LEGISLATURE COMMITTEE DEADLINES ESTABLISHED

The 2008 hald of the Minnesota State Legislature begins in two weeks but House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and House Majority Leader Tony Sertich announced yesterday that committees already have deadlines to get potential laws approved. Committees are supposed to "act favorably" on bills that originate in the House by March 14th and by March 19th on bills that come from the Senate. Committees have until March 28th to act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills. Lawmakers are to return to session on Tuesday, February 12th at noon and committees are to begin meeting. They won't meet the next day until 3pm because of the State of the State address in St. Cloud. House leaders have scheduled an Easter Break from March 19th to the 25th.