Dear Neighbors,
We are in the final stretch of the 2024 legislative session, with only 10 days left we are meeting in conference committees with our Senate colleagues to hash out the final versions of our various bills designed to improve the lives of working- and middle-class Minnesotans. I am honored to have been appointed to the Education Finance Committee to finalize our work for this session on the Read Act 2.0.
Here’s an update from the Capitol.
Our Community at the Capitol
It was an honor to have seven Edina State Champion Teams that included Boys and Girls Hockey, Girls Soccer, Girls and Boys Swim, Debate and Robotics join us at the Capitol last week to be honored with a House & Senate Resolution from our Edina Legislators. We were also joined by Edina Mayor Jim Hovland! Congratulations again to these champs!
I was also joined by Vernon Terrace residents at the Capitol and during a late session night - it was nice to visit with my good friends and fellow women of the 2018 class of MN House of Representatives.
Legacy Conference Committee Headed to the Governor’s Desk
We just passed the Legacy Conference Committee Report at 11:00pm last night which is now headed to the Governor's desk to be signed into law!
In 2008, Minnesota voters passed the Legacy Amendment to protect and enhance our state’s outdoor heritage, clean water, parks and trails, and cultural heritage. At the Capitol, we are continuing that legacy by investing $240 million in projects to protect our environment and celebrate the arts, culture, and history.
- Clean water is critical to protecting our environment and health. This bill invests over $25 million to protect water, address nitrate pollution, and fund floodplain restoration as well as over $12 million in funds to guard against invasive carp.
- We are funding programs for art education and access, preserving history, commemorating our veterans, and celebrating Minnesota’s diverse cultural heritage.
- We are protecting, preserving, and enhancing nearly 62,000 acres of wildlife habitat, including working with Tribal leaders to create a new Minnesota Heritage Forest.
You can find a copy of the Legacy bill here.
House Budget Bills Passed that are Headed to Conference Committees with the Senate
The House has passed each of its supplemental budget and policy bills off of the floor, covering important issues such as labor, housing, the environment, and more. Our work this year builds on last year’s historic successes and works to improve the lives of working and middle class Minnesotans. Recently, we passed the following bills that are now headed to the :
- A broadly bipartisan bill investing $240 million in our outdoors, clean water, parks and trails, and cultural heritage from the Legacy Amendment fund.
- An Environment and Natural Resources bill with new investments in tree planting, improving air quality, holding repeat polluters accountable, and tackling solid waste and recycling.
- A Children and Families bill that reforms our child protection system and builds on historic investments in economic support for families, food security, and emergency shelter.
- A Transportation, Labor, and Housing bill that invests in railroad safety and public transit, enhances worker rights and safety, improves housing stability for renters and seniors, and funds homelessness prevention.
- A Workforce and Economic Development bill, securing investments for employment and training programs,
- A Taxes bill improving the tax system for working class Minnesotans by expanding the Child Tax Credit and creating a direct tax filing system.
- An Elections bill that strengthens our elections for local units of government.
- A Health bill which expands access to health care coverage, makes care more affordable by reducing cost sharing, and reforms medical debt to ensure all Minnesotans have the quality health care they deserve.
- And an Energy, Commerce and Agriculture bill which speeds up our clean energy transition, increases data privacy standards for Minnesotans, and improves critical agriculture programs.
Statehood Day
This Saturday, May 11, 2024, Minnesota celebrates 166 years of statehood. The Minnesota State Flag and Seal approved by the State Emblems Redesign Commission early this year will become the official state emblems. This is a culmination of months gathering input from and engaging with Minnesotans to find consensus on a flag and seal that represents the best of all of us.
Slow Mow Summer
You’ve probably heard of “No Mow May” and may have even participated in making your lawn more pollinator-friendly! While it’s a catchy slogan, researchers from the University of Minnesota Bee Lab have modified the popular campaign due to additional research on best practices for pollinators and lawn health.
“Slow Mow Summer” takes the sentiment of “No Mow May” and expands it to the entire growing season! Because guess what? Bees need food AFTER May, too. Many bee species do not even emerge from hibernation until June or July, when self-heal, ground plum, lanceleaf tickweed, or calico American aster may be blooming in your lawn.
Mowing after lawn flowers bloom instead of before is the main goal of “Slow Mow Summer.” You can learn more about how best to help native pollinators, like Rusty Patched Bumblebee, survive and thrive here!
Stay in Touch
Please reach out to me anytime at rep.heather.edelson@house.mn.gov or 651-296-4363 with your input or questions. You’re also welcome to follow me or ‘like’ my official Facebook page for additional updates.
Thank you for the honor of representing our Edina and Bloomington residents and families in the Minnesota House!
Sincerely,
Heather Edelson
State Representative