 Dear Neighbors, Wednesday was Peace Officers Memorial Day—a time for all of us to pause and remember those who have been tragically killed in the line of duty. This year has been particularly difficult for law enforcement as we have seen a significant uptick in assaults on peace officers and several tragic incidents in Minnesota and our neighboring states. Join me in praying for the families that have been left behind and in remembering those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. ERA AmendmentHouse Democrats are poised to approve legislation that could enshrine into Minnesota’s Constitution the most extreme abortion policy in the nation, strip away protections for religious institutions, and significantly impact girls’ sports as we know it. More specifically, if it becomes law, the bill will ask voters at the 2026 general election if the state Constitution should be amended to codify several conditions, including everything from race, sex, and gender identity to abortion and infertility treatments. This all comes in the context of Democrats last year enacting a state law that allows abortions up until the moment of birth for any reason. I am hopeful that this controversial language will not be approved by the Senate and that the amendment in its current form will not be placed on the ballot in 2026. Stay tuned for more information on this and next steps if it does indeed become law. New FlagStatehood Day was this past Saturday, marking Minnesota’s 166th birthday. Sadly, this year's Statehood Day was controversial because Minnesota’s state flag was replaced with a new one that was designed and approved by a 13-member commission. All year long, Republicans have been working hard to make sure that the people of Minnesota have a say in a new flag. Democrats rejected our efforts at every turn and refused to let you, your family, and your neighbors vote on a new flag. The new flag is an illustrative example of Democrats’ approach to legislating these last two years. They think that they know best and that the voices of everyday Minnesotans ought to be ignored. Silencing the Voices of the MinorityLast evening House Democrats cut off debate and forced a vote on a bill that will raise taxes on employees and job creators by $735 million more than anticipated to fund their one-size-fits-all paid leave mandate before the state even starts building the infrastructure to support it. House Democrats have had two years to act on their “priority bills.” Instead of doing a better job of managing their time, they have resorted to completely shutting down debate and forcing votes while silencing the 2.7 million Minnesotans that are represented by House Republicans. It is not our responsibility to pass the majority party’s bills. It is our responsibility to make sure the voices of our constituents are heard loud and clear in St. Paul. You can watch the chaos from last night here. Looking AheadAs always, this time of year is extremely fluid with news and developments related to legislation rapidly evolving by the hour. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available. In the meantime, please reach out to me if you have any questions, comments, or concerns related to state government. I can be reached at 651-296-4237 or via email rep.paul.novotny@house.mn.gov. Have a good day, Paul |