Dear Neighbors,
At the Capitol we are finalizing and passing our House budget bills as we enter the last month of session. These bills are hard-fought compromises, and like most compromises, both sides have things they like and don’t like about these bills. However, the key theme with each of these bills is that the DFL held our ground on the progress we made during the last biennium and stopped any attempts to make our state more like the Trump-run federal government.
House Passes Public Safety and Judiciary Budget Bill
Today I voted alongside my colleagues to pass the House Public Safety and Judiciary budget bill. Under Democratic leadership, Minnesota has become a safer state with improved outcomes in our justice system, and we can’t afford to go backwards now. This bill works to protect our historic reforms, needed investments, and prevents regressive legislation all while improving victims services, police training, and data protections for judges.
A lot of this bill was about stopping bad GOP proposals and maintaining our historic progress from the last two years, but we achieved some major new wins as well. This bill takes direct action to combat the chaotic actions of the Trump Administration that harm victim services and put Minnesotans’ safety at risk. By funding life-saving victim services programs that help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and other crimes, this bill is keeping Minnesota safe.
House Passes 2025 Agriculture Budget
We fought for a people-focused Agriculture Budget that feeds Minnesotans, safeguards workers and consumers from looming threats like bird flu, and supports small, emerging farmers in an economy tilted towards large corporations.
DFLers won increases in funding for Farm to School and Early Care and Local Food Purchasing programs, which nourish our kids while also providing stability to local farmers. We increased workplace protections for meat and poultry workers and ensured retail milk and poultry will be tested for bird flu. We’re also helping the next generation of farmers by increasing down payment assistance for those just getting started in agriculture.
Minnesota Making Progress on Clean Energy
In 2023 and 2024, DFLers made generational investments in a cleaner, cheaper, and more efficient energy system, putting Minnesota on the path to 100% Carbon-Free Energy by 2040.
The latest Minnesota Energy Factsheet shows our policies are working and our investments are paying off, creating high-paying clean energy jobs, lowering costs for families, and building a greener future:
? A new record low in carbon emissions, cutting another 4% between 2023 and 2024.
? Residents and businesses have saved more than $307 million in energy costs from the Energy Conservation Optimization (ECO) Act.
? Minnesota is ranked No. 1 in Midwest for overall energy efficiency, and No. 10 nationwide!
Here at the Capitol, I’m dedicated to protecting our progress from those seeking to repeal the legislation that made this positive change possible.
Town Hall Success!
Thanks to everyone who came out to our recent town hall with Congresswoman Angie Craig, DFL Floor Leader Jamie Long, Rep. Bianca Virnig, Rep. John Huot, Rep. Robert Bierman, Senator Lindsey Port and Senator Erin Maye Quade. People are ready to fight back against the chaos coming out of the federal government and they are ready to do it together! I shared some of my thoughts on the town hall and what we can do moving forward here.
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.kaela.berg@house.mn.gov or call (651) 296-5387. For more regular updates, you can subscribe to these regular legislative updates if you haven’t already, here, and you can also “like” and follow my official State Representative Facebook page.
Sincerely,
Kaela Berg
State Representative