Friends and neighbors,  The Minnesota House has officially returned to a 67-67 tie! Representative David Gottfried of Roseville was officially sworn in on Monday, restoring what voters intended in November. I’m so thankful that the period of partisan chaos and uncertainty under Republican rule in the House has come to an end. Over the past few months, Democrats have successfully stopped bad-faith bills in their tracks. Now, we’ll be able to block those bills in the early stages before they make it to the House Floor. In addition to finally returning to business as usual, I’m so excited to announce the Minnesotans with Disabilities Act that I’m authoring with Sen. Erin Maye Quade! We gathered with advocates to announce the bill on Tuesday following an electric rally in the rotunda.  This bill would enshrine federal protections of reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities into Minnesota law. The Minnesotans with Disabilities Act closely mirrors §504 the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which offers strong protections from discrimination based on disability in programs that receive federal funding. The Minnesotans with Disabilities Act will offer the same protections at a state level. The disability justice movement has made our country a better place for people of all abilities. This bill reaffirms that in Minnesota, our neighbors, coworkers, classmates and family members will have the opportunities they deserve to fully participate in our schools, workplaces and communities. The Minnesotans with Disabilities Act affirms our dedication to listening to and learning from people with disabilities on our path to a just, equitable future.  Thanks for Joining Us!Thank you to everyone who came to last weekend’s town hall with Attorney General Keith Ellison. While the main reason for gathering was to talk about medical debt, we had a robust conversation about a whole host of issues affecting our community. KIMT reported attendance between 200 and 300 people – that just might be record town hall turn out!  We are looking to hold another forum towards the end of April, so keep your eyes peeled for a save the date coming soon. Don’t Miss the 2025 Workforce Development Forum!The Workforce Development Board of Minnesota is hosting a Workforce Development Forum again this year, and registration has been extended! The Workplace Development Board is a great partner here in Southeast Minnesota for job placement and training. They offer a lot of great resources and free services for youth and young adults to help with life and career trajectory. This year, the event will feature Krista Ryan, a Southeast Minnesota native, dynamic business coach, HR expert, and published author. Krista will share powerful reflections on navigating change, fostering belonging, and driving team success. You can learn more and sign up for the event here. For Your Recipe BookIf you’re like me, the news coming out of Washington has been overwhelming lately. In between calling my congressmembers and working to protect our progress here in Minnesota, one thing that keeps me going is cooking food for my friends and family. Food connects us, comforts us, and fuels us to continue to fight extreme MAGA policies that hurt people. In the name of community and longevity of our fight, I want to share some of my favorite recipes that are staples in our household. This week’s is my homemade hot cocoa – since apparently we aren’t done with cold weather yet, my family loves a good hot cocoa bar! We have dairy lovers and dairy free in my household, so this week I’m sharing TWO! Click here to download the recipe card.  Stay Connected with the LegislatureUnfortunately, due to technological constraints, replies to this newsletter won’t reach me. Please continue to reach out with any input, ideas, or feedback about the issues important to you. I value hearing from you, so call or email any time. You can find my information on my House website. You can also like my Facebook page. It is an honor to represent you at the State Capitol. Sincerely, Kim Hicks State Representative |