Today was a milestone of sorts.  I actually passed a bill out of the Senate today. The bill has moved through the committees and the house and barring unforeseen consequences, the governor will eventually sign the bill into law.  So what kind of bill did I pass today?   Universal health care coverage?  Increased school funding?  Economic stimulus?  An end to poverty as we know it?  Not exactly.  The bill reads as follows:

Bill Name: SF2755

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1E Requiring the commissioner of public safety to grant a variance to move the
office of deputy register of motor vehicles in New Prague.

That’s it.  Nothing fancy.  Nothing complicated.  The bill was necessary because the Deputy Register of Motor Vehicles in New Prague is moving their office across the street.  Main street New Prague is also the county line between Scott County and LeSeur County.  Since the register moved from one county to the next (across the street), a change in statute was required.  Nothing glamorous, but typical of the many types of bills the legislators must deal with each and every session.

The other senators, noting it was my first bill up for a vote, quietly recorded their votes unanimously……on the red side (no votes!)……..then waiting for my surprised reaction, they all had a good laugh before  recording 65 green votes (and zero no votes) before the roll call ended.  Apparently the freshman senator had been officially initiated into the Senate.

I will always remember my first bill.   Other bills will follow.  I have authored or carried bills relating to energy conservation, the Dan Patch line, assessments regarding alternative learning centers,  eminent domain, flood insurance, and others  in my 5 weeks since taking office.   There is still time to tackle those other bills regarding health insurance, long term care, poverty, education funding, consumer protection, the economy, school readiness……..