Legislative Update - March 1, 2023
Dear Neighbors,
I hope you were able to stay safe and warm during last week’s snowstorm. It has been a busy couple of weeks here in Saint Paul, and we are making a lot of progress on a number of fronts. Here is an update from the Capitol.
Banning Conversion “Therapy” in Minnesota
Last week, the Minnesota House voted to ban the use of conversion “therapy” on minors and vulnerable adults—with bipartisan support! As many therapists and medical professionals testified during the committee process, conversion therapy is a discredited practice that can do real harm to our youth, who are already at an increased risk of depression and suicide. Banning this practice is critical in protecting our children and making Minnesota more inclusive for everyone.
Our youth deserve to be supported for who they are, and as a member of the LGBTQ2S+ community and vice-chair of the Queer Caucus, I was proud to speak on the House Floor in support of our bill to ban conversion “therapy” and in support of queer youth in our state. As a 15-year-old kid, I knew how it felt to fear how people would react to the truest version of myself, and I will always fight to make sure our children feel safe and supported in their communities—no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity. You can watch my speech on the floor here.
Bill Presentations
In the past few weeks, I have been busy moving bills through the committee process. I was proud to work with ARRM, a nonprofit association of 200 disability service providers, on a couple of bills. I presented my bill to remove barriers disability service providers face and help the chronic staffing shortages in this critical area, as well as a bill that seeks to improve the integrated community supports (ICS) program, which was started in 2021 and supports those who receive disability services in supported apartment settings.
I also presented a bill to the Public Safety Committee to strengthen the transition between incarceration and community living by modifying discharge plans. We must acknowledge the importance of mental health in transitioning from incarceration back into the community—facilitating better mental health support will help disrupt the cycle of recidivism and make our communities safer. I thank the committee for its consideration.
House Floor Votes
My colleagues and I are working hard to pass legislation to make Minnesotans’ lives better. In the past month, we had monumental floor votes on the following legislation:
Stay Connected!
To share your input or ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to reach out at rep.brion.curran@house.mn.gov or 651-296-4342, 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!
Sincerely,
Brion Curran
State Representative