Dear Neighbors,
This week’s legislative update is a little different in that official legislative business comes to a close late Sunday night. That means we’ll be working around the clock, and I’m hopeful we’ll pass our major initiatives, like tax conformity, school safety, and others, and the governor will sign them into law. I’ll be sure to keep you updated once we’ve concluded the legislative session, and I’m confident we’ll have good news to report.
The Latest from St. Paul
Though there are still matters being discussed late in session, there are some great bills that we’ve already passed with bipartisan support. Yesterday, the House and Senate passed the final version of our foster care legislation which includes my bill: the Foster Sibling Bill of Rights.
This creates guidelines to help keep foster youth connected with their siblings who are in the care of different foster parents. It does so by promoting close connections for foster siblings (when it is in the best interest of each sibling), including visits, phone calls, and taking part in important celebrations like birthdays. I see this as an important way to make the difficult process of foster care just a little easier for some of our most vulnerable Minnesotans. Now that we have agreement in the legislature, I hope to see Governor Dayton sign this bill into law.
As session winds down, I’m continuing to push for bills that matter to our area. The first bonding bill we passed contains two of our local projects: funding for Riverland Community College and funding to complete the Stables area water and sewer project. Our tax conformity bill has my legislation to create tax incentives for health care facilities that locate in medically underserved areas in rural Minnesota. Though these bills are currently in flux, I’ll continue to advocate for their inclusion in any final proposals this session.
Important Farming News
Because of all the late snow this year, there’s been some issues in the fertilizer supply chain. Recently, the governor issued an executive order to waive the hours of service requirements for carriers and drivers delivering anhydrous ammonia or other fertilizers. This is a critical way to limit one of the hardships our farmers encountered with the difficult weather last month.
Fun Visit
During the busy week, I was thrilled to say hello to a special guest on the House floor, Isanti County Sheriff Office K-9 Officer “Kojak,” who was here with his handler Deputy Jonathan. When we were busy this week, it was great to welcome a friendly four-legged public servant. I hope Colter wasn’t too jealous about me making a new friend!
Please Contact Me
I’ve enjoyed hearing from so many of you throughout the legislative session. It’s an honor to be your voice in St. Paul, and I’m daily humbled by this position and the responsibility I have to local residents. As we finish the legislative session at the Capitol, please continue to call or email my office to share your opinion. This is such a critical time to hear from you; please reach out!
Enjoy your weekend,
Peggy