Legislative UpdateDear friends and neighbors, While you are busy working and tending to your daily life back home, I am working on issues that matter to many. Therefore, I have authored & co-authored bills to address funding ambulance services, lowering taxes, growing childcare slots, supporting mental health, growing trade opportunities, lowering energy costs, supporting seniors, promoting education, sustaining public safety, and various workforce initiatives to ensure thriving communities with a trained workforce and a thriving small business community. The first weeks of session, we have worked hard to address fraud in Minnesota which is currently at over $600 million in MN. This is important to ensure resources go to services needed for Minnesotans not fraudsters. Below is an example of supporting seniors, and providing opportunities for many adults seeking affordable housing. Making Minnesota Affordable Affordable housing is a topic in our district and statewide. Every week, I receive phone calls or emails from seniors about rising property tax concerns jeopardizing their ability to retain their home. Therefore, I was excited to introduce House File 1343 in the Housing Committee, addressing one of the most pressing issues in communities across Minnesota—housing. This innovative bill, named Minnesota Nice Home share, aims to create a pilot program for seniors in St. Louis, Lake, and Washington counties. These counties represent diverse regions of the state: the largest county, a Greater Minnesota county, and a suburban area of the Twin Cities. My inspiration for this bill came after attending a bipartisan conference with senators and state representatives from across the U.S., where they discussed successful legislative models from other states. The bill proposes funding to partner with the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging to provide a grant that will allow seniors to rent out one or two bedrooms in their homes. This model, which has been successfully implemented in 32 other states, offers seniors an opportunity to earn additional income and achieve greater financial stability. For those in need of affordable housing, this initiative provides an option often costing around $800 per month. Programs like Minnesota Nice Homeshare not only provide affordable housing but also foster meaningful connections for aging seniors, reducing feelings of loneliness and offering companionship. In addition, individuals seeking housing can gain intergenerational experiences that benefit various groups, including young adults entering the workforce and college students. The platform ensures thorough background checks and comprehensive questionnaires to help facilitate successful homesharing matches. This innovative approach offers a potential solution to housing challenges many face, while fostering stronger community connections through shared living. This bill was well. Protection for Women's Sports In Judiciary Committee I introduced House File 1233. House File 1233 intent is to uphold Title IX protections for women's sports by clarifying that female-only teams do not violate the Minnesota Human Rights Act. The bill responds to Minnesota court interpretations that include gender identity under sexual orientation protections, arguing that Title IX was designed to ensure fairness and equal opportunities for female athletes. Click here to watch the video below.  Visitors and Events  Spending time with fellow ATV enthusiasts from back home.  Spent time with teachers listening to issues that matter including pension reform.  Spent time with students. |