Dear Neighbors,
Hope the sunshine breaks through to stay here in Minnesota. This past week, I was happy to have some time with my family during our short break from legislating, and am refreshed and ready for the final sprint to the end of session on May 19.
There's a sticker I recently received from a friend that now hangs in my office. It reads, “What’s the best that could happen?” I’m using it as a reminder to ground myself in optimism and assertiveness as I navigate this work—especially in the face of the uncertainty and chaos stemming from unlawful actions by Musk and the Trump Administration.
I am paying particular attention to education funding. Here in Minnesota, DFLers worked over the last biennium to make meaningful improvements for teachers and students alike. In particular, the increased state aid linking the per pupil formula to inflation is proving to be a critical funding investment for our schools. This hard-won accomplishment set Minnesota on track to reverse decades of underfunding. That said, the federal cuts expected threaten that progress. Musk and the Trump Administration have dismantled the U.S. Department of Education which in addition to cutting off critical safeguards for all students, the federal aid accounts for over 10% of statewide school funding, and is essential for supporting kids with disabilities, English language learners, and students in poverty. It is unconscionable what Musk and the Trump Administration are doing to attack Minnesota’s most vulnerable children.
I am not alone in my concerns, and support Minnesota joining a lawsuit with 22 other states to halt the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education. At the state level, I am committed to protecting education for everyone, with legislation that seeks to target aid to better support those who need it most, set protections for students with special needs into state law, and build on the Read Act to continue our progress on literacy.
This week in St. Paul, we are finalizing our budget agreements to move them off the House floor and into Conference Committee negotiations. It is imperative that all sides work together to deliver a balanced budget.
I’m Just a Bill: Legislative Activity
The last few weeks have been full of bill hearings as my work to pass bills for our community bump up against their deadlines. Here are a few highlights.
City of Edina, MN (Local Government) Engineering Director Chad Milner testified in the Capital Investment committee hearing with me for HF246, a state bonding request for the Highway 100 + Vernon Ave interchange bridge. Upgrading this infrastructure with complex bridge and interchange work is a collaborative effort between the City of Edina, Hennepin County, Minnesota Department of Transportation and a Federal government grant. Read more about the project here.
In the Education Finance committee, I presented HF2043 – a bill for a public education and awareness campaign to shine a light on attendance and the positive impact on students when they consistently attend school. I was thrilled to have testifiers passionate about this work including a former student, Ashley Hightower, Kelsey Dawson of Hennepin County's Be at School team, and Terryl Brumm of the Twin Cities Boys & Girls Club.
Time with Constituents
Of course, the highlight of this work is getting to meet and connect with so many constituents. If you ever visit the Capitol or you have a legislative concern, please don’t hesitate to reach out to say hello.
Loved connecting with Edina Public Schools student Mia who served as a Page for the MN House of Representatives. This is a wonderful program that is full of learning opportunities and practical experience. It is open to juniors in High School only (sophomores, pay attention so you can apply in time!) Learn more here.
Had an important and meaningful meeting with physicians who are constituents advocating for the Safe Passage for Children as part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. I appreciated their expertise on current legislation that builds important protections for kids.
Passing a large capital investment bonding bill leads to significant work opportunities for thousands of members of the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters, and a great way to boost our local economies. I loved hearing from a constituent about the impact of her work elevating the group MN Women in the Trades.
Connecting with a constituent to hear her personal advocacy for a bill that would expand intervention treatment services, support and awareness for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) was impactful. I am inspired by her dedication to help more individuals and communities across Minnesota, and signed on as an author to HF1984.
Federal Tariffs: Impact on Small Businesses
Amid the confusion surrounding federal tariffs, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is gathering information from affected locally owned small businesses in Minnesota. Through collaboration, the department is looking to assess how they can best proactively plan to support those impacted as a result of tariffs.
With this period of uncertainty, we recognize there may be a lag in data. This MN DEED 5-minute-survey is a way for MN local business owners to communicate directly with the department with immediate concerns. Please fill out or share with others.
Protecting Yourself: Fraud Prevention Resources
Text, email, and social media scams are becoming more sophisticated and more prevalent. If you’re like me, you probably have gotten some of these scam texts that say you need to pay a toll or confirm a payment--it's important to be skeptical of such texts. Those E-Z Pass texts are scams, and MnDOT has issued a fraud warning here with resources in case you accidentally click a link.
In addition, Attorney General Keith Ellison has some resources on How to Spot a Scam with helpful examples and a list of common scams. If you have concerns about a particular offer or believe you are the victim of a scam, the Attorney General wants to hear from you. You may call at (651) 296-3353 (Twin Cities Calling Area) or (800) 657-3787 (Outside the Twin Cities), or submit a Consumer Assistance Request Form.
Meanwhile, here at the Legislature, we are working on bills to support the Attorney General’s work cracking down on fraud in the public and private sectors. Some proposals include stiffer penalties on Medicaid fraudsters, a fraud investigation unit within the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, fighting against employer misclassification fraud, and protecting veterans from claim sharks, those who seek to scam Veterans by profiting off the benefits they earned in service to our country.
Stay Connected
I can be reached by email at rep.julie.greene@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651-296-4363 with any questions or thoughts you’d like to share.
If you are making a visit to the Capitol, I’d love to connect. To receive my legislative updates on a regular basis, please subscribe here. I also invite you to follow my Facebook page here.
As always, it is an honor to represent you and our communities in St. Paul.
Sincerely,
Julie Greene, District 50A
5th Floor Centennial Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155