Legislative Update – April 5, 2024
We are hitting the mid-point of the 2024 Legislative Session, and I am so proud of the work we are doing to build upon our historic progress last year and improve the lives of working- and middle-class Minnesotans.
Last week, I met with Northfield Schools Superintendent Matt Hillmann and School Board member Amy Goerwitz along with former School Board member Robert Coleman. As a member of the House Education Finance Committee, I appreciated the opportunity to connect with our local leaders about how we can best support our students!
You can hear more about the past week in the legislature and the bills I am working on in my weekly radio interview with KYMN 95.1 The One by clicking the link below.
Agricultural and Food Policy
As Vice-Chair of the Agriculture Committee, I was proud to meet this week with author Austin Frerick and talk about agricultural issues and food policy. I was joined by Ag Chair Samantha Vang and Environment Chair Rick Hansen, as well as Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy.
Austin's book, Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry, talks about issues facing agriculture across the country and in Minnesota. I was glad to get his insight and share Minnesota’s progress on sustainable agriculture and supporting small farmers.
You can read more about Austin and his book in a recent Q&A here: Q&A with author Austin Frerick on farm policy, Cargill and food industry ‘barons’.
House Floor Votes
This week the House began passing policy bill packages in major issue areas building on the work of our historically productive 2023 session and improving the lives of Minnesotans. The House passed two policy bills supporting our Departments of Military Affairs and Veterans Affairs, which passed with unanimous support!
We passed a higher education policy bill that includes the clean energy sector in our Workforce Development Scholarship Program and expands support in higher education for students who have a disability. We also passed an early education policy bill focused on strengthening our pre-kindergarten and school readiness programs. Finally, we passed a transportation policy package that improves road safety, DVS wait times, child passenger safety, and consumer protections.
Outdoor Recreation and Environmental Protection
Last week I presented legislation in the Environment Committee to better protect state land and water on designated trails and be more intentional about the spaces we designate for ATVs and dirt bikes.
These vehicles play a vital role in our outdoor economy, but the facts show that vehicle weights and horsepower have increased dramatically, and the number of users has more than doubled, which can cause erosion, hinder the growth of shrubs and trees, damage wetlands, and transfer invasive species.
My legislation would help us preserve habitat and protect water sources while still balancing growth in the outdoor recreation sector. You can read more about that proposal here and watch the video of the committee hearing here.
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