Neighbors, I hope you are enjoying the beginning of summer! Two weeks ago, the 93rd Minnesota Legislature concluded its most consequential two-year session in state history. After many years of divided government and gridlock that prevented meaningful progress for our state, House DFLers got the job done through a host of accomplishments that will benefit Minnesotans for generations to come. This session ended with decisive action to avoid the extraordinary obstruction of our colleagues across the aisle that threatened to block our deal to increase compensation for drivers and keep Uber/Lyft in Minnesota as well as policies to improve the child care tax credit, enact new gun violence prevention laws, and to expand health insurance coverage for reproductive care, wigs for cancer patients, prosthetics, and gender-affirming care. In an economy tilted in favor of big corporations and the wealthy few, the House DFL Majority has focused on taking on monopoly power by enacting policies reigning in abusive and anti-competitive practices of big pharma, big tech, big insurance companies, and predatory lenders. We are supporting and investing in workers, families, seniors, and the next generation. The Child Tax Credit is projected to cut childhood poverty by one-third. We are helping seniors keep more money in their pockets and delivering property tax cuts and an improved renters rebate program. We continue to invest in housing, early care and learning, food security, and child welfare. We reduced health care costs, including a cap on co-pays for prescription drugs to treat diabetes, asthma, and allergies at $25 for one month’s supply. There were a few things I advocated for that didn’t quite make it across the finish line this year. My bill, the End of Life Options Act, did not pass this year, but I plan to continue fighting for terminally ill Minnesotans to have options when facing the worst However, as Chair of the Elections committee, I’m proud to say that a number of important pieces of legislation to improve the safety and fairness or our elections are now law. This biennium, we: - Restored voting rights to 55,000 previously incarcerated, disenfranchised Minnesotans who have served their time;
- Passed the Minnesota Voting Rights Act, ended prison gerrymandering, and increased early voting on college campuses;
- Strengthened access to voting with automatic voter registration and allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register;
- Adopted the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact; and
- Improved campaign finance transparency and security.
 I was also proud to deliver on a number of issues for our community. This includes: - Funding for the new Golden Valley Fire Station;
- Improved local control over long-term equity community investments;
- Finalized redistricting of the Met Council, meaning more equitable representation for District 43B; and
- Funding for sewer system inflow and infiltration needs.
Here are other bills we passed this year that will improve the lives of all Minnesotans in every corner of our state: - Worker protections and wage compensation equity for Uber, Lyft and other TNC drivers;
- Elimination of minimum wage carve outs for youth, J1 visa holders, and workers at small businesses;
- Prevailing wage in publicly financed housing projects and eliminating misclassification fraud;
- Medical debt reform;
- Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act;
- Strengthen Paid Family and Medical Leave Law;
- Funding for services for crime victims;
- Prohibition on banning, removing, or otherwise restricting access to age-appropriate book or other material from a school library;
- Expanding our nation-leading Child Tax Credit;
- Invest in tree planting across the state;
- Tenants’ Bill of Rights;
- Prior authorization reform;
- Funding for the Rise Up Center to support clean energy jobs and training in our community; and
- Protections for clean drinking water and healthy soil, with investments in sustainable farming.
And more! I want to thank you for giving me the privilege of serving as your representative. Being trusted to legislate with my community’s best interest is not something I take lightly, and I’m proud to be part of creating a better Minnesota for all of us under DFL leadership. Free Park Day!Are you ready to explore? Minnesota state parks and trails are waiting! The next Free Park Day is Saturday, June 8th with free admission to everyone - no vehicle permits needed! Minnesota state parks are open year-round, and there's a state park within 30 miles of most Minnesotans. With a free day each season, it's a great opportunity to get out there and explore someplace new - or visit an old favorite at a new time of year! Whether you stay the whole weekend or just spend a few hours outside, you'll make memories that will last a lifetime. Find a state park near you using the DNR’s ParkFinder tool.  |