Minnesota State Legislature

There's a renewed push at the State Capitol to lower the drinking age in Minnesota. DFL Representative Phyllis Kahn of Minneapolis has introduced to bills. One lowers the legal drinking age at bars and restaurants to 18 years-old. The other would allow any child of any age to drink at a bar or restaurant, if they are with their parent or legal guardian and they approve.

Last week the State Senate Capital Investment Committee toured local projects requesting bonding money. Today (Wednesday) it's the State House's turn to check out the projects.

When the Minnesota State Legislature convenes in February, one of their top priorities will be to put together a bonding bill. Tomorrow (Tuesday) members of the Senate Capital Investment Committee will be touring projects in Central Minnesota that will be requesting money.

Leading Minnesota lawmakers have sorted out a tax package that is the linchpin of the next state budget. The top two percent of income earners will pay two percent more on a portion of their income.

The Minnesota Senate has passed a bill allowing the unionization of home child-care workers in Minnesota after an all-night debate that saw Republicans trying to block the bill.

Legislation mandating that Minnesota's big utilities get some of their electricity from the sun is moving closer to becoming law. The solar energy mandate will mean cleaner energy, less burning of coal and probably higher utility bills for many Minnesotans.

The Minnesota House has scheduled a Thursday debate and floor vote on the bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the state. Jake Loesch is a spokesman for the organization Minnesotans United - the group that supports gay marriage. He says he thinks the votes are there for it to pass in the House.

The Minnesota House has scheduled a Thursday debate and floor vote on the bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the state. House DFL leadership announced the plans Tuesday.

Minnesota's state House has backed a higher education financing package that architects say will freeze undergraduate tuition at public colleges for two years. The plan passed Thursday by a bipartisan vote of 86-44.

In a nod to second chances, the Minnesota Senate has approved a bill that would bar employers from asking about a person's criminal history on job applications. The bill passed the State Senate 44-16 on Saturday.