Greetings Eastsiders, It has been another big week at the Capitol. Things are moving fast at the legislature. In our third week, we have held several hearings and moved many legislations out of committee and to the floor for votes. Thank you to those who have visited or reached out to share their thoughts with me. Paid Family LeaveThis week, we heard and passed the Paid Family & Medical Leave bill led by Representative Ruth Richardson in the House Workforce Development Committee. I am proud to be a co-author of HF 2, which will ensure paid family and medical leave for Minnesotans. Currently, some Minnesotans are eligible for paid family leave through their employer, but many can only receive unpaid leave. It should not be a choice between looking after someone you love or losing another source of income in the household. I remember how many resources it took to take care of my father when he had a debilitating stroke that forced him into early retirement and created a surprise financial strain on my family. Catalytic Converter BillAnother important bill we are working on is HF 30, which deals with catalytic converter theft that is rampant across the state. We have heard from constituents far and wide: this is an issue in need of legislative attention now that a GOP Senate cannot stand in the way like they did last session. This is a priority for the DFL Caucus, and a personal priority to me, as I have been a victim of catalytic converter theft twice. I know firsthand how being a victim of this crime takes big tolls, both financially and mentally. This bill adds additional requirements that scrap metal dealers must follow when purchasing catalytic converters, including a requirement that any catalytic converter be marked with an identifying number connecting it to the vehicle from which it was taken. This will allow a better tracking system for catalytic converters. The bill also establishes criminal penalties for the unauthorized possession or purchase of a catalytic converter. The bill has passed its committee hearing in Commerce – and even had law enforcement present to testify in support. It is heading to the Public Safety Finance and Policy committee next week. You can track the House bill here by subscribing it in “Add HF 30 to MyBills”. POCI and MAP Caucus PrioritiesI want to highlight two caucuses I am a part of, the POCI (People of Color and Indigenous) Caucus, and the MAP (Minnesota Asian Pacific) Caucus. Both caucuses recently announced their legislative priorities for the session. You can watch the POCI Caucus press conference here, and the MAP Caucus press conference here. The legislative agenda of the POCI Caucus focuses on: - Education
- Equity in Economic Development
- Public Safety and Justice Reform
- Health Equity
The POCI Caucus is focused on ensuring the policies pursued in the legislature are presented with an equity lens that addresses the needs of traditionally under-resourced and underinvested communities in Minnesota. |