>> Mary: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

I'M MARY LAHAMMER, COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM HE HOUSE GALLERY.

THERE'S JUST A FEW WEEKS LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND MOST OF THE MAJOR WORK THAT LEGISLATORS WANT TO GET DONE REMAINS, WHICH IS NOT UNUSUAL.

THAT'S USUALLY TRUE AT THIS TIME.

WE'LL SEE IF THEY'RE GETTING CLOSE ON THE ISSUE OF SCHOOL SAFETY AND EDUCATION, AS WE TALK WITH CO-CHAIRS AND OUR RETIRING LAWMAKERS, ALSO A LEADING VOICE IN EDUCATION AS WELL.

BUT, FIRST, A LOOK AT WHERE ALL THE ISSUES STAND THIS WEEK, AS WE HEAD INTO CRUNCH TIME AT THE CAPITOL.

LEGISLATIVE LEADERS RETURNED TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR NEGOTIATIONS.

>> IT'S A VOLATILE BUDGET YEAR.

MINNESOTA'S BUDGET IS IN A SOLID PLACE.

WE DID AND BIT THE BULLET AND DID HEAVY LIFT FOR PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA LAST YEAR TO ENSURE PROGRAMS WERE ABLE TO BE FUNDED BUT SUSTAINABILITY OF THAT.

>> Mary: THE SENATE ADDED BAN ON NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ON THINGS LIKE DATA CENTERS.

>> IF IT'S NOT COME TO YOUR COMMUNITY YET, WHEN IT DOES, YOUR CONSTITUENTS WILL BE PISSED.

>> TRANSPARENCY IS VERY MUCH IN ORDER AND NEEDED FOR THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND THE STATE.

>> IT'S ACTUALLY POTENTIALLY CONSTITUTIONALLY PROBLEMATIC TO COME UP AND SAY, THIS IS PROHIBITED, JUST FOR ONE INDUSTRY AND HOLD THEM TO A VERY SEPARATE STANDARD.

>> Mary: THE HOUSE PASSED SMALLER FRAUD MEASURES, BUT STALLED ON STRICTER PENALTIES.

>> THIS IS A VERY BAD AMENDMENT.

THIS IS A DESTRUCTIVE AMENDMENT.

JUST BECAUSE YOU SAY THAT SOMETHING IS ABOUT FRAUD AND THAT IT'S FOR FIXING FRAUD DOES NOT MAKE IT A GOOD THING.

>> TAXPAYERS ARE SO ANGRY, THEY WANT TO RIP APART THE GOVERNMENT.

WE'RE NOT HERE TO RIP APART THE GOVERNMENT WE'RE HERE TO FIX THE GOVERNMENT.

>> Mary: AND THE HOUSE REACTED TO THE HORTMAN ASSASSINATION WITH A BILL THAT HELPS VICTIMS DEAL WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT'S CHEMICAL IRRITANTS LEFT BEHIND.

>> NOT BEING ABLE TO DO WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE UNTIL THE PRACTICAL NIGHTMARE WAS RESOLVED, THE PAPERWORK OF DEATH HANDLED.

MEMBERS, PLEASE VOTE YES SO OTHER VICTIMS DON'T HAVE TO EXPERIENCE WHAT THE HORTMAN FAMILY DID WHEN CHEMICAL IRRITANTS ARE USED INSIDE THE HOME.

>> Mary: SHOOTING VICTIM SENATOR HOFFMAN HAS A BILL TO INCREASE SECURITY FOR SAFETY OFFICIALS.

>> WE HAVE SEEN AN EXPONENTIAL INCREASE IN THREATS OF VIOLENCE AND HARM TO ELECTED OFFICIALS, EVEN AS I'M SPEAKING, I HAVE CONTINUALLY -- I CONTINUALLY GET VOICE MAILS AND EMAILS IN THAT NATURE.

>> Mary: FINALLY, A FEEL-GOOD BILL TO CREATE A NEW STATE AGATE LICENSE PLATE PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS.

>> THIS MIGHT BE THE EASIEST YES VOTE THAT WE'LL GET TO TAKE ALL SESSION BECAUSE THIS BILL CELEBRATES ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE SYMBOLS WE HAVE IN MINNESOTA.

>> THIS IS AN AWESOME EXAMPLE OF HOW THINGS SHOULD GET DONE AROUND THIS PLACE.

THIS BILL TRULY SHOWS THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE.

>> Mary: SO HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE ONE OF THE FEEL-GOOD BILLS OF SESSION?

>> IT FEELS INCREDIBLE.

JUST ABSOLUTE, ABSOLUTE AMAZING ENERGY TO SEE THIS COME TOGETHER, SEE THE RESPONSE, AND HAVE THIS AS SOMETHING THAT