Legislative Update: April 11, 2023

Dear Neighbors,

Last week the House took a few days to be with family and friends, to catch our breath, and for some of us, to observe Passover, Easter, or Ramadan. I hope you and your families have had a joyous time.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been assembling our budget bills. This week, we will start the process of passing budget bills off the floor. If you’re keeping track at home, here is where you can find the bills I have been working on:

• Privacy rights for direct-to-consumer genetic testing (HF1520) - Commerce omnibus bill
• Preventing home foreclosure due to stacking HOA legal fees (HF2084) - Commerce omnibus bill
• Preventing HOAs from denying solar panels on homes (HF1262) - Climate and Energy omnibus bill
• Homeowner solar energy production incentives (HF2892) - Climate and Energy omnibus bill
• Supportive arts therapy for incarcerated persons (HF2167) - Public Safety omnibus bill
• Updating regulations for hospital construction (HF1679) - Health omnibus bill
• Conforming prescription hearing aid regulations with new federal law (HF2038) - Health omnibus bill
• TIF exemption for Central Park (HF1463) - Hoping to be included in the Taxes bill

Around the District

While I took the opportunity to sleep in a little, the session break was a great time for me to check in with the community.  Here’s what I did:

• Visited a 3rd-grade class to talk about being a legislator, and held a pretend committee hearing.  I was very impressed with the intelligence, respect for each other, and collaboration the kids showed!
• Attended Iftar at Eastern Twin Cities Islamic Center, and caught up with community members
• Attended the opening of Art from the Inside’s exhibit, hosted by Antonio Espinosa (a retired correctional officer who is transforming tragedy into work that is making our prisons safer)
• Toured the White Bear Center for the Arts to learn more about their funding request to the Workforce Development Committee
• Visited with constituents at a home that provides critical disability services for their residents

You’re Invited to a Town Hall

As we progress through the last few weeks of session, I’d like to take some time to discuss your thoughts and priorities. On Saturday, April 15th from 3:30-4:30, I’ll be hosting a town hall at the Woodbury Central Park Amphitheatre. I’m looking forward to seeing you!

Free Parks Day

As the weather continues to warm up and the snow starts to melt, I wanted to share that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has announced its free park days for 2023! All entrance and vehicle permit fees will be waived on:

• Saturday, April 22
• Saturday, June 10
• Saturday, September 9
• Friday, November 24

Our state parks showcase the best Minnesota has to offer including hiking, biking, camping, swimming, skiing, birding, and more. I hope you will take the opportunity to get out and enjoy our state parks this year.

Protecting Healthcare Coverage

Each year, Minnesotans enrolled in Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare must have their eligibility reviewed to verify they still qualify for coverage. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, this renewal process was paused, and Minnesotans enrolled in these programs maintained continuous healthcare coverage. This spring, when the federal health emergency ends, the standard renewal process will resume. 

If you are among the 1.5 million Minnesotans who rely on Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare, make sure your current contact information is on file, especially if you’ve moved in the last three years. Visit mn.gov/dhs/mycontactinfo or call (800) 657-3672 to update your address, phone number, and email address. Also, be on the lookout for official information and instructions about how to renew your coverage, and be prepared with some documentation when it’s time to renew. Learn more at mn.gov/dhs/renewmycoverage.

House DFLers are committed to ensuring all eligible Minnesotans retain their public coverage when renewals restart while connecting those ineligible with other coverage options. Last month, lawmakers approved and Governor Walz signed into law a bill to ease this “unwinding” by investing resources for counties to process renewals, support for MNsure navigators, and making MinnesotaCare available with no premiums through June 30, 2024.

Keep in Touch

Do you have questions, comments, or exciting news? You can contact me at rep.amanda.hemmingsen-jaeger@house.mn.gov, by phone at 651-296-7807, or on Facebook. I appreciate the opportunity to serve our district in the legislature and look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger

State Representative