Legislative Update - 1/30/2023

Dear Neighbors,

This week was busy with so much progress in the Minnesota House. I have so much to tell you about this week’s work at the State Capitol!

Progress Made!

We passed HF1, the Protecting Reproductive Options Act last week! This bill enshrines the fundamental right to reproductive health care in law. We are hoping the Senate will pass the bill, and Governor Walz has signaled to us that he will sign it into law. I was proud to vote for this bill and thank my DFL colleagues for their green votes. 

Late on Thursday, the House DFL majority passed the 100% Clean Electricity by 2040 bill, a landmark piece of legislation that will help our state address climate change head-on and prepare for a carbon-free future. 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.

Both of these bills were top priorities for our community. I have heard directly from people all over Columbia Heights, New Brighton, and St. Anthony that we must take action on reproductive freedom and the climate crisis. We heard you, and I look forward to more action on both fronts this session.

My Bills are Moving Forward!

I presented my Hennepin County Homelessness Funding Bill to the House Human Services Committee. The bill provides ongoing sustainable funding to maintain the shelter service models that better serve people and ensure that homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring. This program is incredibly robust and uniquely effective based on the data we have collected. This bill is the right thing to do to support our neighbors in some of their most difficult times. You can hear testimony from some local shelter providers here.

HF 44, our Menstrual Equity bill has received multiple hearings in our committees. I’m happy to report the bill has passed every hurdle so far. Just a few more steps in the legislative process to deliver on this important bill in direct response to student advocacy. Period products should not be a barrier to education in 2023. You can read more about this bill here.

Many of you may know that creating an equitable and responsive juvenile justice system is a major priority of mine. I’m thankful to work with Sen. Bobby Joe Champion on an initiative to establish The Office of Juvenile Restorative Justice to work with communities to intervene and address youth crime. Colorado has a similar program that has seen fantastic results in terms of youth recidivism rates. Stay tuned! You can read more here.

In 2021, I authored The Veteran’s Restorative Justice Act - legislation expanding our veteran’s court model - which was signed into law by Gov. Walz. Since then, some courts have asked for clarification on the process so current or former military members can take full advantage of this law. On Thursday, I was glad to introduce HF 45 to clarify that when former or current military members can provide a connection between a service-related trauma or injury, at that point they can choose a restorative sentencing path, and are not required to enter a plea. Ryan Else from the Veterans Defense Project testified in support of these changes and told us that the restorative sentencing pathway has made a great deal of difference to his clients' lives. Watch our testimony here.

Updates

Thursday was a big day for the Save the Boundary Waters Campaign. I applaud Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and the Bureau of Land Management for placing a 20-year mining ban on any federal land around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness! This is a major step forward to saving the Boundary Waters for the next generation of Minnesotans to enjoy. With that being said, I am still working with the Boundary Waters Permanent Protection Bill to make this ban permanent. 

There was a rally for the Free Iran movement at the Capitol this week. I was glad to join with many protestors who lifted up the voices of people in Iran who are being silenced, imprisoned, and murdered for speaking out against their government's treatment of women.

Redistricting Update

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Stay in Touch

If you have questions, ideas, or feedback that you’d like to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can email me at rep.sandra.feist@house.mn.gov or call (651) 296-4331.

Sincerely,  

Sandra Feist  

State Representative