Legislative UpdateDear Friends, It’s been a busy week here in St. Paul with lots of bill hearings, events, and floor sessions. This week I introduced 4 bills. On Monday in the Transportation Committee, I introduced House File 198 which seeks funding for the replacement of the 70-year-old air traffic control tower at Duluth International Airport, one of the oldest in the nation. With $54.7 million in available federal funding through the Infrastructure and Jobs Act, the bill proposes a $14 million state investment to modernize the tower and bring it up to current safety standards. Click here to watch the video below.  In the Transportation Committee I also introduced House File 189. HF 189 is designed to create parity between traditional gas-powered vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs) in funding Minnesota’s roads and bridges. Currently, EV owners pay a flat $75 annual registration fee, while gas-powered vehicle owners contribute to infrastructure funding through the gas tax. By calculating the average number of miles driven per year and the corresponding gas tax paid, this bill proposes adjusting the EV fee to $137, only $62 difference, to ensure all drivers contribute fairly to road maintenance. Click here to watch the video below.  This week in Children and Families Committee I introduced two house files HF 655 and HF 656. Both of these bills will help with the ongoing childcare crisis because being on a waitlist for two years for childcare is not an option. House File 655 addresses the ongoing decline of family childcare in Minnesota, which has seen a significant reduction of over 50% in many communities. Family childcare plays a crucial role in supporting families who rely on 24/7 care, particularly for emergency service workers, healthcare professionals, and those with nontraditional work schedules. The bill proposes increasing the allowable number of children in family childcare settings from 10 to 12, aligning Minnesota with several other states, including Illinois, South Dakota, and Ohio. Click here to watch the video below.  House File 656 provides a simple yet impactful solution for childcare centers facing space constraints. It grants the commissioner the authority to approve a 100-square-foot variance for centers that fall slightly short of the required square footage per child. In many cases, this minor adjustment would allow providers to accommodate more children, easing long waitlists and addressing the ongoing childcare shortage. Click here to watch the video below.  House Updates This week it was –18 at home and –10 in St. Paul. We need to make sure our gird can handle our heating and cooling needs. I am glad that some are realizing the consequences of no coal, natural gas or nuclear for us all after the passing of a Democrat only bill in 2023. The bill passed in 2023 created a wind/solar energy only platform in MN, that can lead to blackouts which is not safe in extreme cold temperatures. Now in 2025 Rep. Spencer Igo, (R-Hibbing), is authoring a bill to lift the moratorium on nuclear energy. Senator Hauschild is also authorizing this in 2025. Just two years ago I authored this bill with many other and we did not have bipartisan support. The tide has turned, now watch the votes as history is made for MN. This is step #1 to make MN energy affordable for all. Click here to watch my weekly update below .  |