Neighbors, This week we completed our budget bills with the passage of the Jobs and Labor, Human Services, Health, Commerce and Taxes. I am proud of the work we did together, with months of input from Minnesotans. We listened to you and crafted a budget to lift all Minnesotans and create a state where everyone can thrive and succeed. I serve on the Human Services Finance committee and the budget bill we passed earlier this week provides support for our most vulnerable Minnesotans, significantly invests in caring professions, and doubles down on our efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. The Human Services budget includes an increase in funding for Minnesota’s caring professionals. With an automatically adjusted reimbursement rate, nursing home facilities are forecasted to receive an additional $847 million over the next four years, totaling an investment of more than $6 billion - the largest amount of nursing home funding in state history. Wage increases make up a significant portion of the Human Services budget proposal, with more than $2.3 billion over the next four years to raise the rates for PCAs and wage increases for other supports including those utilizing the Elderly Waiver, the Disability Waiver Rate System, Home- and Community-Based Services, Intermediate Care Facilities, and workforce incentive and training opportunities. Investing in Public SafetyAlso, this week the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the Judiciary and Public Safety budget bill. The public safety portion of the bill invests in a diverse set of tools to improve public safety. It prioritizes a holistic approach on gun violence prevention, funding for law enforcement and victims of crime, juvenile justice reform, and more. This bill will create a safer Minnesota while working to break cycles of crime and violence. The measure implements criminal background checks to keep guns out of the hands of those who are prohibited from having them. It also includes a red flag law, creating an effective tool to prevent those likely to cause harm from doing so. Lastly, it makes historic investments in gun violence prevention research grants to determine the next best steps to end gun violence. Worker SafetyIn addition to passing the remainder of budget bills this week, we passed legislation with worker safety in mind by approving the refinery worker safety bill and also a measure to improve worker safety at warehouses. Video of all hearings and floor votes are available on House Public Information Services’ YouTube channel. Combatting HateRecently two local mosques have been attacked, resulting in fire damage to both. This week, I joined several of my fellow legislators to support our Muslim colleagues, who responded to a recent Star Tribune cartoon depicting racist stereotypes, and called for action regarding violent attacks on several mosques in Minneapolis. We will not tolerate any level of hate directed toward our Muslim neighbors or any Minnesotans who are marginalized, singled out, or threatened because of their faith or differences.  School Psychologists Visit the CapitolThis week, House Education Committee members met with Minnesota School Psychologists to talk about their appreciation of the pipeline funding and additional investments to hire more school support professionals. While they thanked us, they are the ones who deserve our gratitude. They give 100% to ensure our students are heard, and they show up everyday to help our kids face and overcome challenges.  Medicaid Updates RequiredDuring the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, annual renewals for our public health programs – MinnesotaCare and Medicaid – paused. On May 11, the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency is ending and those on MinnesotaCare or Medicaid will need to update their information to determine their ongoing eligibility. If someone is no longer eligible for coverage under Medicaid, they should be able to get low-cost health insurance through the federal and state insurance marketplaces. You can watch a short video here for more information.  Stay connected with the legislatureThe Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services offers nonpartisan recaps of high-profile bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions with their Session Daily publication. Subscribe to receive these here. To track bills of interest through the legislative process, I encourage you to utilize the MyBills feature on the Minnesota House of Representatives’ website. Please continue to reach out with any input, ideas, or feedback about the issues important to you. I value hearing from you, so please don’t hesitate to call or email me any time. You can also connect with me on Facebook here. It’s an honor to represent you at the State Capitol. Sincerely, Laurie Pryor State Representative |