties. As you know, the DFL now controls both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Almost a third of legislators are new and the freshmen are already flexing their muscle. I was recently told the between retirements and electoral defeat, about 600 years of experience has left the legislature in the past few months.

If all that information or change feels overwhelming, please let me know that I am not the only one. But like most changes time heals and the picture becomes clearer. The more information the legislature gives us the more we can grasp how to make the “our bills” law. Even opposition can tell us a story about how we achieve success. With that said here is the overview of our main priorities this coming 2023 session:

SF 33 (Jasinski) — This includes language which was in last year’s omnibus bills regarding sled transfer of ownership, registration decals and road crossings. This is seen as a technical because language was heard and included but did not cross the finish line due to larger issues which plagued 2021.

Trespass bill (Part 2) — This bill will act as the sibling to the civil trespass bill (HF2819/SF3063) which was one of the few bills passed last year and took effect this past August. This year’s trespass bill will essentially do the same only applied to the criminal offense. The passage of this legislation will create consistency in the trespassing penalties: From the current $100 to $250 for the first offense, from $200 to $500 for the second, and from $500 to $1,000 for the third offense.

Sales tax exemption — Trail development and maintenance tax exemption is another session priority. As in the past this bill, with a small fiscal note, will be moved in both bodies.

Like every session, the support, opposition, language, or path to passage can change drastically. And as the session begins, I would catch an earful from Doug if I didn’t remind everyone that most of the jargon above is really “insider baseball” that does not compare to the power of individual snowmobilers and clubs from across the state communicating with their legislators. So let’s take a deep breath and get to work. Take a breath, look outside, and smile about what kind of snowmobiling is in store this season and get ready for a wild political ride!