Legislative Update - 100% Clean Energy by 2040

Dear Neighbors, 

We’re continuing to move at a productive pace at the Minnesota legislature. This week, we saw the completion of one of our top priorities of the legislative session when Governor Walz signed the Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act into law on Tuesday.

Minnesotans made their voices loud and clear last November when they voted for a state government that will protect their reproductive rights. I spoke to the importance of the PRO Act and shared the stories of Minnesotans during our floor debate on the bill.

A Cleaner, Greener Minnesota

The last eight years globally have been the hottest on record, and Minnesota is among the top states currently seeing rapid changes to our climate. Scientists know that climate change driven by fossil fuels is impacting our environment, infrastructure, and our health. Minnesota has long been a leader in clean energy, but partisan gridlock in recent years has hindered attempts to combat climate change.

Shout out to the tireless advocates pushing for solutions!

Last Thursday, the House DFL majority passed the 100% by 2040 bill, a landmark piece of legislation that I co-authored, which will help our state address climate change head-on and prepare for a carbon-free future. Action at the state level is urgently needed to help the U.S. meet our climate goals. This legislation would require that the state’s utilities use entirely carbon-free sources for electricity production by 2040. This would put us on track with over 20 other states that have also adopted similar goals.

Not only is this legislation critical to protecting our climate, but it also makes economic sense. Wind power is the cheapest form of electricity, and producing solar energy is cheaper than building new fossil fuel plants or importing fossil fuels from other states. This bill ensures that we remove barriers to setting up carbon-free and renewable power sources and invest in jobs right here in Minnesota. I was proud to cast my vote in support of the 100% by 2040 bill on the House floor and will continue working to address and combat climate change this session.

Driver’s Licenses for All

On Monday, the Minnesota House of Representative passed House File 4, the “Driver’s Licenses for All” bill. The legislation improves public safety on Minnesota’s roads by reinstating the ability of our undocumented immigrant neighbors to take a driver’s exam and obtain a driver’s license - along with all the dignity and responsibility that comes with one.

Without driver’s licenses, it’s difficult for tens of thousands of Minnesotans to reliably get to their jobs, school, and medical appointments. Passing this bill will restore a privilege taken away by a Republican Governor two decades ago and ensure our undocumented neighbors have the freedoms and security they deserve, along with making our roads safe. 

This bill is still going through the committee process in the Senate, and Governor Walz has indicated he would sign the bill. 

Restore the Vote

On Thursday, we passed yet another long-awaited bill off the House floor. This bill, which I co-authored, would reinstate voting rights to Minnesotans who have committed a felony but have since completed their prison sentence. 

Voting is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy, and it ensures that citizens have a voice in decisions that impact their lives. Twenty-one states automatically restore voting rights after incarceration ends, including red states like North Dakota and blue states like Illinois, but not Minnesota - where the current law disproportionately keeps BIPOC Minnesotans who have served their time from having their voices heard on election day. It’s time for that to change. 

Juneteenth

Another exciting bill we passed last night would establish Juneteenth as an official state holiday. Passing this bill alone will not rectify racial disparities and anti-Blackness in our nation. That’s why members of the Minnesota House DFL Majority are committed to investing in Black communities so Black Minnesotans have opportunities to succeed and thrive.

This is another example of a relatively straightforward, zero-cost, non-partisan bill that never saw the light of day when Republicans controlled the Minnesota Senate. I’m so glad that’s changed, and that we’re moving forward with this new official holiday. 

If you have any questions about this, or the other bills I’ve mentioned in this update, please feel free to reach out! It’s an honor to represent our community in the Minnesota House. 

Sincerely, 

Sydney Jordan

State Representative