Legislative Update: Caring for Kids, Bird Flu, First-Gen Homebuyers

Dear neighbors,

I hope you and your loved ones are enjoying the first weeks of spring! I have been busy meeting with community members, attending public events and committee hearings, and working on a wide variety of legislation.

Investing in the Youngest Minnesotans

House DFLers have started developing omnibus bills, packages of legislation that outline our priorities for a specific area of the state budget. On Monday, for example, we released the Early Childhood omnibus bill – a plan to invest $771 million in early care and learning.

This proposal would put tens of thousands of children on the path to success in school and in life. It contains funding for child care assistance and early learning scholarships for low-income and vulnerable children. House DFLers also want to establish a statewide voluntary pre-K program to serve children who are least likely to have access to early learning. Together, these investments will help reduce Minnesota’s racial and economic disparities.

Combatting Bird Flu in Minnesota

First detected in Minnesota on March 25, H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has now been found in turkey flocks in 12 different counties impacting over one million birds. The Minnesota House recently voted to invest one million dollars in the state’s response to HPAI for testing supplies and disease surveillance.

Our state’s poultry industry is a major economic driver for the state, and in fact, Minnesota is the top turkey producer in the country, with 660 turkey farms that raise about 40 million birds annually. It’s important to note that HPAI poses little or no risk to humans, and the turkey available at the store is safe to eat.

Beyond commercial poultry operations, many communities allow small poultry flocks in backyards. To prevent the spread of HPAI, the University of Minnesota Extension encourages bird owners to separate their flocks from disease sources, separate new or returning birds from existing flocks for 30 days, clean poultry areas and equipment, and avoid sharing equipment among neighbors. More information is available here from the U of M Extension.

New COVID-19 Testing Approach

COVID-19 numbers in Minnesota have consistently been low in recent weeks, including test positivity and hospital admissions. Meanwhile, with fewer people feeling sick, demand for saliva testing has decreased significantly. As a result, Minnesota’s testing strategy will be shifting more to a focus on at-home rapid testing.

Minnesota households are now eligible to receive two test kits (for a total of four tests) per home through the mail at mn.gov/covid19. Minnesota has secured 500,000 test kits (for a total of one million at-home tests) and the program will be available until all the test kits are ordered.

Through the federal government, Minnesotans can order free rapid at-home tests at CovidTests.gov. Food banks, local public health agencies, community groups, and other community health organizations may also have free tests available. Due to actions taken by the Biden Administration, costs for over-the-counter at-home COVID-19 tests are now required to be covered by health insurance plans.

With the lessons we’ve learned over the last two years, Minnesota is well-positioned to respond effectively if case counts tick upward again. While we all hope to avoid another wave, testing continues to be important for preventing the spread of the virus. Getting a test is still recommended if you:

• have symptoms of the virus.
• have had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
• are returning from international or domestic travel.
• attended a high-risk event.
• work in a setting that has regular, close contact with many people.

Real Investments into Small Businesses

The committee on which I serve as Vice Chair, Workforce and Business Development Finance and Policy, presented our omnibus bill this week.

This bill provides historic investment into the economic development of our highly disinvested communities. For too long, many populations and locations in certain areas have been overlooked and not adequately funded and invested in. This must end now. We must start a new day for Eastsiders. We’re committed to economic growth and equal opportunity for all people. This includes initiatives to support minority-owned businesses, women entrepreneurs, Black developers who want to break into the development industry, and businesses along the Canadian border that are barely hanging on. There are parts of Minnesota’s economy that are doing extremely well and parts that are genuinely struggling. It is high time we equalize the playing field and ensure that everyone has the same chances to grow and succeed. With a $9.25 billion surplus, now is the time for the state to step up to the plate and give all Minnesotans a genuine chance to share in prosperity.

First-Generation Homebuyers

I’m happy to be a co-author of a groundbreaking piece of legislation that is included in the Housing omnibus bill. The bill establishes a first generation down-payment assistance pilot program. The program is available to individuals: 

• whose income is at or below 100 percent of the area median income at the time of? purchase;
• who is a first-time homebuyer;
• who is preapproved for a first mortgage loan; and;?
• whose parent or prior legal guardian does not or did not at the time of their death own a home.?

