Neighbors, We knew it would come eventually. As we brace for what’s shaping up to be a snowy weekend, this week has been especially busy at the Capitol as we continue working on solutions to make our state work better for everyone and help Minnesotans have the economic security they deserve. Back home on Monday, after a request for a volunteer from the band director, I joined my son’s fifth grade band concert for an impromptu performance on the cowbell. As we continue our work over the next two months, we’ll be working with the next generation at the forefront of policy. These young musicians will someday be our doctors, teachers, and leaders. During these busy months, it was nice to have a boisterous reminder of who we do this work for. And when in doubt...more cowbell!  The End-of-Life Options ActThe End-of-Life Options Act continues to move through committee, having received its fourth hearing this week in the Commerce Committee. The bill, which allows legal adults who are diagnosed with a terminal illness and determined to be of sound mind to be prescribed life-ending medication, will head to the Ways and Means Committee next. I want to thank folks who have shown an outpouring of support for this bill with messages, phone calls, and emails. I’m confident this is the right thing to do for Minnesotans. Elections Policy BillIn the Elections Committee, which I chair, we’re working on a policy package to increase transparency, efficiency, and safety of our elections. From ensuring local elections have the same ease state and national elections do when it comes to absentee voting, to stopping AI generated “deep fakes” from interfering with our elections, this legislation builds on the work we did last year to ensure our elections are free, fair, and accessible. I’m looking forward to sharing more items in the bill with you over the coming weeks as it’s finalized. Allowing Immunization Standards at DaycareMinnesota Statute requires children over two months old to be vaccinated against highly contagious, deadly diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, polio, and others in order to enroll in any school or daycare. Last week, Paul Alexander, a man known for living in an iron lung since he contracted polio at just 6 years old, died after living in the iron lung for over 70 years. Until 2022, polio had been eradicated for more than three decades, meaning none of our kids suffered the same fate for thirty years. Experts maintain the only way to keep polio and other sinister diseases at bay is vaccination, but across the country, skepticism of vaccines has caused a comeback of an array of otherwise eradicated or nearly eradicated diseases. In Florida, measles is on the rise, putting school aged kids and the community as a whole at risk. That’s why I introduced legislation to allow daycare providers to set their own vaccination policies when it comes to preventing these deadly diseases. This bill would give licensed child care providers the ability to deny a child over two months old from enrolling, unless the child has a medical exemption. This would only apply to the vaccinations already required by law for school enrollment and would not apply to vaccines such as the flu shot or COVID vaccines. Parents have a right to decide what is best for their child, however, they do not have a right to put other children in danger as a result. This bill will give licensed daycare centers, which often care for infants not old enough to be vaccinated yet, the breathing room they need to set their own policies to protect their kids and staff. The Dog and Cat Transparency BillOn Tuesday, the Dog and Cat Data Transparency Bill had its final committee hearing. This bill would make breeder and shelter reports public, so families and pet-parents-to-be can verify things like the number of animals, the health of the animals, and facility conditions before they put down a large deposit on a puppy or kitten they haven’t met yet and make a significant financial and emotional investment in a new pet. This legislation would make data on findings about large-scale commercial cat and dog breeders public and would require state inspection data for licensed dog and cat breeders to be posted online. Minnesotans deserve to know the truth about where their new member of the family is coming from. By increasing transparency, facilities following proper procedures will be unaffected, while bad actors will be held accountable. The bill now awaits a full vote on the House floor. Adopt Me! Meet Rocko, a four year old bulldog mix at the Golden Valley Animal Humane Society. He needs a lively and active home full of play time, fetch, and toys. He loves to be busy, both physically and mentally. Staff noted that Rocko walks well on a leash and loves greeting new people! To meet Rocko, visit the Golden Valley Humane Society! Keep in TouchYou can always contact me at rep.mike.freiberg@house.mn with any questions you may have. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Mike Freiberg State Representative |