Dear Neighbors,
I hope you had a great fall and are enjoying the beginning of the holiday season. Here is an update on a few things you may have missed and some things coming up as we head towards the end of 2023.
Energy Assistance
With the return of the holiday season we also have a return to cold weather. Open now until May 31, 2024, the Energy Assistance Program helps pay energy bills for eligible Minnesotans. This program is free and provides benefits up to $1,400, with additional support to respond to emergencies. Both renters and homeowners can qualify, and eligibility is based on income and household size. This program is federally funded and administered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. You can access the application here.
New Laws
As a quick recap to a historic session, new laws went into effect on July 1st and August 1st. Another set of laws will go into effect on January 1st as well. These laws will have a lot of positive benefits for our state, and I can't wait to see them work! The nonpartisan office of House Public Information has a summary of the new laws here:
Earned Sick and Safe Time Starting Soon
Effective Jan. 1, 2024, Employers must provide each employee in Minnesota at least one hour of paid sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked and up to at least 48 hours of accrued ESST a year. Please note that current leave policies that employers have with their employees may already meet the requirements of the new law. This is a fantastic win for workers across the state who will no longer have to choose between a paycheck and recovering from an illness. You can find a full FAQ of this important new law, here.
Extreme Risk Protection Orders Starting Soon
Beginning January 1, 2024, law enforcement and family members may ask for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) to prevent someone from purchasing or possessing a firearm because they pose a significant danger of bodily harm to others and/or is at significant risk of suicide if they have a firearm. I worked hard to support and pass this law last session, it will significantly improve safety across the state and save lives. You can learn more about this law here.
In addition to ERPOs, this last session we passed comprehensive criminal background checks for gun purchases, we increased penalties for possession of switches (the device that turns a gun into a fully automatic gun), and we made a substantial investment in violence prevention efforts.
Gun Violence Prevention Convening
On Wednesday I joined legislators from across the country and Vice-President Kamala Harris at a White House event to discuss gun violence prevention. I served as a panelist in a discussion that highlighted progress made in states like Minnesota and pointed toward additional steps moving forward into 2024. With guns remaining the leading cause of death for children in the U.S., it is critical that we work collaboratively with our federal and state partners to combat gun violence. More info on Biden-Harris Administration actions can be found here. The Minnesota Reformer wrote an article on this visit, here.
Flag Redesign Commission
Minnesota is getting a new flag and seal! The commission received 2,123 flag submissions and 398 seal designs in total, but has recently narrowed the flag options to 3 and finalized the new state seal. If the legislature does not intervene, the new emblems will become official on Minnesota Statehood Day on May 11.
Session Priorities Constituent Survey
As we prepare for the upcoming 2024 legislative session, House DFLers want to hear about the issues most important to you. This Minnesota Values Project Survey is an easy way to share your values, hopes, challenges, and ideas with us on solutions. It only takes a few minutes to fill out and can be found here.
Free COVID Tests
With COVID cases on the rise, here’s a quick reminder that you can now order up to four free rapid-antigen COVID tests through the federal government’s at-home testing program to be delivered directly to your home. These tests are intended to be used by the end of this year. For more information or to place your order, you can visit COVIDTests.gov.
Stay In Touch
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. 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 follow me on Facebook.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
Sincerely,
Kelly Moller
State Representative