Neighbors, The next few weeks, legislators will spend more time on the House floor, debating and passing policy and finance bills. As these measures are approved, the House and Senate versions of the legislation can differ. In this case, conference committees are appointed, made up of members from each body to compare, discuss, and come up with a compromise measure. As vice-chair of the Human Services Policy Committee in the Minnesota House, I have been appointed to sit on the Human Services Conference Committee. I am looking forward to our meetings as we craft the final bill to help Minnesotans with disabilities, those in recovery from substance use disorder, recipients who rely on our waiver services to help them thrive, and others. Center for Rural and Behavioral HealthOn Thursday night, I received the Advocate of the Year award from The Center for Behavioral Health. It is an honor to be a recipient of this award. The Center is dedicated to improving access to behavioral healthcare for Minnesotans in Greater Minnesota through research, workforce development, continuing education, and customized training  The Capitol and The CommunityEven as we are inching toward adjournment day, I am always appreciative to welcome visitors from our region.  Eagle Lake City Administrator Jennifer Bromeland, and Mayor Lisa Norton continue to advocate for inclusion in the Bonding bill of the water treatment facility. More than 500 Eagle Lake residents signed a petition in support of the project, and I am a strong supporter of this much needed facility.  Mass incarceration was the topic of discussion with a constituent, ACLU’s Echo Mendoza. I appreciate her advocacy and commitment to the issue.  I served on the House Judiciary Committee, and we gathered after our last hearing to thank our chair, Rep. Jamie Becker Finn, who is retiring from the legislature. Serving on the committee was a remarkable learning experience. DEA Prescription Take Back DayAnother reminder about the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) annual Take Back Day on Saturday, April 27. The DEA is encouraging everyone to clean out their medicine cabinets and turn in unwanted prescriptions. For more information and to find a location near you, click here.  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. You can also visit my House of Representatives website. 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 |