Legislative Update – May 17, 2024
We are in the final few days of the 2024 Legislative Session, and I have been working hard to deliver results for our communities and pass legislation that improves Minnesotans’ lives. We will be meeting throughout the weekend up to our May 20 deadline, and I will update you on the final status of bills as they head to the Governor’s desk.
Supplemental Budget Bills
We’ve now passed all our major supplemental budgets bills! You can read these nonpartisan summaries of our work on K-12 Education, Children & Families, Transportation, Labor, and Housing, Higher Education, Judiciary and Public Safety, State and Local Government and Veterans, Elections, Human Services, Workforce and Economic Development, Environment and Natural Resources, Agriculture, Commerce, and Energy, Health, and Taxes.
These are all great bills, but as a member of the K-12 Education Finance, Environment and Natural Resources, and Elections committees, I’m especially proud of our efforts in those bills!
As Vice-Chair of the Agriculture Committee, I was chosen to serve on our Agriculture, Commerce, and Energy conference committee to work out the differences between House and Senate versions and agree on a final bill. I'm hopeful we're close to wrapping that one up today! This year’s Agriculture bill has a provision for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to look into a carbon or ecological services market, which would support farmers who take steps to protect our air and soil, as well as a bill I authored to protect local honey producers ensuring labeling is consistent with federal regulation.
I was also a member of the conference committee for the Environment budget bill and am thrilled to announce it includes $300,000 for tree-planting grants in Northfield! I’m also proud that it includes my bill to update to the definition of public waters with funding to update our state Public Water Inventory (PWI), air quality monitoring stations, manure management grants, and a pilot program for rebates on electric lawn and snow removal equipment!
Finally, when our Elections bill passed the House floor, I was able to reiterate my support for a bill I authored that would allow college campuses to hold early voting days if the students or administration choose. This will help increase voter turnout in our district and across the state, and most importantly it will allow more Minnesotans to exercise their right to vote!
Other House Priorities
House DFLers are also moving forward on several other important pieces of legislation. We’re working on legislation that puts tougher penalties on straw purchases for firearms and banning binary triggers, updating our adult-use cannabis legalization legislation to prepare for a safe, well-regulated legal market, the African American Family Preservation Act, a great tenants rights package, and a bill supporting emergency medical services, especially in rural areas.
As Speaker Hortman said in response to an eight-hour Republican filibuster on Wednesday, “Minnesotans sent us here to deliver results and build a state that works better for everyone. The Rules of the Minnesota House of Representatives protect both the minority's right to be heard and the majority's right and responsibility to govern. We will continue to give the minority ample time to discuss measures on the floor, but ultimately, we will complete the work of the session”
I couldn’t agree more, and I am thankful for the Speaker’s leadership as we move forward with our 2024 budget bills and legislation that protects Minnesotans’ rights!
Statehood Day – New Flag and Seal
In other news, last Saturday Minnesota celebrated 166 years of statehood. The Minnesota State Flag and Seal approved by the State Emblems Redesign Commission early this year are now officially in place! This is a culmination of months of gathering input from and engaging with Minnesotans to find a flag and seal that represents the best of all of us.
Stay Connected!
Unfortunately, due to technological constraints, replies to this newsletter won’t reach my email account. 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.
You can also follow my Official Facebook Page here. 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!