Dear Neighbors,
I’m told this legislative session continues to be historic, but as a freshman legislator, I don’t know any different. What I do know is that committee deadlines are fast approaching, and the work needs to be razor-focused on passing a balanced budget. With the election of District 40B Rep. David Gottfried (D), the House power sharing agreement activated the balancing committee structure resulting in a welcome change with more bipartisan bills being heard in committee. I am also happy to report that the Minnesota House has also reached an agreement on a framework for the upcoming two-year budget cycle. The House budget targets are posted publicly on the House website. I will continue to consider our community’s shared values in my decision-making especially when it comes to funding and impact. Session ends May 19.
March is Women's History Month ?? and the House passed a Resolution honoring the remarkable players of the Minnesota Frost team and their historic victory winning the first-ever Walter Cup PWHL Championship!
Community Conversation: District 50 Town Hall
It was standing-room only for the District 50 Town Hall with Rep. Steve Elkins, Sen. Alice Mann and special guest MN Chief Deputy Attorney General, John Keeler. It was empowering to hear of the work our AG’s office is doing to protect Minnesotans against unlawful executive actions and illegal funding cuts from the federal government that are negatively impacting our state. Aligning with other states to collectively work together in this fight is proving to be effective, and I’d encourage you to join this work by contacting all of our MN members of Congress to voice any concerns you have. Also, if you or anyone you know has been negatively impacted by recent Federal Government decisions (fired Federal Employee, Veteran without access to services, etc), please contact the MN Attorney General’s office through their dedicated call line to help Minnesotans: #651-296-3353.
U of M Women in Politics
I was honored to take part in a Women in Politics panel discussion hosted by the Undergraduate Student Government at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. It was great joining so many other brilliant women leaders and answering student questions. Can’t wait to see what the next generation of leaders brings to the table!
First Bill (!) HF1999/SF2390
In both the House Judiciary and Civil Law and Education Policy committees, I presented my first bill HF1999 relating to the high number of anonymous data requests made to public school districts that never get collected, a complete waste of time, resources and taxpayer dollars. Working collaboratively with the MN Newspaper Association, Minnesotans for Open Government, school boards and administrators, this bill has garnered bipartisan support as it moves forward. Sen. Alice Mann is carrying its companion, SF2390. You can learn more about this bill in this Session Daily article. You can follow all of the bills I’ve authored this year, here.
Education
On October 17, 1979, the same day the Department of Education became its own Cabinet agency, then-President Jimmy Carter said, "I don't know what history will show, but my guess is that the best move for quality of life in America in the future might very well be this new establishment of this new Department of Education, because it will open up for the very first time some very substantial benefits for our country.”
He was right.
In the Education Finance and Policy committees, it is impossible to separate our work here in Minnesota from the swirling economic chaos caused by the Trump administration and the efforts to dismantle the Department of Education. I have heard from many of you and understand how stressful it is to brace for impact with many unknowns. I am working to keep students, especially our most vulnerable, at the front of funding and policy conversations and will continue to advocate for our students every step of the way. We heard the Governor’s budget proposal last week that includes significant cuts for this biennium. You can read more about the committee discussion and my concerns in the Session Daily here.
Student attendance and chronic absenteeism has been a growing concern since the pandemic. I am engaging in bipartisan work to help tackle this statewide issue with leaders Rep. Heather Keeler and Rep. Ben Bakeberg, and recently attended a truancy roundtable discussion organized by ‘Be at School’ and the Hennepin County Attorney's office. Collaborative efforts are gaining momentum including my bill, HF 2043, relating to an absenteeism public awareness and education marketing campaign.
Important Defense: Floor Vote
I voted NO on HF24, a “born alive” bill based on a falsehood that doctors are not providing appropriate medical care for babies born alive. First, this is not happening and it’s irresponsible to suggest otherwise. Second, this bill would have required doctors to perform painful and futile interventions on infants with fatal conditions instead of allowing doctors and parents to make compassionate and appropriate medical care decisions the moment they receive heartbreaking news about their baby’s incompatibility with life.
Favorite Day at the Capitol: Student Interns
Thirty students from Edina and Bloomington spent the day at the Capitol for my nonpartisan Intern for a Day program meeting with legislators on both sides of the aisle, talking with a lobbyist, watching a floor session from the gallery, attending a committee meeting, and touring the Capitol grounds. The best part was sharing their brilliant ideas for laws with me:
- Regulations for AI use in schools and workforce
- Improving recycling implementation in schools
- Better protections of their personal data on their phones
Constituents at the Capitol
The last couple of weeks have been packed with visits from constituents advocating a number of different issues. Here are a few highlights.
Reproductive Freedom Lobby Day at the Capitol. I share their passion about protecting reproductive rights and am proud to have signed onto bills that move us forward.
Moms Demand Action
Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens (ages 1-19) in the U.S. We must do better. Advocacy groups like Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety are working to save lives, and when your student constituent is holding the Rotunda in the Capitol with her remarks, you are inspired to work harder.
Real ID Taking Effect in May
Beginning May 7, 2025, Minnesotans 18 years of age or older will not be able to use their standard driver's license or identification card to board domestic flights or enter certain federal facilities. Instead, they will need one of three options:
- Minnesota REAL ID driver's license or identification card.
- Minnesota Enhanced driver's license or identification card.
- Other federally-approved forms of identification. They are listed online here, but include:
- U.S. passport or passport card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
If you are not sure which license type is right for you, check out the Driver Vehicle Services’ website here.
Stay Connected
I can be reached by email at rep.julie.greene@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651-296-4363 with any questions or thoughts you’d like to share.
If you are making a visit to the Capitol, I’d love to connect, please reach out. To receive my legislative updates on a regular basis, please subscribe here. I also invite you to follow my Facebook page here.
It’s an honor to represent you and our communities St. Paul..
Sincerely,
Julie Greene, District 50A
5th Floor Centennial Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155