Neighbors, It is already the middle of July! This summer is an excellent time to explore our local communities and travel to other parts of the state. Check out the Explore Minnesota website to plan your next getaway. And while you are enjoying summer activities, don’t forget the Little Canada Canadian celebration from August 2-4. You can find more information here.  New Laws Effective July 1Several new laws took effect on July 1, among those are laws related to supplemental funding, education policy, restrictive employment covenants, school boards and more. You can read about the new laws here. Summaries of all laws passed by the 2024 Legislature are available online from nonpartisan House Public Information Services here. Supporting StudentsAmong new laws taking effect are a handful impacting our kids heading back to school this fall. Several of the new laws will focus more energy and resources on student success, notably when it comes to reading comprehension and literacy. On July 1, the Minnesota Reading to Ensure Academic Development (READ) Act went into effect, investing $37.22 million in ensuring all of Minnesota’s students are reading at grade level beginning in kindergarten. In addition to improving literacy, other new laws include: - Annual reviews and revisions of personal learning plans to ensure students are on track to graduate
- Allowing school districts to grant parental access to their student’s performance data
- Enhancing the right to free speech for student journalists and freedom of the press in school-sponsored media
- Adding Native cultural practice, observance, or ceremonies to the list of excused religious absences from school
- Requiring schools to have a language access plan for students and families who speak languages other than English
- Ensuring certain rights and protections for children of Minnesota Army National Guard and Air National Guard members when transferring between public schools
Share your Input on Prescription Drug PricingDFLers are interested in hearing from Minnesotans about how prescription drug prices impact their health care, what affordability concerns exist, and which drugs might benefit from pricing transparency. If you are interested in providing your insights, you can complete the Public Input on Prescription Drug Price Transparency in Minnesota form to share your experiences and help guide the Minnesota Department of Health’s ongoing drug price transparency work. Stay in TouchIt is an honor to represent you at the Capitol and I am always grateful you read my e-updates during and after the legislative session. During an election period, however, legislators cannot use state resources for unsolicited communications because it might create an unfair advantage for incumbents. Subsequently, this is my last update until after the election. I am still available to help with the state-level problems, so please continue to reach out with any input, ideas, or feedback about the issues important to you. I value hearing from you, so call (651) 296-5363 or email any time at rep.peter.fischer@house.mn.gov. Sincerely, Peter Fischer |