Capitol View for February 6

Good morning. It’s possible to have 2024 conversations that aren’t brawls.

Talking Sense, a new MPR News initiative aimed at lowering the temperature in political conversations, is here. Reporter Catharine Richert has a piece this morning about Ely, where locals are looking at new ways to talk about old disputes. Long-standing division around mining has made it challenging for this community on the edge of the Boundary Waters wilderness to talk about contemporary issues like land use and the environment. The story is the kickoff to an election year reporting project. It's an exploration of political polarization in Minnesota, but also a collection of online tools and a series of live events aimed at helping people have hard conversations during what's sure to be another contentious election year. There’s even an app to help out and the first Talking Sense event is set for Feb. 27 in Woodbury.

Minnesota hopes a bit more green will be enticing to possible Office of Cannabis Management applicants. Green, as in money. As the state conducts a second search for an executive director, it has upped the pay scale. Brian reports that the latest job posting includes a pay scale that runs from nearly $133,000 to $190,000 per year. Initially, the range for the position was $105,000 to $150,000. Applications are due by Feb. 26, and the goal is to get somebody aboard by late spring or early summer. Salaries for agency heads in general are on the way up after recent law changes.

The Office of Cannabis Management hopes to gain oversight of hemp-derived products in an attempt to close a regulatory loophole. Currently, the Office of Medical Cannabis oversees hemp-derived products, but a loophole discovered late last year found that the Office of Medical Cannabis may not have legal authority to inspect raw hemp or cannabis flowers. MinnPost’s Peter Callaghan reports that interim director of the Office of Cannabis Management Charlene Briner will ask legislators to transfer oversight of hemp-derived products to her office this summer, rather than wait until next spring. Briner told MPR News on Monday that an inter-agency agreement could be in place soon that will temporarily allow for more inspections for unregulated sales. “We would imagine that within the next month to six weeks, we'll actually be able to be taking action on that enforcement as well,” she said.

State revenue officials estimate that 48,000 families have filed for child tax credit within the first week of the tax filing period. MPR’s Dana Ferguson reports that the Department of Revenue plans a campaign around the state to convince eligible people that they should file and claim the benefit. State leaders said the new program could cut the state’s child poverty rate by a third, but that’s only if all 300,000 expected to be eligible for the credits file to get them. “This goal might sound ambitious but I believe that we can spread the word and get it done,” Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said. “I told the governor that I would be willing to wear a sandwich board all across the state if that's what it would take.” The program offers a tax credit of up to $1,750 per child. The credit amount varies depending on a household’s earning level. And it phases out after household earnings reach certain thresholds.

Another legislator is entering her final session. This time, it’s DFL Rep. Hodan Hassan. The Minneapolis legislator will step away after completing her sixth year in the House. She’s the 16th lawmaker to announce a planned departure rather than a reelection run. Another, Rep. Kurt Daudt, is leaving prior to session.

Funding from the universal school meals program is helping more students eat local and from scratch. MPR News education reporter Elizabeth Schockman reports on how many schools across the state are using state funding to craft more farm-to-table meals for students. Even though it’s expensive to source fresh and local, at Roseville High School a government grant program has also helped reimburse some of the cost of sourcing from Minnesota farmers. Farm-to-school initiatives also keep money circulating in local rural communities. Roseville tries to focus on local food at least twice a month, but hopes to expand the program in the coming years.