Dear Neighbors,
The 3rd week of the 2024 legislative session is in the books, and it continues to be an honor to fight on your behalf here in St. Paul and to stand strong for our communities and shared values.
There was positive news this week with an agreement reached between Democrats, Republicans, and law enforcement on a fix to the School Resource Officers (SROs) issue that has been ongoing since last year.
This agreement, once it is passed and signed into law by Governor Walz, means that the remaining districts that still have not returned SROs to their schools will be able to do so. I anticipate the bill to come before the House body for a vote sometime this coming week.
EMS Access for the Northland
Many rural communities, including those here in the Northland, are facing a crisis as it relates to Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The current fee-for-service model has not been working for some time—leaving rural areas of the state with dwindling access to ambulances and other EMS options.
To help address this serious issue, I have signed on as a co-author to legislation that would provide badly needed funding for rural care providers.
This short-term funding would act as a bridge to address the real-time concerns with access. I am also continuing to work with my colleagues to find long-term solutions that address the root causes of the problem in hopes of providing structural support to make sure EMS services remain strong in the Northland and across rural Minnesota.
Helium Discovery Near Babbitt
Great news this week that Pulsar Helium has discovered helium concentrations of up to 12.4% at the Topaz Project site near Babbitt.
I made a site visit recently to the Topaz Project near Babbitt to learn more about the project.
This has tremendous potential for the region as we continue to look at ways to diversify our local economy. I look forward to working with state regulators to make sure that helium drilling can proceed here in Northern Minnesota safely and effectively. Helium is an incredibly important gas that is needed for a variety of modern products, and I am hopeful that we can source this gas and process it right here in the Northland very shortly.
According to Pulsar, the Topaz Project is believed to be home to one of the world’s highest-content helium occurrences.
Gun Control Hearings
On Thursday, two gun control bills received hearings in the House Public Safety Committee. As a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment, I have concerns with both proposals.
The first bill, House File 601, would require firearm owners to report the loss or theft of a firearm within a timeframe deemed “appropriate” by the government. Put simply, the bill would criminalize victims for not reporting a crime that has been committed against them.
We do not and should not criminalize people who are the victims of crime.
The second bill would establish new requirements for the storage of firearms inside the home.
Those of you who are familiar with firearms understand the significant challenges that would be posed by new, onerous storage requirements in the event of a home defense situation.
Instead of passing new laws that further restrict law-abiding Minnesotans’ 2nd Amendment rights, it would be better to hold criminals responsible for their actions and enforce the many gun laws that are already on the books.
Staying in Touch
Please be sure to reach out to me or my office if you have any questions, or comments, or would like to discuss your priorities. You can call me at 651-296-2190 or at rep.roger.skraba@house.mn.gov.
Have a great day!
Roger