Neighbors and Friends,
Early Saturday morning, our budget was approved in a one day special legislative session. The agreement increases investments in E-12 and Higher Education and continues to fund the Health Care Access Fund that helps provide care for more than one million low income Minnesotans. Getting to the final product was difficult and the process was certainly not ideal, but I believe the leaders and Governor listened to each other and shaped a budget that will move Minnesota forward. Here is the latest from the Capitol:
Agriculture and Housing Finance
As chair of the Housing Finance and Policy Division, I presented the first and last bill in our short special session. The last bill was for $60 million in housing infrastructure bonds. The bills received broad support in the House. Our budget agreement did not provide as much for housing as we were seeking, but I will continue to push for substantial funding for critically needed affordable housing.
Read a Minnesota Housing Partnership recap of measures that did and did not pass here.
In other housing-related news, MPR recently broadcast a story about the high cost of housing in the Twin Cities region. The story and report outline the increasing need for affordable workforce housing and how the lack of it could stifle economic growth.
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Election Security Funds Approved
After many months and senseless delays by the Minnesota Senate, $6.6 million in federal money was approved for election security. Take a moment to read the letter from Secretary of State Steve Simon.
Gun Safety Measures Shut Down
During the last weeks of the session, the Public Safety conference committee considered two gun safety measures, both of which were approved by the House. One expanded criminal background checks prior to gun sales, and the other provided for “red flag” laws, allowing law enforcement officials to temporarily restrict access to firearms if a court of law determines an individual may be a threat to themselves or others.Ultimately Republicans on the bi-partisan committee sided with the NRA over Minnesota law enforcement officials, voting down the two House provisions. I am very disappointed by the party-line vote, but I am hopeful that similar common-sense solutions to gun violence prevention will be addressed next session. Minnesotans, including gun owners, broadly support these gun violence prevention bills. Republican legislatures in several other states have passed similar measures.
Legislative Updates Now Available in Non-English Languages
The House DFL Majority is committed to improving everyone’s accessibility to the Legislature, no matter where you live, or what language you speak. That’s why we’re proud to announce that weekly legislative updates are now available for non-English speakers.
Please consider sharing this news with your friends and neighbors who would appreciate receiving a weekly update in Spanish, Somali, or Hmong languages.
Links to subscribe to legislative updates in non-English languages are available below:
Click here to sign up for Somali language e-updates.
Click here to sign up for Hmong language e-updates.
Click here to sign up for Spanish language e-updates.
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If you’d like to follow news from the legislature, read the House of Representatives' Session Daily to get the latest updates.
If you need to reach me, feel free to call my legislative assistant Blake Wilcox at 651-296-8803.
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Thank you for the privilege of representing you in the legislature.
Sincerely,
Alice