Dear Neighbors, I hope you had a chance to enjoy the beautiful 10/10 weather weekend we had! Spring has finally sprung in Minnesota and it’s been so wonderful to see the sun and all the flowers starting to bloom. We’re on our third and final deadline to pass bills this week, and we’re on track for an orderly end to the 2024 session. The House, Senate, and Governor have agreed upon a supplemental budget framework which will help us allocate investments to strengthen communities across the state. We anticipate bringing these mini budget bills forward at the end of the month for a final vote.  Policy Bills & Strong Consumer Protections AdvanceWe’ve also begun passing policy bill packages in major issue areas building on the work of our historically productive 2023 session, making life a little easier for Minnesotans. We passed the Elections Policy Bill, which focuses on improved voter access and election transparency and includes policy areas where the state can improve voter turnout. We also passed the Public Safety Policy Bill on a unanimous vote. The bill continues our comprehensive approach to public safety and crime prevention with support for victims, criminal justice reform, policy modernization, and more. Additionally, the House approved two policy bills supporting our Departments of Military Affairs and Veterans Affairs, which passed with unanimous support. Serving on the House Veterans Affairs Committee and helping assemble this bill was truly an honor! We also got a higher education policy bill that expands support in higher education for students who have a disability across the finish line and an early education policy bill that includes legislation I’m carrying to strengthen our pre-kindergarten and school readiness programs. Our transportation policy package that passed improves road safety, DVS wait times, child passenger safety, and consumer protections.  We recently passed a Labor Policy Package that includes provisions to strengthen the minimum wage, ban shadow non-competes, and increase pay transparency. We also passed a K-12 Education Policy Bill. This bill prioritizes policies to improve the experiences of students in Minnesota schools while also making sure the state is measuring and holding schools accountable for academic outcomes.  Finally, we advanced bills stabilizing Minnesota’s Disaster Assistance Contingency Account and allowing photos of hunting and fishing licenses to count as proof of license. Ditching “Junk Fees” We are all familiar with buying a ticket to a concert, sports game, or other event and seeing extra “service” and “convenience” fees added that provide no additional value to consumers. That’s why House DFLers passed legislation cracking down on these hidden, deceptive fees to ensure consumers have fair, upfront pricing for event tickets, restaurant meals, hotels, credit cards and more. The first bill we approved, HF 1989 would improve fee transparency in ticketing and prevent deceptive practices that negatively impact consumers who purchase tickets. The second, HF 3438 would ban the practice of junk fees. Ending these practices is the right thing to do and will help Minnesotans plan and budget better in the future.  Addressing Copper Wire Theft Copper wire theft is far more than a nuisance; it poses a significant threat to public safety in our communities. That's why I supported a comprehensive legislative solution to combat copper wire theft across the state. Last week, West Saint Paul Mayor Napier spoke in support of the legislative plan with lead author State Rep. Hollins, State Sen. Pappas Saint Paul Mayor Carter, St. Paul Police Chief Henry, and other city and state stakeholders to announce the bill. Black Maternal Health WeekAccording to data from the CDC, Black women in the United States are three times more likely to die from such birth complications than white women. Beginning April 11th through the 17th is Black Maternal Health Month; a time to advocate for better care, a reduction of preventable deaths, and advocacy for a healthcare system that prioritizes the well-being of ALL birthing people in Minnesota. As a member of the Minnesota House’s Black Maternal Health Caucus, we’re working on legislation that addresses these disparities, so all parents have the opportunity to thrive post-partum.  Connected to CommunityIt was wonderful seeing the bold vision of a future museum highlighting the rich heritage of our Latino community with powerful advocates and fellow colleagues! I can't wait for the completion of this project. #mnleg #sisepuede  I was grateful for the recent opportunity to learn more about how the University of Minnesota’s innovation is treating patients, educating tomorrow’s health professionals, and making discoveries that improve health care in Minnesota and around the world. #mnleg  I appreciated folks from our district stopping by to visit with me from AFSCME advocating for direct services, workers, and programming. Your work is critical! Thanks for all you do.  Our area's families are fortunate to have Independent School District 196 teachers, staff, and administrators who cultivate a strong foundation of community and foster a welcoming environment. It's an honor to work with you to deliver the strong investments our students deserve. Thank you for helping the current and next generation thrive!  Thousands of Minnesotans rely on Metro Mobility to get around town- whether to work, school, grocery shop, or medical appointments-people depend on it to live their daily lives with purpose and dignity. It's a public service that merits bold investment, and I'm grateful to Metro Mobility driver Steve from our district for coming to visit with me about why it's critical to keep this funding going.  Nurses work tirelessly around the clock to care for our loved ones; they deserve a fair staff-to-patient ratio to keep delivering the quality of care Minnesotans deserve. A big thanks to these dedicated nurses from our district for all they do!  Keep in TouchDue to technical constraints, replies to this email won’t reach my inbox. To reach out with ideas, input, or questions, please email me directly at rep.mary.frances.clardy@house.mn.gov or give me a call at 651-296-3533. You’re also welcome to follow me on my Facebook page here for more community updates from the Capitol. Thank you for the honor of representing our Inver Grove Heights, West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Lilydale, and Sunfish Lake neighbors in St. Paul. Have a great week! Forward, Mary Frances Clardy
State Representative |