Legislative Update – March 22, 2024Dear Neighbors, As the legislative session continues, I want to hear from you on the issues you care about most. That’s why I am hosting a Virtual Town Hall meeting with the Speaker of the Minnesota House, Melissa Hortman, recapping the work of the last session and taking questions from constituents. The town hall will be held Wednesday, April 3rd from 6:00-7:00 pm. Constituents must RSVP and will be sent the Zoom link for the town hall the day before the event. You can RSVP here and share with your family, friends, and neighbors.  Brent’s LawIn my first term at the House, I passed Travis' Law, requiring 911 dispatchers to send trained mental health teams to people in crisis, however, recent KSTP-TV reporting has shown nine counties that did not refer a single case to crisis responders in the year and a half after it became law.  That's why I'm continuing the work this year with Brent's Law, which would better train dispatchers on how to identify mental health crises and ensure counties are upholding the law. Read more about this legislation and Brent's story here: Lawmaker seeks to strengthen mental health response to 911 calls in Minnesota. This is a critical issue across Minnesota, and I am dedicated to ensuring Travis’ Law is enforced and more Minnesotans receive the mental health support they need when they need it. Cannabis LegislationAfter last year’s bill legalizing adult-use cannabis in our state, I am dedicated to ensuring small businesses have the support they need and am looking to clean up old statutes that are no longer needed after legalization. MPR has an explainer here where I talk about the shift in language from marijuana to cannabis and the importance of addressing the harms of the past and the war on drugs. I also presented legislation last week repealing a 1986 law that was, in effect, a tax on the sale of illegal substances like cannabis. As I’m sure you can imagine, dealers were not lining up to report their illegal sales to the Department of Revenue, meaning this statute was unnecessary. The bill has bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. MinnPost: On the repeal list: Minnesota’s tax on illegal drugs that brings in zero dollars in revenue  EMT Training/Paramedic ScholarshipsDFLers are working to address the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) statewide shortage. One of these initiatives that I supported funds $3 million for up to 600 scholarships of $5,000 starting in the fall of 2024 to be awarded by June 30, 2026.  If you or anyone you know might be interested in this opportunity to serve the public and give back to the community, you can find eligibility information here. |