Eligible homebuyers complete a homebuyer education course prior to signing the purchase agreement. The home must be purchased within the maximum loan amount set by the federal Housing Financing Agency, and the homebuyer contributes at least $1,000 towards the down-payment or closing costs. Following the purchase of the home, the homebuyer must occupy it as their primary residence. 

This is a significant measure to make sure that young people and BIPOC Eastsiders have a shot at owning a home.

Here’s a clip of Rep. Agbaje’s statement at a press conference this week.

Protect Immigrant Youth

This week I approved a bill on the House floor to protect uniquely vulnerable immigrant children by creating a new guardianship procedure in juvenile court for youths aged 18 to 21. An underlying goal of this legislation is to align state and federal law with respect to special protections for neglected, abandoned, or abused immigrant youth.

This bill passed with resounding bipartisan support with a vote of 132-2. I am pleased that Minnesota will now be a state that ensures that these uniquely vulnerable young people receive the full measure of protection afforded to them under federal law.

This bill is now on its way to Governor Walz for his signature!

Ramadan Murabak

As our Muslim friends in our community, throughout the country, and around the world observe the religious holiday of Ramadan, a holy month of fasting, I want to say: our thoughts – whatever our backgrounds or beliefs – are with them. As a billion Muslims across the world and the many great Muslim communities here in Minnesota observe one of the most important pillars of Islam, we are grateful and reminded of the beauty of our diverse communities.

It has been a challenging time for all of us during this pandemic. It has been hard, because life changing times like these test all of our faiths and encourage us to do even more. As an Eastside legislator, I will continue to advocate for the needs of my great community, including our great Muslim constituents.

And so to my Muslim friends, may I wish all those who are observing Ramadan a month of mercy, forgiveness and freedom. At the heart of your faith lie the values of peace, responsibility and humanity – these are ideals I and the vast majority of all people in our community share with you.

Join the Southeastside Neighborhood Council! 

A constituent asked me to boost this message:

Applications are open for the 2022 SECO Board! 

We encourage renters, Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color, and younger residents to apply!

Our community council is governed by a board of volunteers. Serving on the board is a way to serve our community and help make decisions about land use and development, approaches to youth development, and building the community.

The community council is a non-partisan organization that seeks to engage a board of directors who represent the cultural, racial, economic, geographic, age and other diversity in our community. Board members need to be at least 16-years-old.  To ensure that they have participation from diverse residents, they’ve  added demographic information to their form. This information will NOT be shared with the public. Voting at the annual meeting is open to all residents 18 years of age and older.  The board meets 10-11 times per year on the fourth Monday of the month. 

Apply here!

Amir Locke

I’m disappointed but not surprised that no charges are being filed against officers involved in the murder of Amir Locke. 

Anyone who watched the press conference on Wednesday could feel the pain that Amir’s family is feeling as they spoke about the need for a statewide no-knock warrant ban. I’m working with my Eastside colleague Rep. Athena Hollins to push this bill through the process. The bill has already been approved in both the Public Safety committee and the Judiciary committee. We could use all of the help we can get from you to elevate this issue. 

The People of Color and Indigenous Caucus, that I am a part of, released a statement on the issue.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson

It feels like good news like this is hard to come by lately. This week, a historic moment has occurred in our country. Since the Supreme Court was established in 1789, 114 justices have served on the bench. Of those, 108 have been White men. Today, the first black woman joins the highest bench for the first time in 220 years. Congratulations to Ketanji Brown Jackson.

The U.S. Senate has just confirmed President Joe Biden's Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson yesterday in a historic vote that paves the way for her to become the first Black woman to serve on the highest court in the nation.

Although this is the first, it certainly won't be the last. And it most definitely should not have even taken 200 years. Black labor built much of the entire DC complex. Black labor built the early capital that paved the way for this country to lead the industrial age and the world today. This is long overdue.

The long march of progress is slow and hard. But we must stay the course and continue to equalize more opportunities for everyone. I commend the lawmakers who voted to confirm Judge Jackson.

Keep in Touch

If you have any questions or feedback you’d like to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can contact me by email at rep.jay.xiong@house.mn.

In solidarity,

Jay Xiong

State Representative