Dear Neighbors,
Last week was especially busy at the Capitol as we work to catch up on delays from our recent snow storm. Aside from catching up on committee work, the budget forecast which we’ll use to craft our budget bills, was released. The outlook is very positive, especially as this is the first year where we fully account for inflation in the forecast. I'll keep you updated as the legislature begins to shift our focus to deciding budget matters. You can read more on it here.
Here are updates on some of what I’ve been up to recently.
Upcoming Town Hall
Join Rep. Heather Edelson, Senator Alice Mann, and me for a town hall hosted jointly by the League of Women voters of Edina and Bloomington! It will be held on Tuesday, March 14th from 6-7pm at the Edina Community Lutheran Church, 4113 W. 54th street, Edina, 55424. I hope to see you there!
Pathways Home Act
Last Thursday we passed the Pathways Home Act. This act will significantly increase funding to critical state programs that support shelter providers across Minnesota in their direct response and service to Minnesotans who are currently unsheltered. While we need more than shelters to solve our housing crisis, they are still critical to saving lives and getting folks the resources they need to work towards a permanent solution.
Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention
We passed a bill to prevent the theft and sale of stolen catalytic converters. HF 30 seeks to crack down on the theft of catalytic converters by prohibiting anyone from possessing a used, unattached catalytic converter unless the owner has the vehicle identification number (VIN) for the vehicle, and the date the converter was removed from the vehicle. It prohibits the sale and purchase of catalytic converters by anyone other than registered scrap metal dealers, and would impose a fine of up to $10,000 for unlawful possession and sale. I know this is a really important issue for our community so I’m happy that we were able to accomplish this important measure.
Conversion Therapy Ban
I am incredibly proud that we voted to ban the harmful practice of conversion ‘therapy’. We need to affirm and celebrate all youth no matter their identity. Thank you to all of the courageous advocates in the queer community who fought relentlessly to end this hateful practice. It is because of their relentless advocacy and determination that Minnesota will finally ban this dangerous and discredited practice.
Earned Sick and Safe Time
We also approved legislation to expand Earned Sick and Safe Time benefits to all Minnesota workers. The legislation would ensure, at a minimum, one hour of paid Earned Sick and Safe Time for every 30 hours worked, up to at least 48 hours per year. Many workers are still forced to make an impossible choice between earning a paycheck and taking time off to care for themselves. People who lack access to paid time off are disproportionately in low-wage positions, women, and members of BIPOC communities. With this bill we are prioritizing the health and wellbeing of every worker.
On Deck
Our gun violence prevention bills (our universal background checks and red flag laws) and Paid Family Medical Leave are moving through the hearing process and should reach the House floor soon.
Personal Initiatives
My Housing Affordability bill has been introduced and will be heard in the House Housing Committee on Tuesday. I’ll have another bill of mine to ban Non-Compete agreements up in the Commerce Committee on Wednesday. My three health care pricing transparency bills have been heard in both Health and Commerce and are awaiting their last hearing in the Judiciary committee. My new bill requiring Health Plans to pass rebates from drug manufacturers on to the patients taking the drugs as discounts passed the Health committee on Thursday.
My Consumer Data Privacy bill has also been introduced, but has not yet been scheduled for a hearing. All policy-only bills have to pass all of their policy committees in at least one chamber by next Friday, and we have so many good bills like this one that we want to pass that some of them are almost certainly going to have to wait until next year to complete the hearing process.
The budget and tax bills will take shape later in March. I’m serving on the Taxes Committee this session, and it’s beginning to look like tax cuts will take several forms this year, including in the areas of property taxes, child tax credits, social security income and possibly one-time tax refund checks.
I’m once again serving on the Transportation Committee, which is struggling with the fact that, while the state General Fund has a large surplus, the transportation accounts all have large deficits. We are using some of the “one-time” general fund surplus money to match our federal grants under the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, but transportation has generally been expected to “pay its own way” for roads, bridges and transit.
Keep in Touch
Don’t hesitate to reach out if I can provide any assistance. Please follow me on my Facebook page for further updates and invite your friends and family to do so as well.
Thanks for the honor of representing you at the Capitol.
Sincerely,
Steve Elkins
Representative, District 50B
Minnesota House of Representatives