Legislative Update – April 12, 2024Dear Neighbors, We are halfway through the 2024 Legislative Session, and legislators will begin passing policy bill packages that build on our historic progress from last year, and support Minnesotan workers, children, families, and seniors.  Multiple pieces of legislation I’ve authored this year are moving forward in these policy bills, including in the Labor and Industry, and Health packages. I will share updates on those as they pass the House Floor! Minnesota Kids Code RallyThank you to everyone who came out to the State Capitol last Friday for the Minnesota Kids Code Rally! At its core, my bill asks companies to design and build better, safer online products before potential harm is done. I am proud to report it has bipartisan support in the House! You can read more in this MPR story: Minnesota lawmakers debate tighter rules for tech companies over content that could harm kids.  From car seats to cribs, we have looked at child safety issues—but we’ve never applied that to online settings. Now is the time to take action to pass the nation-leading Minnesota Kids Code and protect children’s data, health, and safety. You can read my column on the need to pass the Minnesota Kids Code and build a safer digital Minnesota here. Protecting Local PharmaciesLast week, I was proud to join my Senate colleagues and local pharmacy owners and patients at a press conference announcing legislation to support local pharmacies. I am authoring a bipartisan bill that would extend the federal authorization for pharmacies to perform vaccinations. You can watch that press conference here.  Nearly 40 percent of COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered by pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy technicians in our state, helping address an unprecedented health crisis during the pandemic. Without action, the authority to deliver these services will expire at the end of the year. Patients trust their neighborhood pharmacists to deliver quality care, and we need to ensure they can continue to do so. You can read more in MPR: ‘Overdue for action’: Pharmacists press for financial help, changes to prevent closures. Work continues this week on a package of bills authored by me to ensure small independent pharmacies continue to exist and thrive in our communities, notably a hearing on Friday for HF3902, my legislation increasing Medical Assistance (MA) dispensing fee rates. House Floor VotesLast week the House began passing policy bill packages in major issue areas building on the work of our historically productive 2023 session and improving the lives of Minnesotans. The House passed two policy bills supporting our Departments of Military Affairs and Veterans Affairs, which passed with unanimous support! We passed a higher education policy bill that includes the clean energy sector in our Workforce Development Scholarship Program and expands support in higher education for students who have a disability. We also passed an early education policy bill to strengthen our pre-kindergarten and school readiness programs. Finally, we passed a transportation policy package that improves road safety, DVS wait times, child passenger safety, and consumer protections.  On Monday night, we passed an election bill that creates a Minnesota Voting Rights Act, fights election disinformation, and addresses smoother transitions for school board appointments. We also unanimously passed a public safety package that includes bipartisan provisions that strengthen our laws and add stronger protections for the rights of sexual assault survivors. Veterans Day at the CapitolThank you to all of our neighbors who have served our country with honor and distinction. I am grateful for you and your service! Veterans and supporters are invited to participate in the annual Veterans Day on the Hill, on Wednesday, April 17. Advocate for veterans’ issues, meet with legislators, and attend the State Capitol rotunda rally. I hope to see you at the Capitol on April 17!  |