Legislative Update – March 26, 2024
Dear Neighbors,
Thank you to everyone who has stopped by my office these past couple of weeks. I have been meeting with our partners from local governments and school districts, advocates for clean energy, disability services providers, and the Alzheimer’s Association. I also was able to meet a fantastic group of Minnetonka Boy Scouts during their tour of the State Capitol and speak on the Minnesota Rural Electric Association’s annual legislative panel.
March 10th-16th was Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week, and I was proud to join legislators as we presented an official House Resolution to a group from the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National MS Society. So many people’s lives are touched by this disease and the work the MS Society does is so important.
Presenting Bills in Committee
I have been presenting multiple pieces of legislation over the past couple of weeks. Last Friday was the Legislature’s first internal deadline for policy bills to be considered in the relevant committees.
I am working on a tax increment financing bill with the City of Minnetonka to build affordable housing in Opus, legislation regulating the dispensing of methadone for patients with opioid use disorder, and my bill ensuring parental notification regarding child abuse, which is supported by the Minnesota Children’s Alliance.
Climate and Energy Committee
The Climate and Energy Committee, which I chair, has been considering legislation that will help speed up our clean energy transition and reduce energy costs for working and middle-class Minnesotans.
We heard legislation to update the ECO, or Energy Conservation and Optimization Act, which you can read about here. We also passed a bill that would provide protections to renters who receive utility billing through their landlord and considered a bill to create a geothermal heat exchange system rebate program.
Last Wednesday, we were joined by House Majority Leader, and former Climate and Energy Chair, Rep. Jamie Long as he presented the Minnesota Energy Infrastructure Permitting Act, which will eliminate redundancies, increase transparency, and make Minnesota’s permitting process more efficient and consistent.
Without upgrades to our decades-old energy permitting laws to meet the challenges we face today, our carbon-free ambitions may not become reality. The Minnesota Energy Infrastructure Permitting Act will help us meet this critical moment and remove barriers to the clean energy future all Minnesotans deserve.
Federal Assistance for Small Businesses Affected by Warm Winter
Despite our snowy past weekend, our “winter” this year has been unseasonably warm overall. While many of us have enjoyed foregoing winter jackets this year, the low precipitation we’ve experienced this winter has had a real economic impact on small businesses that rely on snow and winter tourism.
Federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available due to the ongoing federal drought declarations affecting 81 Minnesota counties. Small business owners should apply here for assistance as soon as possible.
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