The 2024 legislative session has begun after legislators returned to the Capitol this week.
Whenever a new session begins, people talk about legislators getting back to work but, in truth, the time and effort I put in to represent the people of District 16A did not stop when the Legislature adjourned last May. People deserve for their state representative to be highly accessible and responsive, which I take very seriously. The countless in-district meetings and events I attend – not just when the Legislature is not in session but throughout the year – allow me to continually advocate for the best interests of the people in our area.
There is a certain level of trust you build over the years and people know where I stand on the issues. They know I put the will of constituents first. Sometimes that means pushing back against extreme Democrat proposals. Other times that means reaching across the aisle and working with those same Democrats to do what’s best for the people I represent – and the state as a whole. Those important decisions will now once again come into focus and present themselves as the new legislative session hits its stride.
As for the issues, an unresolved issue related to school safety has been a top point of discussion during this first week of session. You may recall changes made to state law last year limit what school resource officers are allowed to do to de-escalate aggressive or violent situations, taking away tools they can use to keep students and teachers safe. In response, law enforcement agencies pulled SROs from numerous schools across Minnesota.
The House minority on Monday made a motion on to suspend the rules to bring forward a bill (HF3489) to promptly resolve the matter. Unfortunately, the majority blocked this motion to take prompt action and is delaying legislation that is needed to fix this serious public safety issue.
This is not the “fast-track” Democrats promised, but Republicans will continue working until a real fix is passed and 100% of SROs are back in schools.
Until next time, here are some links to help you follow developments in St. Paul this session:
Have a good weekend,
Dean