Everything you need to know about the 2018 legislative session and LeadMN's priorities moving forward this session.

1. 2018 Legislative Session
LEADMN | Matthew Gutsch, Director of Government Relations 02-20-18
Advocacy Day

2. Slide / 01
Legislative Update 2018
• Legislature does not
have a budget
• DFL Governor and GOP
acting Lt. Governor
• Lawsuit over Lt.
Governor position
• Republican’s maintain
control of the Senate
and House LEADMN | Advocacy Day
This could be
interesting……

3. Minnesota State
Supplemental
Budget Request
• Minnesota State is requesting $31
million in additional money this
session.
• $21 million for NextGen (ISRS
replacement)
• $10 million in campus support
www.yourwebsite.comLEADMN | Advocacy Day

4. Capital Budget Request
HEAPR is Cheaper!
• $94.5 million for bonding projects
• $130 million for Asset Preservation
• #MinnStatePriority1
www.yourwebsite.comLEADMN | Advocacy Day

5. Budget Process
• November forecast: $188 million deficit ($178
million dependent on Children’s Health
Insurance Program)
• Congress authorized CHIP funding, federal tax
changes could add $153 million in revenue to
February forecast
• February forecast: ? Coming Soon
www.yourwebsite.comLEADMN | Advocacy Day

6. Governor’s Bonding Request
• $1.5 billion bonding bill
• $243 million for Minnesota State
• $299 million for the U of M (Boo)
• Expect a bonding bill proposal
$800 million or less.
www.yourwebsite.comLEADMN | Advocacy Day
Republican Bonding

7. Non-Higher Education Issues
• Passing a legislative budget
• Tax conformity
• Health Insurance premium relief
• Sexual assault taskforce
• MNLARS fix
• Workforce shortage
www.yourwebsite.comLEADMN | Advocacy Day

8. LeadMN Legislative
Priorities LEADMN | Advocacy Day

9. LeadMN Legislative Agenda
LEADMN | Advocacy Day
1. We Support: Requiring 15% of all courses
to use affordable textbooks by 2020
After tuition and fees, textbook costs are the
next largest post secondary cost for students,
with Minnesota State community and
technical college students paying on average
$1200 a year for textbooks.
• Think of a time when
textbook costs impacted you
• Have you ever had to choose
between textbooks and
paying a bill?
• Have you ever taken a class
with an OER? Was it just as
good as a regular textbook?
Affordable
Textbook = $40
or less

10. 2. We Support: Disclosing textbook
information on the course registration page.
Unexpected costs can cause students to withdraw from
courses or even dropout. By providing the cost and ISBN
of textbooks on the course registration page, students
will be able to make informed decisions about their
courses, helping to minimize unexpected costs.
www.yourwebsite.comLEADMN | Advocacy Day
LeadMN Legislative Agenda
• Would knowing the cost of
the textbook impact what
courses you take?
• Would knowing the book
name when you register for
classes help you find a
cheaper version?

12. LeadMN Legislative Agenda
Affordable
Textbook = $40
or less LEADMN | Advocacy Day
3. We Support: Creating an improved
financial aid award letter
When students decide to pursue a post
secondary education they should know
upfront exactly how much they are going
to pay, and if the financial aid and loans
they receive will cover those costs.
• Have you ever been surprised
that your financial aid and
loans didn’t cover the cost of
attendance?
• Have you ever had to drop a
class because you couldn’t
afford it?
• Do you feel like you had a
good understanding of just
how much college would
cost?

14. LeadMN Legislative Agenda
LEADMN | Advocacy Day
4. We Support: the $31 Million Minnesota
State supplemental budget request to fund
NextGen and provide campus support.
Students should have technology systems that
can support 21st century educational needs.
NextGen will provide a student experience that
is mobile, will provide services like online
academic advising, and provide students better
tools to plan their degrees and track their
progress.
• Do you wish it was easier to
register for class or get online
academic advising?
• Would it help to have more
online tools to plan your
degree?
• Do you want your personal
information to be protected?
• $21 million for NextGen
• $10 million for Campus
Support

16. Talking to Your Legislator
1. Introduce yourself and what LeadMN is!
-Tell them where you are from and what college you attend.
-Tell them what you are studying and why.
2. Let them know you support:
• requiring 15% of all courses to use affordable textbooks by 2020
• disclosing textbook info on the course registration page.
-Discuss HOW textbook costs have impacted you
-SHARE YOUR STORY!
3. Let them know you support the Improved Financial Aid Award Letter
-SHARE YOUR STORY!
4. Support MN State Bonding and Supplemental Budget Request
-We support the $224.5 million bonding request
-We support the $31 million for NextGen and Campus Support
5. Thank them for their time.
www.yourwebsite.comLEADMN | 60 MINUTES OF DELIBERATION

17. Meeting Do’s and Do Not's

18. Meeting Do’s
Affordable
Textbook = $40
or less LEADMN | Advocacy Day
1. Be 5-10 minutes EARLY!
2. Dress appropriately
3. Engage with your legislator
4. Be attentive
5. Share your stories
6. STAY ON POINT! You may not get to everything, it’s ok
7. Thank legislator and STAFF

19. Meeting Do NOT’s
LEADMN | Advocacy Day
1. Play on you phone
2. Talk about non-LeadMN issues (no
matter how much you want to)
3. Eat food/chew gum
4. Avoid eye contact
5. Keep quiet/avoid conversation
• Horror Story Time:
• Gun cellphone video
• Legislators will not meet
with us in the future or
support our bills

20. Remember
You represent LeadMN, your
campus, and all 180,000
community and technical
college students in Minnesota

21. First Day of Session
LEADMN | Advocacy Day
1. Things are going to be crazy
2. If you don’t know ask cabinet or staff
3. There will be LeadMN staff at both the
Senate and House chamber
4. Take the tunnels-follow the signs
5. Behave at the hotel tonight. Legislators
and their families will be there.(and so will I)

22. First Day of Session
LEADMN | Advocacy Day
1. If you don’t have a meeting scheduled:
a. Try to pull them off the floor
b. Stop by their office and ask the LA if they have a
few minutes to spare
• If they don’t, leave the legislative brochure
with the LA and say thank you.
• Do NOT get mad at the LA, no matter how
friendly or unfriendly they are

23. CENTER
PICTURE SLIDE
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from
the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the
blind texts.
LEADMN | 60 MINUTES OF DELIBERATION
That wasn’t so bad.