Dear Friends,
I am very pleased to share that two big changes happened in the MN House this week. Thursday was our first floor session with no mask mandate! It was so good to be able to work with my colleagues and see their smiling faces once again. The Speaker also announced that the doors of the State Office Building will open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays starting March 21st. After two long years, it is so good that we will once again be able to welcome Minnesotans back to our St. Paul offices.
The new House and Senate district maps were also released this week, and our boundaries are going to look a little different. Douglas County will be split into two Senate districts and two House districts. The most important thing is that I am still your representative until January 3, 2023. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done this session, including bonding proposals for Ottertail city and Spitzer Lake. Last Saturday, I visited with the residents of Lake Spitzer regarding the high waters and flooding. Per their request, I am having a bonding bill drafted to address their concerns.
Blake's Law
This week I introduced Blake’s Law, a bill that will keep our cyclists and motorists safe on our roads. Blake Nohre of Miltona, a 14-year-old boy, and a good friend of my sons, died tragically when he was bicycling with his friends. I attended the funeral, and after discussions with his mother, I drafted the legislation to address her desire to change the law. Blake’s Law will require bicyclists to ride on the other side of the road so they can see oncoming traffic. I look forward to seeing this bill become law so we can keep our roads safe for our children and all Minnesotans.