Neighbors, The major snowstorm moving through the area has prompted cancellation of committee hearings and floor session at the Capitol. Please stay safe as this storm moves through the area.  Impactful Week in Saint Paul On Monday, the Minnesota House passed catalytic converter theft prevention legislation. This bill prohibits scrap metal dealers from purchasing a catalytic converter not attached to a motor vehicle unless the catalytic converter contains identifying markings connecting the device to a vehicle. Furthermore, scrap metal dealers must collect certain information to aid law enforcement and enter data into an electronic database. Penalties for not complying with the law include a fine of up to $10,000 for unlawful possession and sale. Catalytic converter theft is a problem throughout Minnesota and in our communities and I have heard many stories about the fallout from theft of a catalytic converter. Minnesota ranks in the top five for catalytic cover thefts and in November of 2022, a federal takedown of a catalytic converter theft ring of over a half-billion dollars included more than a dozen search warrants across Minnesota. Also on Monday, the Minnesota House passed legislation to ban the discredited practice of so-called “conversion therapy,” on a bipartisan vote. The legislation would ban conversion therapy on children or vulnerable adults, prohibit conversion therapy from being offered under medical assistance coverage, and eliminate the misrepresentation of services or products associated with conversion therapy. The prohibition of “conversion therapy” will put an end to the exploitation of families when they need support from their community. As an added measure, state health plans will no longer cover conversion therapy. Video of the floor session can be found on the House Info YouTube Page. Paid Family & Medical Leave EventMany of you made your way to the Paid Family & Medical Leave listening session on Saturday. We heard important stories from our community on how paid family and medical leave could positively help a family during very trying times. I fully support this measure and look forward to voting ‘yes’ in the weeks to come. Thank you all for your engagement and participation.  Stay Connected with the LegislatureIt is easy to stay connected to news from the State Capitol. The Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services offers nonpartisan recaps of high-profile bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions with their Session Daily publication. Subscribe to receive these here. To track bills of interest through the legislative process, I encourage you to utilize the MyBills feature on the Minnesota House of Representatives’ website. Please continue to reach out with any input, ideas, or feedback about the issues important to you. I value hearing from you, so call or email any time. You can find my information on my House website. You can also like my Facebook page, and follow me on Twitter. It is an honor to represent you at the State Capitol. Sincerely, Kim Hicks State Representative |