Dear Neighbors,
I’m excited to get back to work at the Minnesota State Capitol when the Legislature convenes officially on January 3! I’m deeply grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me to continue serving our community in the Minnesota House.
Legislative district boundaries have changed, and in our area, the realignment was somewhat significant. Therefore, you may have a new State Representative and Senator representing you. I’ve been honored to represent the constituents of District 42A the past four years and look forward to serving those who live in the new District 40A. Visit the Who Represents Me webpage to learn more.
Committee Assignments
I’m honored to have been appointed chair of the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee this coming session. The problems we’re looking to solve within our criminal justice system will require strategic investments and thoughtful collaboration. I look forward to working alongside partners including local leaders, law enforcement, first responders, victims and survivors, impacted persons, and others to deliver the solutions people are counting on throughout our communities.
Yesterday marked the 10th anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook. Since then, people from all walks of life have overwhelmingly made their voices heard about the need for stronger gun violence prevention measures. Regrettably, little has changed since.
The status quo is unacceptable, and everyone deserves to be safe in their community. Background checks, red flag laws, and requirements around safe storage and reporting of stolen firearms are just a few of the items I plan to consider in the committee to help ensure guns aren’t in the hands of those who shouldn’t possess them.
I’ll also chair the House Ethics Committee, and my other committee assignments include positions on Judiciary & Civil Law, Rules & Legislative Administration, and Ways & Means.
New Economic Forecast
Last week, Minnesota Management and Budget issued a new economic forecast projecting a $17.6 billion budget for the coming biennium. Many of these funds are available one-time, and inflation is only accounted for on the revenue side of the ledger, but not the expenditure side. Still, this new state fiscal picture gives lawmakers the potential to make a big impact for Minnesotans this session, especially as people and families are struggling with increasing costs.
There are plenty of urgent priorities Minnesotans are counting on us to deliver to build a state that works better for everyone. These include investments in our schools, economic security for working families, making health care more affordable, protecting our democracy, addressing climate change, and much more. I look forward to engaging with community members as we do this important work, together.
Name a Snowplow
MnDOT has once again offered Minnesotans the opportunity to suggest a name for a snowplow on Minnesota’s highways. The deadline to submit a name for the contest is Friday, December 16. Previous winners have included Plowy McPlowFace, Betty Whiteout, The Truck Formerly known as Plow, and Plow Bunyan.
On a related note, thank you to all of our dedicated public employees driving plows across Minnesota roads during this week’s inclement weather to keep us all safe!
Holiday Greetings
As the holiday season is upon us, I want to take a moment to wish you and your loved ones a joyous holiday. This time of year is great for reflection, and it’s also a good time to look ahead. By coming together and supporting one another, we will be an even stronger community and state in 2023. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season full of quality time with the people you care about most.
Stay in Touch
The 2023 Legislative Session begins on January 3. Your engagement and feedback about the issues that matter to you are extremely valuable in my efforts to effectively serve our community. Please feel free to contact me directly with your viewpoints or if I can be of assistance. My email is rep.kelly.moller@house.mn.gov and my phone number is 651-296-0141. You can learn about bills that have been introduced here and keep track of the bills I’ve authored here. House Public Information Services has a variety of nonpartisan resources as well including streaming video of floor sessions and committee hearings, informative publications, and the Session Daily newsletter.
If you have neighbors, friends, or family who you think would find these updates valuable, please share this with them; they can subscribe here. I also encourage you to “like” or “follow” me on Facebook.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
Sincerely,
Kelly Moller
State Representative