The legislative session is in full swing, and it's encouraging to see such strong civic participation at the Capitol. Minnesotans from across the state are attending committee meetings and engaging with legislators on issues that matter to their communities. We’re hearing about the challenges they’re facing, including high costs for groceries, housing, energy, and health care. With the new federal administration, it’s more clear than ever: our economy is tilted in favor of the wealthiest and most powerful among us. My DFL colleagues and I are fighting to level the playing field to give working families the tools they need to succeed and thrive. I’m grateful for the strong engagement from advocates that helps ensure the legislature is responsive to the needs of all Minnesotans. As my colleagues and I continue our work this session, your participation in the legislative process remains vital. Your feedback and experiences help inform policy decisions that affect our entire state. Resisting Federal Overreach I have heard from many of you about your concerns with the radical actions being taken by the Trump administration. I want to assure you that I will use all of my power to resist every illegal, hateful, racist, xenophobic, and discriminatory action coming from the federal government. I will fight to protect the rights of our LGBTQ, Black, Brown, and immigrant communities. Our diversity is our strength and I won’t ever back down from that. This is one reason why it was so critical for the House DFL to maintain a fair power-sharing agreement. We are now in a much stronger position to push back against these evil actions. While I had hoped these few weeks in power could be productive for my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, I’m disappointed to see their hyper-partisan agenda unfolding. From attacks on reproductive healthcare to delaying the Paid Family and Medical Leave law, we’re seeing a slew of dangerous bills aimed at harming our most vulnerable populations. We can get things done for the people of Minnesota, and on my part, for our neighbors, when we work together on a realistic path forward to find common ground. I know this is possible, even if it won’t happen until a true tie is restored. Extreme Risk Protection Orders are saving lives During the 2023 legislative session, Minnesota Democrats took bold action to protect our communities against gun violence. One of the measures lawmakers enacted allows for Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), also known as a “red flag” law. This tool helps prevent tragedies by allowing law enforcement and family members to request court orders temporarily removing firearms from individuals who pose an imminent risk of harming themselves or others. After one year of implementation, the evidence is clear: Extreme Risk Protection Orders are protecting Minnesotans from senseless gun violence. The Star Tribune recently published an op-ed spotlighting the impact of this important law, which you can read here. So far, 135 ERPO cases have been filed, with law enforcement initiating the vast majority of the petitions. The red flag law is saving lives, particularly in situations involving domestic violence or when individuals are experiencing mental health crises. Minnesotans overwhelmingly support common-sense gun violence prevention measures, like ERPOs and criminal background checks, and House DFLers remain committed to keeping our communities safe. Combating Medical DebtMedical debt is one of the most widespread and devastating facts of life in our current healthcare system, but it doesn’t have to be that way. This year I’m authoring legislation to leverage state dollars to buy and relieve medical debt for hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans. This type of program has been utilized on municipal levels before, and now we have the opportunity to expand it state-wide. I’m proud to join our partners with this legislation to take an important step to protect patients and their families from debt and help them regain economic stability. You can read more about it here! Protecting Children on Social MediaThe evidence is clear that social media is linked with poor mental health outcomes, particularly among children. Last year, the U.S. Surgeon General called for social media platforms to have warning labels. During the 2024 session, we passed legislation requiring social media companies to disclose when they conduct product experiments targeting kids, as well as barring children from working as social media influencers. Since then, legislators have met with residents in our community as well as the Capitol, with organizations like the Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) to discuss their Keep it Digitally Safe (KiDS) Campaign, a global contest inviting parents and kids to submit social media warning label ideas to raise awareness about the risks associated with social media and promote safer online practices. You can learn more about the KiDS campaign here.  Cold Weather Protection and Weatherization Even with the recent warmer weather, I want to share a quick reminder that Minnesota’s “cold weather rule” is now in effect, which protects residents from having their electric or natural gas service shut off until April 30. To ensure your service is safe from disconnection, you must make and keep a payment plan that you and your utility provider agree on. More information is available on the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s website. Also, an initiative the state legislature strengthened in 2021 may help lower costs. While older homes have their charm, many homeowners needing basic home improvements like repairing windows, removing asbestos, repairing cracked foundations or siding often face challenges paying upfront for these pre-weatherization measures. Minnesotans using CenterPoint or Xcel Energy can schedule an appointment with the Home Energy Squad to visit their homes to identify low-cost energy-saving solutions. Each visit is approximately two hours, and during that time, the Home Energy Squad will perform various energy-saving tests, inspect your insulation, heating and cooling systems, and water heater. Learn more here.  Keep in TouchIf you have any 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 |