Legislative Update – April 12, 2024
Dear neighbors,
We are at the mid-point of the 2024 Legislative Session, and legislators have begun passing policy bill packages and putting together supplemental budget bills that build on our historic progress from last year and continue working to grow the middle class and support working Minnesotans.
It’s not too late to fill out our district’s 2024 Legislative Survey! It only takes a couple of minutes to fill out and covers legislation passed last year, what issues you would like us to address in the future, and local projects and funding I secured for our communities. You can take the survey by clicking the button below.
Addressing Unsafe Lead Levels
As your representative, I am dedicated to working on issues that directly impact our district, such as dealing with the ongoing impacts of compliance issues at Water Gremlin.
That’s why I’ve authored HF 4713, legislation calling on the Department of Labor and Industry to adopt new standards for unsafe levels of lead in their blood. This legislation is key to understanding the true impacts of Water Gremlin’s noncompliance and protecting our residents' health and safety.
The bill was heard in the House Labor and Industry Committee on April 4 and will be heard in the House Health Committee this Friday. You can find a video recording of the Labor Committee hearing here.
Combatting Junk Fees
This week I was proud to vote for two bills that protect Minnesotan consumers from deceptive and unfair business practices by ending junk fees and requiring ticket price transparency.
We are all familiar with buying a ticket to a concert, sports game, or other event and seeing extra “service” and “convenience” fees added that provide no additional value to consumers. DFLers are passing legislation to require fair, transparent ticket prices and other important protections for consumers. Ending these practices is the right thing to do and will help Minnesotans plan and budget better in the future.
House Floor Votes
This week the House began 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. It also includes HF 3937, my legislation strengthening the Department of Corrections security audit group.
- Bills supporting our Departments of Military Affairs and Veterans Affairs, which passed with unanimous support!
- A bipartisan higher education policy bill that includes the clean energy sector in our Workforce Development Scholarship Program and expands support in higher education for students who have a disability.
- An early education policy bill focused on strengthening our pre-kindergarten and school readiness programs.
- A bipartisan transportation policy package that improves road safety, DVS wait times, child passenger safety, and consumer protections.
- An election bill that addresses voting rights, election disinformation, and school board appointments.
- 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.
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.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