 Dear Neighbors and Friends, Starting this week, the Minnesota House returned to a 67-67 tie, with committees co-chaired by Democrats and Republicans and equal numbers of members from both parties. I'm hopeful we can put the hyper-partisan bills behind us and focus on real policies that will help lower prescription drug prices, lower the cost of living, make child care more affordable, and hold bad actors accountable for preying on Minnesota workers. For the first time this legislative session, DFLers held the gavel, which allowed us to address policies that will deliver results for Minnesotans. To get us back on track, the House Health Committee held a hearing about three DFL bills that would make prescription drugs more affordable. They were laid over for consideration of a bigger bill package.  Legislative Bills This week, I presented four of my bills in committee. - Earlier in the week, I presented two bills related to improving geothermal infrastructure. The first bill would create a low-interest revolving loan program for school districts to upgrade their HVAC systems and install geothermal for heating and cooling public school buildings. As a mother with children attending Saint Paul Public Schools, I am aware that most of our schools lack cooling mechanisms in at least 50% of their buildings. Given the current unpredictable seasonal changes, inaction could have dangerous consequences for our young students and staff.
- The other geothermal bill focuses on modernizing the Como Zoo and Conservatory, which accounts for 25% of the city's energy usage. This initiative will help further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advance clean energy goals for the City of St. Paul.
- An unexpected highlight of the week was co-presenting a bipartisan policy bill with Republican Representative Spencer Igo. Our bill addresses the authorization of natural gas utilities to sell extraordinary event bonds under specific circumstances, ensuring that the people of Minnesota aren’t burdened with extraordinary gas prices because of extreme weather or natural disasters.
 - Building on my past support, I was honored to present a bill aimed at providing crucial funding for 30,000 Feet in Saint Paul in the Workforce committee yesterday. This organization's dedication to youth education, centered on arts, culture, and African American empowerment, is invaluable. We saw the impact of our previous investment, which enabled their new facility, and I'm determined to ensure they can continue to thrive, and in doing so, support our youth and build our Minnesota workforce with talented and innovative young talent. Watch my bill presentation here.
 Zero Waste Rally I was honored to speak at the 2025 Zero Waste Rally! It was proud to stand alongside fellow advocates who are passionate about creating a sustainable future. Embracing zero-waste principles isn't just a trend, it's a critical necessity for our state and our planet. I spoke about the importance of passing the Electronic Waste Collection bill, that would create a state-wide program to divert our electronic waste from our landfills and incinerators and stop the rash of fires started by compressed lithium-ion batteries. This bill is also the first step in a larger plan to create electronics recycling economy here in Minnesota, creating jobs, promoting circular economies, and protecting our environment for generations to come. Let's keep the momentum going!  How Will Federal Education Cuts Impact You? Sadly, we no longer have a serious partner in the White House when it comes to building a world-class education system for our students. This week, President Trump advanced reckless plans to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. In response, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) launched a public feedback portal at education.mn.gov for parents, students, teachers, and community members to submit detailed accounts of the ways recent Executive Orders and abrupt federal education cuts are impacting schools and children across our state. More than 860,000 students in Minnesota depend on stable partnerships that have existed between their school communities, MDE and the U.S. Department of Education across administrations. For decades, the federal investments facilitated through those partnerships have played a key role in ensuring students in Minnesota receive the support they need to learn and thrive, including: - $256 million for students with disabilities
- $192 million for students from low-income backgrounds
- $27 million for academic enrichment
- $6 million for students in rural schools
- $38 million to support children living on military bases or Native American reservations
- $100 million for Career and Technical Education workforce development programs
If any of these cuts impact you and your family, please let us know! |