Dear neighbors, I hope this email finds you safe, healthy, and enjoying them great weather we’ve had recently! Here’s a brief update from the Capitol: Preserving Reproductive FreedomAs you’ve likely heard, the Supreme Court recently decided to end the constitutional right for women to have reproductive freedom. This did not happen by accident; it was a coordinated effort years in the making. It’s also clear the Supreme Court will not end there. People still have access to abortions in Minnesota, and we need to protect that right. Earlier this year, I helped defeat efforts to restrict Minnesotans’ reproductive rights and access to reproductive health care. I will keep working hard to make sure Minnesotans can get safe, legal care and have the freedom to make their own choices. New Laws Took Effect on July 1Several new laws took effect last Friday, including legislation that will: - Provide funding for ALS research and support people who are caring for a loved one with ALS
- Fund more than 100 initiatives to protect our environment
- Establish a new office to improve the health, safety, and welfare of Minnesotans in foster care
- Strengthen the state’s Fraud Bureau and give it the authority to investigate more financial crimes, including wage theft
- Limit the use of screens in preschool and kindergarten classrooms
You can view a list of laws that took effect on July 1 and read more about each of them here. Working with MinnesotansI had an opportunity to meet with graduate fellows from the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center recently. We talked about plants and animals that have made their way to our lakes, rivers, and streams, with significant consequences for other wildlife and Minnesota’s ecosystems. I’ve worked on this issue at the legislature, and it was great to hear from young Minnesotans who are studying it closely!  Last week, Rep. Kelly Morrison and I attended an in-person meeting of the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources – the first one held since we were appointed to the group! During this meeting, the commission voted to provide funds to the City of St. Cloud so they can install renewable energy on a local wastewater treatment plant.  St. Cloud is working on decarbonizing their electricity sector and the heating of their buildings. These funds will allow the city to continue doing innovative work. It will also benefit other cities in Minnesota, since they’ll be able to use St. Cloud as a model for future projects. I look forward to seeing you around this summer! If you have any questions or feedback you’d like to share, you can contact me by email at rep.patty.acomb@house.mn or call (651) 296-9934. Sincerely, Patty Acomb
State Representative |