Friends,
We're down to the final 10 days of session and the work at the Capitol continues. This weekend is also Mother's Day and the Fishing Opener, so tell your mother you love her, and good luck fishing. Have a great weekend!
Bill to Remove Duplicative Requirements Unanimously Passes House
On Monday, my bill, House File 3015, passed the House unanimously. The bill removes the duplicative requirement for licensed family child care providers and center providers to post correction orders in their home or facility. This is a small but meaningful step to show we are listening and showing respect to our daycare providers, and are working to alleviate the overwhelming burdens child care providers have faced in recent years from regulators. I look forward to the Senate taking action soon.
Combating Opioid Epidemic
As part of our HHS Omnibus bill that passed last week, we included a number of provisions to combat the opioid epidemic. These common-sense reforms include:
- Investing money to provide more home drug disposal products and to empower students to join the fight against opioids
- Creating two pilot projects to test different programs that can help fight the opioid epidemic
- Shortening the length of time an opioid prescription is valid, reducing the supply of opioids in the secondary market
- Requiring physicians to undergo training on opioid prescribing best practices
This is an important issue that is hitting rural areas especially hard. These reforms should help to begin to combat the problem in a meaningful way.
REAL ID News
This week, Minnesota has received federal assurance that traditional driver's licenses will be sufficient to board domestic flights until October 1, 2020. Thanks to language spearheaded by House Republicans, the Dayton Administration is required by law to seek an extension once it becomes available. With this news, Minnesotans will continue to be able to travel without fear of their normal IDs not working for the next few years.
Meetings Since My Last Update
Since my last update, I had the great opportunity to meet with many people and groups interested in what is happening at the legislature. This week I met with MnDOT officials to discuss Corridors of Commerce projects. I was disappointed that the projects chosen this year were entirely metro-focused and voiced that displeasure with MnDOT officials. I believe they have gotten the message that future Corridors of Commerce projects must include projects that serve greater Minnesota.
Please continue to stay in touch to share your thoughts and ideas on issues important to you. You can schedule a time to meet with me in my office anytime by calling (651) 296-9236, or share your thoughts via email by emailing me at rep.duane.quam@house.mn
Have a great weekend,
Duane