Beloved Community, Last Monday, May 20th, we officially concluded the 2024 Legislative Session, which also wrapped-up the 2023-2024 biennium. The final weeks were full of late nights and long meetings as we worked to deliver the most for Minnesotans under the first DFL trifecta in a decade. While we didn’t accomplish everything we set out to do, we can say that these past two years have been incredibly productive as we provided historic investments throughout our state budget, and enacted policies aimed at lifting up Minnesotans and ensuring our community and state is an exemplary place to live, work, and raise a family. What We PassedLast year the Legislature passed our major two-year budget bills, and this year the House built on that progress by passing small supplemental budgets alongside more substantial policy changes in major committee areas. Working alongside the Governor and our Senate counterparts, we reached final agreements on all major budget bills, many of which have already been signed into law. You can find nonpartisan summaries about the final agreements here: Transportation, Labor and Housing, Energy and Agriculture, Public Safety and Judiciary, Commerce and Cannabis, Jobs and Economic Development, Environment and Natural Resources, K-12 Education, Higher Education, Human Services, Health, and Elections. We also passed a gun violence prevention bill that includes tougher penalties for straw purchasers and a ban on binary triggers, a bill that will increase wages for rideshare drivers while keeping companies operating in Minnesota, a health occupational licensure and scoping bill, legislation improving our child welfare services and addressing racial disparities, and a tenant’s right’s package. For my part I worked with my Senate counterpart, Senator Ann Rest, to try to find a compromise on our Tax Bill. We had some strong philosophical differences when it came to tax policy that we didn’t have enough time to overcome. My priority will be to always uplift working class Minnesotans by creating a tax system which works for them; this means that we must make sure that the ultra-wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share.  Statehood Day On May 11, 2024, Minnesota celebrated 166 years of statehood. The Minnesota State Flag and Seal approved by the State Emblems Redesign Commission early this year became 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.  Happy PrideHappy Pride! No matter how you identify or who you love, you are welcome here in Minnesota!  Slow Mow SummerYou’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. 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 survive and thrive here!  Keep In Touch As always, feel free to reach out with any feedback or questions you have for me! I always appreciate working in partnership with you. You can also follow me on my Facebook page. In solidarity, Aisha Gomez
651-296-7152
rep.aisha.gomez@house.mn.gov |