Neighbors, The 2024 legislative session has wrapped up and I am proud of our accomplishments, as we built on the success of the extraordinary 2023 session to help all Minnesotans succeed. Session SuccessesThe Minnesota House collaborated with Governor Walz and our Senate colleagues to pass all major supplemental budget bills. You can find nonpartisan summaries about the final agreements here: Transportation, Labor and Housing, Energy and Agriculture, Public Safety and Judiciary, Commerce and Cannabis, Jobs and Economic Development, Environment and Natural Resources, K-12 Education, Higher Education, Health, Human Services, and Elections. I serve as Education Policy Committee chair, and the major legislation package crafted this year focuses on important measures to give schools flexibility, addresses students’ mental health, eliminates some paperwork, addresses protected speech, and more, placing the focus on our students. Other measures approved this session included a gun violence prevention bill including tougher penalties for straw purchasers and a ban on binary triggers, a bill to increase wages for rideshare drivers while keeping companies operating in Minnesota, a health occupational licensure and scoping bill, legislation improving our child welfare services and addressing racial disparities, and a tenants’ rights package. Almanac at the CapitolThis is my last session serving as your representative, and just before the session concluded, I was interviewed on Almanac at the Capitol about my time in the legislature. My term ends next January.  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. You can track bills of interest with the MyBills feature and for general House of Representatives’ information, click on the website. As most of you know, I am retiring from the legislature at the end of the year. Until then, please continue to reach out with any input, ideas, or feedback about the issues important to you. I value hearing from you, so call or email me any time. You can also connect with me on Facebook here. It is an honor to represent you at the State Capitol. Sincerely, Laurie Pryor State Representative |