Legislative Update – March 31, 2023
It has been an incredibly busy couple of weeks at the Capitol. Earlier this month, I joined Senate Agriculture Chair Aric Putnam for a series of Ag listening sessions around the state, which you can read about here. Thank you to all the amazing people who have come to Saint Paul to visit, testify, and meet about all the work we are doing this session! Here are some great moments–including meeting with Carleton students and President Alison Byerly and former Arizona Congresswoman, gun safety advocate, and all-around amazing person Gabby Giffords!
Our work at the Capitol has been paying off and we have been receiving some great coverage about proposals I have been working on this year. Here are a few I would like to highlight:
Update from my Committees
The state budget we will enact this year is more than a fiscal document – it is a moral document that should reflect Minnesotans’ values. Minnesotans care about their families, neighbors, and communities, and we want our state to work better for everyone. On March 21, the Speaker of the House, Senate President, and Governor Walz reached an agreement on a framework for a new state budget.
While work in legislative committees is winding down as overall finance bills are passed out of committee, chairs will soon be hard at work conferencing the discrepancies between House and Senate versions to get to a final agreed-upon result to bring to the House and Senate floors for passage before the end of Session.
This process can be intimidating for a new member, but I am learning quickly on the job! As the Vice Chair of the Agriculture Committee, I am proud of the investments we are making to support small farmers and rural communities and to expand rural broadband!
House Floor Votes
This month, we passed the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act, which intends to protect patients and providers from other states’ laws infringing on health care decisions within our borders. As well as a bill that ban private prisons in the state of Minnesota, and legislation ensuring that Minnesota is in the best position to unlock federal funds for clean energy projects, meet our climate goals, and transition to a cleaner future.
Last week, the House met from 3:30 p.m. on Thursday until 5:30 a.m. on Friday morning to pass critical legislation protecting trans and LGBTQIA2S+ Minnesotans. We passed HF 146, the Trans Refuge Bill which protects the rights of Minnesota’s LGBTQIA2S+ community to seek and receive gender-affirming health care. And just in time for Trans Day of Visibility today! I am so proud to support my colleague Representative Leigh Finke as she carried this legislation and ensured its passage.
This important life-saving bill ensures access to life-saving healthcare for all families in the state of Minnesota, including age-appropriate, gender-affirming care. This health care is founded on sound research, science, and results in overwhelmingly positive outcomes. Minnesotans trust each other to make these decisions with their families and health care providers. I was proud to vote yes on this legislation with my DFL colleagues.
Stay Connected!
To share your input or ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to reach out at rep.kristi.pursell@house.mn.gov or 651-296-0171, and I will be happy to help. If you were forwarded this email and you’d like to subscribe, click here. If you have a friend or neighbor who would be interested in receiving these, please forward this and encourage them to subscribe!
Sincerely,
Kristi Pursell
State Representative