Legislative Update- COVID-19, Education Symposium & Hate Crime Reporting

Dear Neighbors,

Yesterday, the Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota Senate  unanimously approved a bill to ensure that public health officials are prepared to respond to COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus. The bill appropriates approximately $21 million dollars to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and was signed into law by Governor Tim Walz today. 

I will share updates and news from MDH about this very serious issue as I receive them. If you or anyone in the community is concerned or seeking more information, MDH has set up a public hotline that will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. The hotline number is 651-201-3920.

Here are a few other measures under discussion at the House:

Education Symposium

Minnesota still has some of the worst racial disparities in the country. This has a profound impact on our society, economy, and especially in our education system. Legislators gathered last Friday at the State Office Building for an all-day Education Symposium focused on addressing racial inequities in Minnesota schools. We’re collaborating with and learning from experts and people who are most impacted -- because every child deserves a world-class education. Click here to download the agenda and check here for a full video replay.

Bill Introduced to Improve Reporting of Hate Crimes 

Last week, my colleagues in the House and Senate announced legislation to expand and improve reporting of hate crimes in Minnesota. The bill, of which I’m a co-sponsor, requires updated training for peace officers on crimes motivated by bias, and directs the Minnesota Department of Human Rights to consult with the Board of Peace Officer Standards on proposed improvements. Watch a video replay of the announcement here. 

Edina hasn’t been immune to these bias-based crimes, as we’ve seen recently with the anti-Semitic and racist graffiti at Edina public schools and parks. These hate crimes don’t just hurt the targeted group; they hurt our entire community. I’ll continue to advocate for this bill to help give our officers and community members more tools to improve reporting, so all our neighbors are empowered to fight against hate.  

Constituent Visit

I was glad to visit with Jeff Jorgenson from Edina Public Schools recently at the Capitol. We had a productive meeting planning for several pieces of legislation we are working on for next session. Thanks for your hard work on behalf of Edina students and families, Jeff!

District 49 Town Hall Meeting

Please join Senator Franzen, Rep. Elkins and me for a town hall meeting in Edina on Monday, March 16 at 7:00 p.m. at Edina Community Lutheran Church. We want to hear from you! We’ll be listening to community members and giving a brief update from the Capitol. Hope to see you there.

Keep in Touch

Please contact me anytime, on any issue important to you at 651-296-4363 or rep.heather.edelson@house.mn. Don’t hesitate to let me know how I can be of assistance.

It’s an honor to represent our Edina community at the Capitol!

Sincerely,

Heather Edelson

State Representative