Legislative Update – January 16, 2024
Dear Neighbors,
Happy New Year! As we head into a new year and the 2024 legislative session I want to take a moment to thank you for trusting me to represent our communities in St. Paul. I am looking forward to the future progress we will make together.
Last month I was honored to participate in the Clean Energy Economy annual legislative preview event and met with the City of Hopkins alongside fellow legislators to discuss solar generation. The House Health Committee, which I serve on, held an informational hearing on Medicaid Managed Care, which you can watch here.
It was great to be at the Capitol during the annual Youth in Government conference earlier this month. This year more than 1,300 high school-aged students came from all across the state to participate in the legislative process. It was so impressive to see these future leaders in action!
District 45 Listening Session
On Saturday, February 3rd from 10:00 to 11:00 am, Senator Kelly Morrison and I will be hosting a listening session at the Minnetonka City Hall in the council chambers (14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345). I hope you will be able to join us.
Resources for New Laws
As of January 1st, many laws that the legislature passed last session have come into effect, including our earned sick and safe time legislation, specialty “blackout” license plates, and more. Our nonpartisan research department has more details here and CBS News has an article with some highlights here.
I also want to highlight our North Star Promise Act, which will increase access to college for thousands of students in the state. Beginning in fall 2024, the North Star Promise (NSP) Scholarship program will create a tuition and fee-free pathway to higher education for Minnesota residents in families making under $80,000 at state colleges and universities. You can find more information on the Office of Higher Education’s webpage here.
Cold Weather Rule
Amidst this cold weather we’ve been seeing lately, I wanted to include a quick reminder that Minnesota’s “cold weather rule” is now in effect, which protects residents from having their electric or natural gas service shut off between October 1 and April 30.
To ensure your service is safe from disconnection, you must make and keep a payment plan that you and your utility provider agree on. More information is available on the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s website.
Staying in touch
Please reach out if you have any questions or feedback you would like to share. You can contact me by email at rep.patty.acomb@house.mn.gov or call (651) 296-9934.
Sincerely,
Patty Acomb
State Representative