Legislative UpdateFriends, Over the past two weeks, we’ve been deep in the process of negotiating major budget and policy bills and voting on them off the House floor. Many have already passed, while others are still under debate. I’ve received a number of questions about what this stage of session looks like and how I’m making sure your priorities are part of the final conversation. The Budget Process As mentioned above, we are about midway through the budget bill process, and I’d like to give you a quick rundown of how this whole thing works. - Committee Hearings – Individual bills are introduced and heard in their respective committees (Education, Taxes, Transportation, etc.).
- Budget Bill Assembly – Committee chairs take select individual bills and combine them into one larger omnibus bill. While I strongly prefer single-subject bills for the sake of transparency and accountability, time constraints make that difficult. This year’s session was delayed by three weeks due to disagreements among Democrats over the structure of the House, which has made the compressed timeline even tighter.
- House and Senate Votes – Each chamber passes its own version of the budget bill. Amendments are offered on the floor to improve the bill.
- Conference Committee – Lawmakers from both chambers meet to compare and negotiate the final version.
- Final Passage – Once agreed upon, the final bill goes back to the House and Senate for an up-or-down vote.
Legislative Balance So far, many of the large budget bills moving through the Legislature include provisions we’re proud of. But the reality is, we’re just one half of one branch of state government. That means we don’t get everything we want, and Democrat-backed provisions will be part of these bills too. Even so, we’ve held the line on key priorities. We’ve kept our commitment to fiscal responsibility and fought for common-sense spending that protects Minnesota’s long-term financial future. After years of one-party control and unchecked spending, the state is feeling the consequences: budget shortfalls, rising costs, and growing uncertainty. While we can’t undo the damage overnight, we’ve started laying the foundation for sustainable budgeting that avoids the boom-and-bust cycle Minnesotans have become all too familiar with. We’re working hard to push back on wasteful spending and keep the priorities of our district at the forefront of these conversations. Housing Bill Concerns So far, I’ve been a “yes” vote on all of these bills except the Housing Bill. I spoke earlier this year about my concern over the language in this legislation and unfortunately that language did not improve. In its current form, I have concerns about how the bills limit local control: a principle I have long championed in both my legislative efforts and the bills I’ve authored. I believe cities should have the authority to determine how best to utilize their properties, rather than having decisions made by bureaucrats in St. Paul. I’ve also reached out to constituents to gather feedback on how this legislation could be improved, and I’ve shared those concerns with my colleagues. I fully recognize the serious need for housing across Minnesota, and I’m committed to finding solutions that meet that need without undermining the independence and decision-making authority of our local officials. Protecting Homeschool Freedom – See My Video Here. Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard from many of you about troubling proposals that could impact Minnesota’s homeschool families. I want to be absolutely clear: I do not support any effort to impose new restrictions, mandates, or unnecessary oversight on homeschooling. One particular concern was a Senate amendment that would have added burdensome reporting requirements for homeschool families. Thankfully, that provision has zero support in the Republican House, and as long as Republicans have a seat at the table, we will continue to stand against it. Just as we’re committed to local control in housing, I’m equally committed to protecting your freedom as homeschooling families to make decisions without unnecessary government interference. Homeschool parents are doing incredible work educating their children and deserve the freedom to do so without interference from politicians in St. Paul. I will continue fighting to protect your parental rights and ensure any final education bill respects your role as your child’s first and most important teacher. Working Together in St. PaulThanks to each of you for sharing your perspectives and visiting me at the Captiol!        |