New Laws Take EffectSeveral new laws took effect on July 1 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. I was honored to serve on the Elections Conference Committee, a small group of House and Senate members that craft the final version of the supplemental budget, so I'm especially excited to see the new laws passed as part of our report go into effect. Our biggest achievement in the Elections Committee was the implementation of the Minnesota Voting Rights Act, which went into effect May 18, 2024. The MVRA aims to ensure no one is denied an equal opportunity to vote by codifying, streamlining, and strengthening protections against voter suppression and vote dilution, and providing legal remedy for those who are wrongfully denied. Working alongside Minnesotans, Democrats also delivered new investments to lower costs and improve the lives of people across the state. We are investing in childhood literacy, early learning opportunities, stronger delivery models for Emergency Medical (ambulance) Services, delivering ticket price transparency for concerts, games, and events, additional major investments to fix our housing crisis, innovating in technologies like solar and geothermal, and supporting our electric grid to help meet our clean energy goals, expanding our nation-leading Child Tax Credit, and eliminating prior authorization in health, delivering 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. Home Energy RebatesExciting funding opportunities are coming to MN to help homeowners decarbonize their homes with weatherization, new appliances, and efficient heating and cooling systems! Come learn more and provide feedback on how these programs can best serve our MN communities and how you can make your home a carbon-free home in the future.  Interview on Access to DemocracyI recently sat down with Rep. Liz Reyer and Steve Francisco at Access to Democracy to talk about this year’s historic legislative session and our goals for next year. You can watch the full interview below! WATCH ACCESS TO DEMOCRACY Marketfest in EaganEvery Wednesday through August, join our Eagan friends and neighbors for Marketfest! You’ll find fresh and local produce plus artisan goods and food vendors! We had a great time at Marketfest earlier this month, and will absolutely be back before the summer ends.  Help Us Build a New Playground!Somerset Elementary needs our help to bring a new accessible and inclusive playground to life! Join us from July 31st to August 4th, 2024, between 8 AM and 5 PM, for 4-hour shifts to put the new equipment together. You can sign up to help below! SIGN ME UP! They also welcome industry and business leaders with experience to donate workers to this project. It's a dollar-for-dollar tax write-off on any donated employee wages and time! Email playforallsomerset@gmail.com if this is something your company is interested in. At the legislature, I fought for inclusive playground grants and delivered funding for three schools right here in our district. I’m looking forward to seeing more playgrounds go up as a result of my legislation in the coming years! Clean School Bus FundingI’m glad to share that the Rosemount - Apple Valley - Eagan school district in our community will receive funding as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus rebate program. The rebates will be used to cover the cost of buses that are zero- or low-emission and will improve the health of our children and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The program started through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden, which includes $5 billion over five years to transform the country’s existing school buses with “zero-emission and low-emission models.” You can read more here: Funds for clean school buses coming to hundreds of districts, White House says.  Provide Your Input on the Future of the Dakota County LibraryThe Dakota County Library is seeking public input as it sets priorities and direction for the future. The library is encouraging residents to take a brief survey to help inform how the library can serve the community better. The survey is available online in English, Spanish and Somali through Friday, July 26, 2024. The library wants to hear from library users as well as non-users. Responses will be kept anonymous and grouped into categories to help shape the library’s new strategic plan. A summary of community input will be shared on the library website later this year, and the strategic plan will be published once complete in 2025. The strategic planning process will include community engagement throughout the summer. The library will attend community events, host community conversations, conduct individual interviews and share the community survey widely to better understand the community’s evolving needs. To learn more, visit www.dakotacounty.us/library and search strategic plan. Free Milkweed Seeds!Do you need some milkweed seedlings? You're in luck! Dakota County Park volunteers will be handing out free milkweed plants at the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center (860 Cliff Road, Eagan) to promote the monarch habitat in our local neighborhoods. They will be joined by Master Gardener volunteers to answer questions about growing native plants for monarchs in your own backgrounds. Stop by their table outside of the Visitor Center from 11:00 a.m.-1 p.m. on the following dates: -July 20 and 28 -August 3 and 11 *All dates weather dependent, while supplies last!  |