Dear Neighbors, Happy New Year! I hope your 2024 is fulfilling and healthy!  New LawsSeveral news laws took effect on January 1, 2024, among them laws related to earned safe and sick time, past pay history, and extreme risk protection orders. You can access this information here. Summaries of all laws passed by the 2023 Legislature are available online from nonpartisan House Public Information Services here. As mentioned above, starting January 1, 2024, Minnesota’s new earned sick and safe time law ensures all workers will have the opportunity to stay home when they are sick or to take care of a sick family member. Employers must provide each employee in Minnesota at least one hour of paid sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked and up to at least 48 hours of accrued ESST a year. This is the right thing to do for Minnesota’s workers and our economy, and it also protects public health by reducing the spread of communicable diseases. You can find a full FAQ of this important new law, here. Flag Redesign CommissionMinnesota is finally getting a new flag and seal. Almost five years ago, I introduced a bill to replace the State Flag after two area high school students contacted me to discuss the issues connected with the current state flag. TPT even did a 2018 story on the issue. Over the last five years the bill has had many hearings and the process to create the new flag and seal evolved to create the current commission. The nonpartisan State Emblems Commission received 2,123 flag submissions and 398 seal designs in total, and the final version was recently announced. The commission also finalized the new state seal. The new emblems will become official on Minnesota Statehood Day on May 11.   Purple Line Transit UpdateI want to let you know about an update I received from the Met Council on the Purple Line BRT, which runs partially along White Bear Avenue: As initially envisioned, the METRO Purple Line BRT was a 15-mile line between Union Depot in downtown Saint Paul and downtown White Bear Lake generally along Robert Street, Jackson Street, Phalen Boulevard, Ramsey County rail right of way co-located with the Bruce Vento Regional Trail and Highway 61. In spring 2022, the Purple Line began a Route Modification Study to evaluate a new northern terminus north of Beam Avenue to either end the line at Maplewood Mall Transit Center, I-35E & County Road E Park & Ride in Vadnais Heights or Century College on the border of White Bear Lake and Mahtomedi. An ending at Maplewood Mall Transit Center proved to be the only option that would qualify for federal funds. The Purple Line project is now beginning to evaluate White Bear Avenue as an alternative to using the Bruce Vento Regional Trail Corridor. Options for the route to continue beyond Maplewood Mall Transit Center will continue to be explored during the evaluation of this new alignment. Learn more about the Route Modification Study. The line will connect with existing and future light rail and bus rapid transit service of the METRO system, including direct or close connections to the Green Line, Gold Line, B Line, G Line, and H Line, as well as local and express bus routes. The line will increase accessibility to jobs, housing, and services, thus improving the attractiveness and competitiveness of the east metro area. The Metropolitan Council, in partnership with Ramsey County and the Minnesota Department of Transportation, will design and construct the project. Metro Transit will own, operate, and maintain the line. Design and construction funding will be provided by the Federal Transit Administration and Ramsey County. Operations and maintenance funding will be provided by Ramsey County and the Metropolitan Council. You can read more here.  Stay in TouchDuring the legislative interim, you can subscribe to my occasional legislative updates here, and you can also “like” and follow my official State Representative Facebook page. If you have questions, ideas, or feedback that you would like to share, please do not hesitate to reach out. You can email me at rep.peter.fischer@house.mn.gov or call (651) 296-5363. Sincerely, Peter Fischer |