Neighbors, This week, committees have been hearing many bills, with meetings stretching into the evening hours. These longer hearings give legislators an opportunity to hear bills to move along in the process as our second committee deadline nears this Friday. Helping RentersLast Thursday, I was a ‘yes’ vote when we advanced a measure to help our neighbors struggling to pay their rent. The Minnesota House passed House File 1440, which delivers a one-time $50 million investment in emergency rental assistance to the state’s Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program to address skyrocketing evictions and rent increases. Through much of the pandemic, federal rental assistance allowed Minnesotans to maintain housing stability. Many of those funds dried up in January of 2022, but the economic challenges facing low-income families did not. As a result, Minnesota experienced a skyrocketing eviction rate last year with more than 20,000 filed. Many counties across the state have seen a 100% increase in eviction filings over pre-pandemic levels.  The Capitol and The CommunityMy bill to help those with a physical or communication disability to vote will be considered for inclusion in a future package of Elections legislation. The measure will provide an appropriation to the Office of the Secretary of State to assist counties to improve polling place access for individuals living will a disability. You can read the nonpartisan House of Representatives Information Office article here and watch the testimony here. I have also co-authored a bill aiming to reduce workplace violence. You can read a Rochester Post Bulletin article on the measure here. Last weekend, my colleague, Rep. Emma Greenman, held a Democracy Town Hall with some of the Rochester legislative delegation. We discussed HF3, a measure proposing a series of changes to voter registration, election administration, election security, and campaign finance and disclosure laws. I am a strong supporter of this bill.  Rochester SEIU members visited the Capitol during their Day on the Hill.  Reproductive Freedom Defense Act AdvancesOn Monday, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed HF 366, the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act, which protects the privacy and rights of persons receiving or providing reproductive health care in the state. HF 366 protects a patient’s health records and prohibits a judge in Minnesota from issuing a warrant for the arrest of someone in Minnesota charged in a different state for a crime arising from acts committed here involving lawful reproductive health care. The bill also prohibits the arrest of a person charged in another state from a crime arising from acts committed in Minnesota that involve reproductive health care. 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 |