Friends,
This week we passed a number of bills off the House Floor, including one of mine that passed unanimously and the Education Omnibus Bill which passed with large bipartisan support and included many of my school safety provisions. It was a productive week and the weather looks fantastic this weekend - get out and enjoy it!
Warrant Officer Dennis A. Groth Memorial Bridge
On Thursday, April 26th, the Minnesota House passed my bill, House File 2908, unanimously. The bill memorializes the bridge on Highway 52 over County Road 42 in Rosemount as Warrant Officer Dennis A. Groth Memorial Bridge.
I was humbled and honored to carry this bill for the Groth family. Warrant Officer Groth spent his short life growing up in Rosemount and it is fitting that we honor his sacrifice for our country in his home community.
Warrant Officer Dennis A. Groth was born on the family farm in 1947, graduated from Rosemount High School, and was buried in the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery - all in Rosemount near where the bridge is located. Warrant Officer Groth served as a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War and perished in a crash in 1968 - he was only 21 years old.
Warrant Officer Groth's family was in attendance for the House Floor vote to memorialize the bridge. We now await action by the Senate. Video of my presentation of the bill on the House Floor is available here.
Rep. Wills with Dennis' mother, Alice, and his brother, Wayne. Also pictured is her legislative assistant, Austin, who helped coordinate around 20 family members who came to the Capitol for the bill presentation.
Education Bill Prioritizing School Safety Passes House
On Thursday, the House passed bipartisan education legislation on a vote of 94-29 that puts students first. House File 4328 prioritizes school and student safety, increases transparency in school finance and performance reporting, and helps prepare kids for a bright and successful future.
In this bill, we provide critical resources and flexibility for our schools to address student safety and mental health. I am proud of our commitment to ensuring every Minnesota student has access to a world-class education.
Highlights in the K-12 education portion of the bill include:
- Championing a multifaceted approach to give school districts the resources and flexibility they need to address student safety and security. That includes expanding the use of long-term facilities maintenance revenue for facility security upgrades, strengthening the state’s commitment to school-linked mental health grants, supporting suicide prevention training for teachers, increasing funding for Safe Schools Revenue, and more.
- Strengthening and clarifying state law to address teacher misconduct and teacher licensure including prohibiting sexual relationships between educators and students, even if that student is over 18; requiring periodic teacher background checks, and prohibiting the issuance or renewal of a teacher/administrative license or bus driver endorsement for certain felonies or gross misdemeanors involving a minor.
- Requiring the Minnesota Department of Education to create a School Report Card —a one-stop-spot for summative and easily accessible school and district ratings that will provide families with a place to research, compare and help determine which school will work best for their child.
- Enhancing the transparency of school funding and our commitment to tackling our state’s achievement gap by doubling the number of school audits each year. These audits will discern whether or not education dollars allocated to school districts and dedicated to special education, English-learner, and low-income students are reaching the students intended.
- Ensuring students are exposed to a wide variety of post-secondary options including the trades and branches of the military.
- Strengthening laws that protect kids from school lunch shaming.
- Creating a Special Education Working Group to engage stakeholders and examine the factors that are driving rising costs.
A number of higher education provisions are also included in the package. Highlights include measures to fund student loan debt counseling, bring new sexual harassment reporting requirements and policies to the University of Minnesota, and to back a textbook affordability initiative.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
This Saturday, April 28th, is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Nearly 400 Minnesotans died last year as a result of opioid overdoses. If you have unneeded or expired prescription drugs at home, you can drop them off at a safe, legal collection site in our community from 10 AM to 2 PM.. No questions asked. Find a location here.
Vote for the Minnesota Zoo!
The Minnesota Zoo has been nominated for "Best Zoo" by USA Today 10Best. Vote here for the Minnesota Zoo to win every day until April 30! Here's a quick video from this year's Zoo Day at the Capitol.
Meetings this Week
Rep. Wills visited the District 196 School of Environmental Studies and chatted with Principal Lauren Trainer about the great things happening at the school.
Rep. Wills visited First Baptist School in Rosemount and chatted with Elementary Admin Scott Cain and Secondary Admin Charlie Graves about the great things happening at the school.
Rep. Wills visited Rosemount High School to chat with Principal John Wollersheim about her work to provide resources for school safety and mental health, along with the great work that is going on at the school.
Rep. Wills visited Rosemount Middle School and Principal Eric Hansen. They chatted about the great things happening at the school and what school safety and mental health proposals are moving at the Capitol.
Rep. Wills at the State of the City update given by Rosemount Mayor Bill Droste, hosted by the Dakota County Regional Chamber.
Rep. Wills met with Grace, a student from St. Kate's, to discuss school safety and gun violence prevention.
Rep. Wills met with students from the Youth Climate Summit to discuss their legislative priorities.
Rep. Wills met with constituents Charlotte and Gene to discuss their legislative priorities for the Minnesota AIDS Project.
District 196 Legislative Advisory Council Openings
The District 196 Legislative Advisory Council has openings for citizens and is accepting applications through May 11th for four at-large citizen positions. The purpose of the Legislative Advisory Council is to increase citizen participation in the legislative process and how they impact District 196. The council provides input on and advocate for the district's legislative priorities. Applications are available at www.District196.org or by calling 651-423-7775.
Keep in Touch
Thank you to so many of you who have contacted my office so far this Session! I receive hundreds of emails weekly and value all of your feedback. Thank you also for your patience as I work to respond to each of you.
As always, please don't hesitate to contact me with your comments, questions, and concerns. Email me anytime at rep.anna.wills@house.mn or call 651-296-4306. Stay up to date with what I am up to at the legislature and around our community by following my updates on Facebook at www.facebook.com/repannawills.
Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Anna Wills
State Representative District 57B