Dear neighbor,
It has been another productive week at the Capitol. My colleagues and I continued our work on policy bills that aim to improve the lives of working and middle class families.
Here’s the latest from the Capitol:
A Somber Day
On Wednesday, we bid farewell to Officers Matthew Ruge and Paul Elmstrand, and Firefighter-Paramedic Adam Finseth. The moving service was a powerful reminder of the sacrifice they made, and the heroic commitment to service all of our first responders make.
MPR has a thorough article about the funeral you can read here.
Around the Capitol
This week, I was happy to join teachers at a rally in support of guaranteed, reliable pensions. At a time when Minnesota is facing an unprecedented staffing shortage in our schools, it is more important than ever that we ensure our educators have a reliable source of income when they retire. We need to attract and keep more educators, and guaranteeing strong pensions is a critical step.
Outfront Minnesota organized a Capitol rally where advocates and legislators called for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the state constitution, ensuring health care plans cover gender-affirming care, and updating Minnesota parenting laws to address gaps for LGBTQ+ parents.
Committee Hearings
On Wednesday, I presented my bill, HF 3474, to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. This bill would invest $4 million in the Board of Water and Soil Resources to complete an assessment of wetland restoration structures in need of repairs or replacement and to acquire additional easements in environmentally sensitive southeastern Minnesota counties.
On Thursday, I presented HF 4210 to the Health Finance and Policy Committee. Our health care workers provide an invaluable service to Minnesotans, and their safety is critical for them and for the patients they’re serving. This bill would implement vital de-escalation training and would establish Violence Interruption Intervention Teams that build skills and crisis management resources in hospitals.
Climate Action
DFLers continued to take action on the climate crisis this week. On Wednesday, the House Capital Investment Committee and the Environment and Natural Resources Committee held a joint hearing on PFAS (industrial, cancer-causing chemicals) contamination and its effect on water infrastructure throughout the state. An analysis from the Minnesota Department of Health last year showed at least 12 cities where a portion of the drinking water exceeded the EPA’s PFAS standards. The committee heard testimony from the Attorney General’s office about the state’s 2018 settlement with 3M, one of the world’s largest PFAS manufacturers. DFLers are working to ensure taxpayers do not have to bear the burden of cleaning up the mess made by corporate polluters, and will work to hold companies like 3M accountable for producing these toxic pollutants.
MPCA Small Business Environmental Loan Program
If your small business is looking to reduce on-site air emissions, clean up contamination, or generate less waste be sure to apply for the MPCA Small Business Environmental Loan program. The program offers zero-interest loans up to $75,000 to tackle these high-impact projects. You can learn more and apply here.
Property Tax Refund
With tax season underway, DFLers worked diligently to ensure Minnesota families have access to the tax credits and deductions they've earned, strengthening their financial foundation. We worked to simplify the Property Tax Refund, making sure every renter will receive the refund they deserve, one third of whom are seniors or people with disabilities.
You can qualify for the $204 average refund by visiting www.revenue.state.mn.us/property-tax-refund.
Question of the Week
Listening to my constituents is the most important part of my job as state representative! Each week during this legislative session, I’ll pose a question to you to better inform my work.
This week’s question is:
Which costs are causing you and your family the most financial stress right now?
You can send your answers in an email to rep.liz.reyer@house.mn.gov with the subject line “Question of the Week.” I’m looking forward to reading your responses and learning from your experiences.
Stay in Touch
As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or feedback you’d like to share. You can contact me by email at rep.liz.reyer@house.mn.gov or call (651) 296-4128. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Sincerely,
Liz Reyer
State Representative