Legislative Update February 1, 2023
Dear Neighbors,
It has been a busy couple of weeks here in Saint Paul! I have been learning so much by attending committee hearings, meeting with constituents, and attending community events. Thank you to all those who came out to the White Bear Lake League of Women Voters forum on January 21! It was an incredible turnout, and I look forward to future opportunities to meet with you all.
First Bill Hearing!
I was incredibly excited to present my first bills in committee this week! I presented two bills in front of the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee, which I am also a member of. My bills have to do with modifying the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board. The POST Board is an organization that regulates and licenses law enforcement officers in the state and oversees standards of conduct, training, licensure, and more. As a former deputy and 911 dispatcher, I know the importance of building trust with law enforcement, which is why I introduced these bills.
The first bill I authored is a simple change to require background checks to be done by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which is standard to other license requirements. It would also allow that data to be shared with the POST Board. The second bill mandates that law enforcement agencies share information about investigations into law enforcement personnel with the POST Board. Currently, a lengthy cumbersome court process does not allow the POST Board to take swift action to revoke the licenses of officers who break the law. It is my belief that these bills will increase trust and transparency with the public and increase confidence in all our great officers that work to protect Minnesotans every day. Both bills passed and will be heard in the Judiciary Committee next! You can read more about the bills here, or watch KSTP’s coverage of the hearing from last night!
House Floor Votes
My colleagues and I have been working hard to pass legislation to make Minnesotans’ lives better. Already this month we have had monumental floor votes on the following legislation. We have passed legislation to unlock $315.5 million in federal funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). We also passed the 100% by 2040 bill, a landmark piece of legislation that will help our state address climate change head-on and prepare for a carbon-free future.
On Monday night, the House passed the Drivers Licenses for All bill, which restores legal driving privileges to our undocumented neighbors. This years-long effort is led by a broad statewide coalition of immigrant-led organizations, unions, immigrants’ rights advocates, and community-based groups. And through their tireless efforts, they built one of the broadest coalitions imaginable in support of this bill: law enforcement, chambers of commerce, agribusiness, faith-based organizations, and workers’ rights advocates. I was proud to vote in support of the bill!
Queer Caucus Priorities Moving Forward
As Vice-Chair of the Queer Caucus, I am so proud of our amazing group of LGBTQ legislators who are already getting to work introducing our legislative priorities and being recognized for their work at the Capitol.
Earlier this month, the Human Services Policy Committee, on which I serve, heard Rep. Athena Hollins’ bill to ban the use of conversion “therapy” on minors and vulnerable adults. As many therapists and medical professionals testified, conversion therapy is a discredited practice that can do real harm to our youth, who are already at an increased risk of depression and suicide. Our youth deserve to be supported for who they are, and I was proud to see the committee pass the legislation. I thank all those who testified in support of banning this harmful practice in Minnesota.
Stay Connected!
To share your input or ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to reach out at rep.brion.curran@house.mn.gov or 651-296-4342, and I will be happy to help. If you were forwarded this email and you’d like to subscribe, click here. If you have a friend or neighbor who would be interested in receiving these, please forward this and encourage them to subscribe!
Sincerely,
Brion Curran
State Representative