Strengthening Voting Rights and Ending Junk Fees
Dear Neighbors,
Thank you to everyone who came out to our Town Hall and Community Q&A last weekend! It was great to share updates alongside Representatives Liebling and Hicks and Senator Boldon and get questions on issues that the legislature is addressing this year.
If you weren’t able to make it or we didn’t get to your question, feel free to reach out to my office at rep.andy.smith@house.mn.gov. Thank you to everyone who came out to have your voices heard!
Election Policy Legislation
This week the House passed the 2024 Elections policy bill, which focuses on improved voter access and election transparency. It targets policy areas where the state can improve voter turnout and ensure that if voting is restricted, voters have a means of redress.
I was proud to vote in favor of this legislation, which also includes the Minnesota Voting Rights Act (MVRA), which codifies, streamlines, and strengthens the protections against voter suppression and vote dilution under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 in response to a recent ruling by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. This is a solid package of legislation that will help more eligible Minnesotans make it to the polls.
House Floor Votes
The House has begun passing policy bill packages in major issue areas building on the work of our historically productive 2023 session and improving the lives of Minnesotans. So far the House has passed:
- A public safety package that passed unanimously and includes bipartisan provisions that protect victim-survivors and make our system more just.
- A labor policy bill that includes provisions to strengthen the minimum wage, ban shadow non-competes, and increase pay transparency.
- A K-12 education policy bill that prioritizes policies to improve the experiences of students in Minnesota schools while also making sure the state is measuring and holding schools accountable for meaningful academic outcomes.
The DFL also passed legislation to crack down on junk fees to ensure consumers have fair, upfront pricing for event tickets, restaurant meals, hotels, credit cards, and more. I was proud to vote for both of these bills to protect Minnesotan consumers against unfair business practices.
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.andy.smith@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9249, 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!
Warmly,
Andy Smith,
State Representative