Dear Neighbors, I hope you have been enjoying your summer, staying dry from the rain and cool from the heat! It has been a busy summer so far for me, as I’ve been attending events highlighting our transformative legislation passed in the 2023-24 session, meeting with other state legislators, and talking with community members about how we can continue to strengthen our district. This newsletter will be my last e-update until after the election. During an election period, legislators cannot use state resources for unsolicited communications because it might create an unfair advantage. You can still stay up to date with my legislative work by following my official State Representative Facebook page.  Even though my communications will be limited, I am still available to help with state-level problems, answer your questions, and discuss important issues in our community. So please don’t hesitate to reach out at rep.amanda.hemmingsen-jaeger@house.mn.gov if I can assist you in any way. New Laws Take Effect This Month Several new laws took effect on July 1st as a result of our work 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. Here are some of the ways we delivered new investments to lower costs and improve the lives of people across the state: - Investing in childhood literacy and early learning opportunities
- Stronger delivery models for Emergency Medical (ambulance) Services
- Ticket price transparency for concerts, games, and events
- Additional major investments to fix our housing crisis
- Innovating in technologies like solar and geothermal to address climate change
- Supporting our electric grid to help meet our clean energy goals
- Expanding our nation-leading Child Tax Credit
- Eliminating prior authorization in health
- New investments in substance use disorder treatment, services for people with disabilities, and other vulnerable Minnesotans
This just scratches the surface of what an effective, deliberate, and forward-thinking elected body can do for the people they represent. You can read more about these new laws from the nonpartisan office of House Public Information here. Most Consequential Legislature The 2023-2024 Legislature adjourned in late May, and I'm excited to share the progress we’ve made these past two years with members of our community. After many years of divided government that prevented meaningful progress for our state, House DFLers got the job done through a host of accomplishments that will benefit Minnesotans for generations to come. House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy wrote an opinion piece in the Star Tribune titled “That was the most consequential legislature in generations.” I encourage you to read and share it to learn more about the work done that will benefit Minnesotans for generations to come.  Share your Input on Prescription Drug PricingAccess to healthcare is a top priority for me. My colleagues and I are interested in hearing from Minnesotans about how prescription drug prices impact their health care, what affordability concerns exist, and which drugs might benefit from pricing transparency. If you are interested in providing your insights, you can complete the Public Input on Prescription Drug Price Transparency in Minnesota form to share your experiences and help guide the Minnesota Department of Health’s ongoing drug price transparency work. Over 15,000 Minnesotans Registered to Vote Using Automatic Voter RegistrationRecently, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon announced in the first seven weeks of operation, more than fifteen-thousand Minnesotans successfully registered to vote through the new Automatic Voter Registration system. Every voice deserves to be heard, and every vote matters. I’m excited to get more people involved in our democratic process. Keep in TouchYour voice is important to me! You can contact me at rep.amanda.hemmingsen-jaeger@house.mn.gov, by phone at 651-296-7807, on Facebook, or through Instagram with your questions, concerns, or ideas for session. I appreciate the opportunity to serve our district in the legislature and look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger State Representative |