Catastrophic population declines among honeybees and other pollinating insects are spurring calls for greater pesticide regulation.

The Senate Finance Committee turned down Sen. Matt Schmit's bid to amend frac sand legislation into the game and fish bill less than a week after it removed from the same bill by a different committee. However, Gov. Mark Dayton's administration has voiced strong support for Schmit's proposal, creating the potential for it to reemerge before session's end.

The Rev. Mark Peters, executive director of the Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy in Minnesota, brings his denomination's faith-based mission to bear in the Capitol.

Here’s a guide to key policy matters that are likely to be addressed and heavily lobbied in the 2013 legislative session.

The state House on Thursday passed an environment policy bill 74-52 that drew fire from environmental groups.

The House and Senate appear to be heading for a conference committee battle over the marquee land-acquisition proposal in this year’s Legacy bill.

Although legislative leaders appear to be hastening to finish the 2012 session early, environment chairs in both chambers still have a number of policy issues to wrestle with before their work is done.

When it comes to battles over natural resources policy, efforts to change the state’s Wetlands Conservation Act (WCA) usually aren’t resolved overnight.

The House Judiciary Policy and Finance Committee will no longer be a stand-alone committee and Rep. Steve Smith will no longer be a chairman, according to House Speaker Kurt Zellers. Also, Rep. Tom Hackbarth has been given a gavel on a new energy subcommittee.

Four state agency heads have weighed in against the environment budget bills that are currently in conference committee.