Neighbors, Happy New Year! I hope 2025 is full of opportunities, happiness, and good health for you and your loved ones. As the new legislative session begins, I will serve in a new role as the DFL Vice Chair of the Capital Investment Committee. I am excited to help craft our bonding bill, providing investments in our region and communities around the state. Additionally, I will continue to serve on the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee, both important to residents of District 18B and all Minnesotans. I am sure many of you have heard about the challenges leading into the 2025 legislative session. Know that I support the power sharing agreement since Minnesotans sent an equal number of Republicans and Democrats to the Minnesota House. Neither party should attempt to position itself above the other. It is my commitment to work together. Thank you for entrusting me to be your advocate at the Capitol.  New LawsA host of new laws have taken effect as of January 1. Highlights include banning hidden service fees, requiring insurance to cover the costs of wigs for Minnesotans undergoing cancer treatment, ensuring transparent pricing for concert tickets, protecting renters with a minimum heat requirement of 68 degrees, prohibiting the sale of “binary triggers” on firearms, and so much more. You can find a list of all of the new Minnesota laws here. Cold Weather RuleI wanted to include a quick reminder about Minnesota’s “cold weather rule” now in effect, which protects residents from having their electric or natural gas service shut off between October 1 and April 30. To ensure your service is safe from disconnection, you must make and keep a payment plan agreed to by your utility provider. More information is available on the Minnesota Public Utilities website.  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 |