Legislative Update - April 27, 2023

Dear Neighbors,

The Minnesota House has been passing our budget bills on the House Floor. I am proud to support budget proposals that will ensure Minnesota is the best place to work, live, and raise a family. These are long days at the Capitol, lasting until midnight most nights. These long days epitomize the legislative process - a bit meandering at times, punctuated by moments of intensity, combat, and deep joy. Each day I do a gratitude exercise, and I spend a moment appreciating the historic work we’re doing, the strength and inspiration of my colleagues, and the honor of being in a position to advance legislation that will impact Minnesotans statewide. Let me take this moment to express my gratitude to my community that sent me here to the Capitol to do this important work!

Here’s my latest from the Capitol.

Our Progress

Here are a few highlights from our budget bills. 

Minnesota is one of the fastest-warming states due to climate change. Our climate and natural resources budget bill puts us on the path to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 by investing $65 million in solar, wind, and storage throughout our state.

Every Minnesotan deserves a safe and affordable place they can call home. With evictions skyrocketing, homelessness increasing, home ownership gaps widening, and a severe shortage of affordable homes to rent or own, it is time for bold action. We’re proposing the largest housing investment in state history to finally address this crisis.

My Bills

My third bill of the 2023 session was signed into law by Gov. Walz! In addition to my bills on uniform electronic wills and Veterans Restorative Justice Act updates, House File 42 strengthens our labor trafficking laws in Minnesota. Here I am with Speaker Melissa Hortman at the enrollment signing.

The wage theft bill I chief authored passed the House Floor in the Jobs Budget. Minnesota’s construction workers are at acute risk of having their wages stolen, and I’m proud my colleagues supported this provision to ensure workers have the resources and rights to hold contractors accountable. We passed this legislation on the House Floor on Monday, after an exciting debate that you can watch a highlight here. Thanks to the North Central Regional Council of Carpenters for their advocacy and support!

My menstrual equity bill has passed the House Floor in our K-12 Education Budget. I’m so proud of the students who brought this bill to me, and to ensure every student who needs period products has access to them at school. You can read more about this bill and the teen advocates who led the way here.

Updates

Also, thanks to the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters for a tour of construction sites to see firsthand the difference between sites that are safe, ethical, and efficient and the ones where workers are unsafe and unsupported.

Recently, I presented the Boundary Waters Permanent Protection Bill to the Minnesota Youth Council during the day at the Capitol. I am excited that my bill to elevate the role of the Minnesota Youth Council in state government is continuing to move through the legislative process this session.

I attended the Youth Intervention Programs Association (YIPA) rally at the Capitol. Youth workers and the young people they serve were at the Capitol to advocate for deep public safety investments in youth intervention and prevention services. My legislation funding their grants at historic levels is contained in the Public Safety Judiciary Omnibus bill we will hear this week.

The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is once again accepting applications for grants for the Lawns to Legumes program. This program aims to increase habitat for at-risk pollinators in residential settings across the state by providing people with cost-share funding, workshops, coaching, and gardening resources. The new application period is open, and applications will be accepted through June 30, 2023. Applications submitted on August 22, 2022, or later that were not previously awarded a grant will roll over and do not need to be resubmitted. Details: https://bwsr.state.mn.us/node/10456

Stay in Touch

If you have questions, ideas, or feedback that you’d like to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Email me at rep.sandra.feist@house.mn.gov or call (651) 296-4331. Also, you can follow my official State Representative Facebook Page.

Sincerely,  

Sandra Feist  

State Representative