People over Paperwork!This week, the House unanimously passed two bills I authored. While the two cover different topics, both will help make unnecessarily complicated processes much easier, especially for lower-income Minnesotans. I was elated to see full bipartisan support for both of these important bills. HF 4457 simplifies the court fee waiver process, eliminating redundancy when it comes to eligibility verification. Under the current system, eligibility is verified by pro bono attorneys and then again by the courts. HF 4457 reduces verification to once, saving a huge amount of time and money for all parties. The end-result is ensuring that all Minnesotans, regardless of income, have access to our legal systems. HF 3925 addresses Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs). Many of these deeds are prepared correctly with the help of an attorney, but for individuals who cannot afford to hire assistance, they are left to draft them themselves, often resulting in technical errors that render the document invalid upon death. HF 3925 addresses technical aspects of Transfer on Death Deeds to ensure the wishes of a deceased Minnesotan are still legally honored. The bill also extends property insurance by 30 days after death so the new owner of a property has time to seek new coverage. The bill was also co-authored by two of my Republican colleagues. These two bills will ensure that whether you are dealing with the death of a loved one or seeking to assert your rights in our courts, the outcome will not be based on how well you navigate the paperwork involved. Reform for Tax Forfeiture Property SalesLast May, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Tyler v. Hennepin County that the county’s sale of a tax-forfeited property violated the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment because the property owner was deprived of the surplus proceeds resulting from the sale. This bill seeks to address the Court ruling by creating a new tax forfeiture system that will direct excess proceeds to the property owner in an effective, fair manner. You can learn more about the bill – and the case that prompted it – here. Governor Walz’s State of the State AddressOn Tuesday, I joined my colleagues down in Owatonna for the Governor’s 6th State of the State Address. Many of his words rang incredibly true – though we made historic progress for Minnesota last session, there’s still much to be done. We’re on track to make Minnesota the best place to raise a family, but our work is not finished. Connecting with the CommunityThis session, I’m carrying legislation to help fund the renovation of a large homeless shelter in Hennepin County. People Serving People is the largest and most comprehensive emergency shelter for families experiencing homelessness in Minnesota and a dedicated leader in homelessness prevention. Their work not only supports Minnesotans experiencing homelessness, but also supports efforts to prevent homelessness by keeping people in need in their homes. I had the opportunity to meet with some of the great people from People Serving People. I’m incredibly grateful for their important work!  I also had the chance to connect with folks from the DFL Senior Caucus. We talked about a host of issues, such as guardianship (which I’m carrying legislation to address), the confusing practice of sub-metering of utilities, and the HEAL Act, which I am authoring. The HEAL Act would prohibit hospitals and other health facilities from retaliation against staff who raise concerns about receiving an unsafe patient assignment. I’m looking forward to continuing last year’s efforts to improve conditions for some of our most critical healthcare workers. I’m proud to be carrying legislation creating protections for individuals under guardianship and protecting patients in acute care settings – both of which are issues impacting Seniors statewide.  Chag Purim Sameach, Ramadan Mubarak, and Happy Easter!To all of those celebrating holidays this week and next, I hope you are able to gather with friends and families and have a joyful celebration. In our household, we have the pleasure of celebrating Purim and Easter (and soon Passover as well!) - it’s always a festive (and delicious) time to gather with family. |