Legislative Update – May 24, 2024
2024 Session Wrap-Up
Dear Neighbors,
The 2024 Legislative Session adjourned on May 20, and this two-year biennium has been one of the most productive in state history. This term, we worked towards a better future for Minnesotans and made progress on so many challenges currently facing our state.
We made great progress tackling issues like gun violence prevention, education funding, and strengthening consumer protection, priorities that previously stalled under divided government. But there is still more work to do.
House DFL lawmakers will continue working with our neighbors and community members to lower the cost of living, deliver economic security for working families, and ensure everyone has the tools they need to thrive.
After setting a transformational two-year budget last year, House DFLers built off 2023’s historically productive session by enacting more solutions to grow the state’s middle class and ensure all Minnesotans have the opportunity to build a better life for themselves and their families.
Bills Passed into Law
This year I was proud to author several pieces of legislation that made it across the finish line and will soon be law!
The Legislature passed my bill directing the commissioner of labor and industry to adopt new rules relating to acceptable blood lead levels for workers, (HF 4713), a priority for our district following the Water Gremlin incident. I also passed legislation in a tenant's rights package ensuring that tenants know that assistance animals are not subject to pet fees (HF 4153).
As Vice-Chair of the Minnesota Queer Legislators Caucus, we passed many priorities to improve our state for LGBTQIA2S+ Minnesotans. My bill banning the LGBT+ “Panic” defense in violent crime cases (HF 4657) passed as part of our Public Safety package, joining 18 other states who have removed this harmful practice from the books. Our Health budget contained my bill increasing access to PrEP & PEP, (HF 2466) tackling the rise of HIV across the state
I was also proud to pass three provisions in our Human Services policy bill improving technology for our disability waiver system (HF 3940), improving our home and community-based services standards (HF 3941), and ensuring cities can’t use zoning requirements to keep licensed residential care facilities out of their communities (HF 3938). These all passed as part of our final Human Services agreement, which received unanimous bipartisan support on the House Floor!
Public Safety and the Judiciary
As I mentioned in last week’s update, I was selected to serve on the Public Safety and Judiciary conference committee, working alongside committee chairs from the House and Senate to build the strongest bills possible. As a first-term legislator, I was proud to bring my voice to the table and ensure we have strong safe communities and a justice system that works better for everyone!
I was proud to see the final agreement include my bill protecting the personal information of justices, judges, and judicial staff (HF 4326), which addresses the troubling trend of increased threats and doxing of public officials. It also included my bill creating a State Board of Civil Legal Aid, (HF 3860), and my legislation strengthening the Department of Corrections security audit group (HF 3937).
Our final Public Safety and Judiciary bill was a bipartisan affair, receiving broad support on a 107-19 final vote on the floor. It includes support for victims, corrections staff assistance, support for forensic examiners, traffic stop reform, and more. I couldn’t be more proud of both House chairs in getting this critical bill past the finish line this year.
End of Session Action
Last year the Legislature passed our major two-year budget bills, and this year the House built on that progress by passing small supplemental budgets alongside more substantial policy changes in major committee areas. Working alongside the Governor and our Senate counterparts, we reached final agreements on all major budget bills.
You can find nonpartisan summaries about the final agreements here: Transportation, Labor and Housing, Energy and Agriculture, Public Safety and Judiciary, Commerce and Cannabis, Jobs and Economic Development, Environment and Natural Resources, K-12 Education, Higher Education, Human Services, Health, and Elections.
These are all great bills, but as a member of the Public Safety and Judiciary, Human Services Policy, and Sustainable Infrastructure committees, I’m especially proud of our efforts there.
We also passed a gun violence prevention bill that includes tougher penalties for straw purchasers and a ban on binary triggers, a bill that will increase wages for rideshare drivers while keeping companies operating in Minnesota, a health occupational licensure and scoping bill, legislation improving our child welfare services and addressing racial disparities, and a tenant’s right’s package.
Stay Connected!
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Sincerely,
Brion Curran
State Representative