Summer Update: New Policies to take effect

Neighbors,

I hope you're having a good summer! Some, though not all, of the new policies we passed this year will take effect on July 1st. Here's an overview of a few that begin at the start of the month:

• House DFLers are committed to keeping Minnesota communities safe. That’s why we took on Big Pharma to hold them accountable to the opioid epidemic. The proposal that will become law on July first establishes a registration fee on pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors that will go toward ending the epidemic.
• Access to the internet is crucial in today's economy. It's easy to take for granted its use in starting a business, going to school or doing our jobs. Our bill to invest in border-to-border broadband will take effect on July 1st, and for the first time, communities without access to high-speed internet will be able to receive grants. 
• We made a small investment in recruiting and training teachers of color and Indigenous teachers, but it's a fraction of the investment we need. While 34 percent of our students are students of color, only four percent of teachers are. This is a proven factor in our persistent opportunity gaps, and we'll continue to fight to close it. 
• Before the passage of the marital rape exemption, Minnesota law shielded rapists from prosecution in certain instances if they were married to their victim. The repeal of this loophole is long overdue and I'm grateful for the bipartisan support this bill received. 
• A helpful overview of ALL the bills that will take effect on July 1st is available here. 

I was proud to attend the announcement of the first new riverfront park project in north Minneapolis in nearly 15 years. I'm also advocating for funding for this project, which I hope to pass next year.