Neighbors, The pace at the Capitol is swift, and this week we took several steps forward by passing the Jobs and Labor, Public Safety and Judiciary, and the Health budgets. Yesterday, we passed the Commerce and Taxes bills to complete our budget. I enthusiastically voted ‘yes’ on all our budget measures. Conference committees will begin to meet next week to work out differences between each of the budget bills. I serve as vice chair of the Human Services Policy committee and Tuesday the Minnesota House passed the Human Services budget. The bill provides support for our most vulnerable Minnesotans, significantly invests in caring professions, and doubles down on our efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. I ushered through a provision in the bill to deliver investments for Recovery Community Organizations to create a safe place for people during all stages of their recovery journey. The bill establishes a credentialing board to ensure high standards and national best practices as these RCO’s grow in Minnesota. We built our Human Services budget around the increase in funding for Minnesota’s caring professionals. With an automatically adjusted reimbursement rate, nursing home facilities are forecasted to receive an additional $847 million over the next four years, totaling an investment of more than $6 billion - the largest amount of nursing home funding in state history. Wage increases make up a significant portion of the Human Services budget proposal, with more than $2.3 billion over the next four years to raise the rates for PCAs and wage increases for other supports including those utilizing the Elderly Waiver, the Disability Waiver Rate System, Home- and Community-Based Services, Intermediate Care Facilities, and workforce incentive and training opportunities.  The budget helps the most vulnerable Minnesotans throughout the state by investing $33.3 million in recruiting and retaining direct support and frontline workers, and over $25 million to increase the provider capacity of these services in rural and underserved communities. The budget also continues the critical work of combating opiate addiction in Minnesota by reducing disparities in how the state tackles this epidemic, investing over $57 million in safe recovery sites, and removing the sunset on opioid fees. The budget also proposes $2 million a year in ongoing funding for traditional healing. Also this week, we passed legislation with worker safety in mind by approving the refinery worker safety bill and also a measure to improve worker safety at warehouses. Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Bill ApprovedWednesday was a historic day at the House when I joined many of my House colleagues to legalize adult-use cannabis in the state of Minnesota on a bipartisan vote. This legislation creates a safe, well-regulated legal marketplace for Minnesotans over the age of 21 and it prioritizes automatic expungement of prior marijuana convictions. The bill will also help start-up cannabis businesses to ensure the communities disproportionately affected by prohibition can take part in the economic opportunity created by legalization. I was proud to vote “yes” on this legislation. Combatting HateOver the past several days, two local mosques have been attacked, resulting in fire damage to both. This week, I joined several legislators to support our Muslim colleagues as they responded to a recent Star Tribune cartoon depicting racist stereotypes as well as violent attacks on several mosques in Minneapolis. I agree with comments at the press conference that an attack on a mosque is an attack on a synagogue is an attack on a church. The press room was packed with legislators and others showing solidarity with our colleagues. There is no place in Minnesota for violence at any place of worship and I strongly support our Muslim neighbors and all Minnesotans who are marginalized, singled out, or threatened because of their faith or differences.  The Community and the CapitolVisitors this week included local members of the We Choose Us group and residents advocating for the public option which was included in the Human Services bill passed by the House on Wednesday night. As usual, it was great to see friends from home letting their voices be heard!  Important Medicaid InformationDuring the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, annual renewals for our public health programs – MinnesotaCare and Medicaid – paused. In less than two weeks, on May 11, the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency is ending and those on MinnesotaCare or Medicaid will need to update their information to determine their ongoing eligibility. If someone is no longer eligible for coverage under Medicaid, they should be able to get low-cost health insurance through the federal and state insurance marketplaces. You can watch a short video here for more information.  Stay connected with the LegislatureThe Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services offers nonpartisan recaps of high-profile bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions with their Session Daily publication. Subscribe to receive these here. To track bills of interest through the legislative process, I encourage you to utilize the MyBills feature on the Minnesota House of Representatives’ website here. I welcome your questions and comments anytime. You can send an email to rep.luke.frederick@house.mn.gov or call me at (651) 296-3248. Also, please visit and “like” my Facebook page for more Capitol and community updates. Thank you for the privilege of representing you in the legislature. Sincerely, Luke Frederick State Representative |