Legislative Update – March 28, 2025
Neighbors,
Recently, DFLer David Gottfried was sworn in as the House’s 134th member after winning a special election for a seat in Roseville. That means the House is back to the 67-67 tie voters delivered in November, and the previously negotiated co-governing agreement is now in effect. House committees will rotate gavels, with DFL and Republican co-chairs setting their respective agendas and bill hearings.
Now that we are officially evenly divided, I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will abandon the divisive political stunts that defined their time in control and sit down to negotiate real solutions to the problems working Minnesotans are facing.
I’ve been hard at work talking to legislators on both sides of the aisle to find areas we agree and to pass bills that help District 62B and our state.
With the chaos coming out of Washington continuing to change every day, it’s time for leaders across the political spectrum to come together and build a responsible state budget that protects Minnesotans and reflects our values.
Community at the Capitol
I was so glad to attend the 10th Annual Iftar Dinner hosted by the Legislature and my colleague, Rep. Samakab Hussein. The miracle of food, fellowship & kindness was on display as we were joined by community members and local, state, and federal officials. I'm proud of this Minnesota tradition that brings all peoples, faiths & parties to recognize our shared humanity—not our differences
I want to thank everyone who came to our District 62 Town Hall with Representative Aisha Gomez! We had so many questions and great discussions that we ran out of time to get a photo. Thank you all for your engagement and interest in the work we do here at Saint Paul.
I’ve also had great meetings with folks visiting the Capitol for advocacy days, bill hearings, and rallies, including meeting with folks from the East Lake Street Salvation Army, SEIU union members talking about health care affordability and supporting nursing home residents and workers, and constituents here for Hunger Day on the Hill and Animal Humane Society Day at the Capitol.
First Bill Hearings!
Now that we have returned to split control of the House, DFLers have begun bringing forward our agenda for a stronger, safer, and fairer Minnesota. That means bills I’ve authored have begun to get hearings, where I can make my case for the proposal and bring supporters from our district and across the state to testify in support.
I was proud to present a bill to the Health Committee opening up pathways for health care professionals who were trained outside of Minnesota to practice medicine in our state if they’ve met certain requirements. I’m glad to report that this bill has multiple bipartisan coauthors, and we had great testimony today in committee about how we can ensure we address workforce shortages and keep our communities healthy and safe!
I also presented a bill supporting the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches’ food shelf program in the Children and Families Committee and a bill helping to expand our state’s use of geothermal energy to the Energy Committee. I’ve appreciated the chance to present these bills to my colleagues and ask for their support, I will continue to keep you informed on the status of this legislation as the session continues.
How Will Federal Education Cuts Impact You?
Sadly, we no longer have a serious partner in the White House when it comes to building a world-class education system for our students.
Last week, President Trump advanced reckless plans to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. In response, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) launched a public feedback portal at education.mn.gov for parents, students, teachers, and community members to submit detailed accounts of the ways recent Executive Orders and abrupt federal education cuts are impacting schools and children across our state.
More than 860,000 students in Minnesota depend on stable partnerships that have existed between their school communities, MDE, and the U.S. Department of Education across administrations. For decades, the federal investments facilitated through those partnerships have played a key role in ensuring students in Minnesota receive the support they need to learn and thrive, including:
- $256 million for students with disabilities
- $192 million for students from low-income backgrounds
- $27 million for academic enrichment
- $6 million for students in rural schools
- $38 million to support children living on military bases or Native American reservations
- $100 million for Career and Technical Education workforce development programs
If any of these cuts impact you and your family, please let us know!
Stay In Touch!
Hearing from constituents like you is a key aspect of my job as a state legislator. If you have questions, ideas, or feedback that you’d like to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
You can email me at rep.anquam.mahamoud@house.mn.gov or call my office at 651-296-0294. For more regular updates, you can subscribe to these regular legislative updates if you haven’t already, here, and you can also “like” and follow my official State Representative Facebook page.
Sincerely,
Anquam Mahamoud
State Representative