Legislative Update - The Final Weeks of Session

Dear Neighbors, 

We’re entering the final weeks of the legislative session, where we’ll be discussing the House version of the budget bills with our counterparts in the Senate. The goal in our conference committees will be to craft consensus legislation for our final budget bills.

Minnesota remains one of the only divided state legislatures in the nation, and while it’s certainly a challenge, I believe that there will be opportunities to advance policy and funding that emphasize the ability to support people and families who have suffered in this pandemic. I’m honored to share that I’ll be serving on the Housing Conference Committee. 

The House and Senate Housing proposals differ in many ways, from what we’re prioritizing, to the amount we’re investing, but I’ll be fighting to ensure that the final product addresses the housing crisis our community and our entire state currently face. It’s not an issue we can afford to ignore any longer. 

Vaccine Appointments Available

The State Fair Community Vaccination Site has appointments available! Our community is one of the regions eligible to sign up for appointments, and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has reduced barriers for this site by opening a hotline to schedule appointments directly (833-431-2053) in a multitude of languages. MDH has ensured a large number of translators are on site daily, as well as an ADA accessible drive through option. A free Metro Transit pass is also available to every registrant. This week, they are also beginning to open community sites with the federal doses, where up to 1,000 doses a day of our allocation will be administered. These sites are being finalized and will be located at community centers, churches, schools, and more.

You can find more information here, which includes information in multiple languages - such as Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Karen, and more. We’re incredibly close to putting this pandemic behind us, and we will get there sooner by vaccinating more Minnesotans. Please share this information with those who may need it.

Northern Metals Fire

Last week’s fire at Northern Metals Recycling was their third fire in the last five years. This is on top of their history of violations that has caused the state to order them to cease shredding operations. It’s because of facilities like Northern Metals that we’re fighting so hard for environmental justice at the State Capitol this session.

Just last week we passed several important provisions in our Climate, Energy, and Commerce budget that would make Minnesota a cleaner, healthier state, including investments in a Clean Energy Training Center in North Minneapolis. You can read more about this bill here. We also passed legislation authored by Rep. Lee that directs the Department of Natural Resources to prioritize projects that increase environmental justice, protecting economically disadvantaged communities and communities of color harmed by pollution.

Public Safety

With our Public Safety budget passed in the House, pressure is mounting for Senate Republicans to come to the table to meaningfully discuss police accountability measures and other reforms. Despite promising to hold hearings, Senate Republicans still haven’t provided the public the opportunity to weigh in on the desperate need for these measures.

This week, Governor Walz joined a bipartisan group of legislators to emphasize that public safety measures not only need to be discussed, but soon, as to avoid Senate Republicans using the issue as a hostage in budget negotiations. You can watch that press conference here.

For my part, I’ll continue to work with my fellow members of the People of Color and Indigenous Caucus to ensure that our final, compromise Public Safety budget includes the necessary changes to keep our communities safe across Minnesota.

REAL ID

In a recent announcement from the Federal Government, the deadline to obtain a REAL ID has been extended by an additional 18 months to May 3, 2023. This will help relieve some of the pressure on our local Driver and Vehicle Services offices, which have been overwhelmed with requests to renew expired drivers licenses and vehicle registration tabs, and give Minnesotans more time to obtain this updated form of identification.

Beginning May 3, 2023, Minnesotans will need a REAL ID to board domestic flights or enter federal facilities. An enhanced driver's license or ID card, passport or passport card are acceptable substitutes. Simple vehicle tab renewals can be handled online in just a few minutes at the DVS website, so take advantage of that option if you can’t get an in-person appointment at a local Hennepin County Service Center.

Stay Connected

Once conference committees have completed their work on the budget bills, we’ll be back on the House floor to pass them one last time before our constitutional adjournment date of May 17. If you have any questions or comments on our work in the Minnesota House and the final bills we’re working on, feel free to contact my office. 

You can reach me at either (651) 296-8659 or rep.esther.agbaje@house.mn. You can also “like” and follow my official Facebook page or subscribe to these updates to stay connected. I look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely, 

Esther Agbaje

State Representative