Legislative Update: Advancing Our First Bills of 2020

Dear Neighbors,

Last week was a busy one at the Minnesota Legislature, with committee hearings, constituent meetings, and our first bills of the year being passed off the House floor. We’re working with a shorter legislative session this year, so busy weeks will be the norm going forward. Here’s an update on the important bills we passed last week:

The Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act

Our first bill to pass off the House floor this year would create a statewide insulin assistance program to help Minnesotans who struggle to afford the insulin they desperately need. Minnesotans struggling to afford their insulin would be able to apply and receive an emergency fill of insulin at their community pharmacy. In addition, they would be connected with options for long-term affordable insulin coverage. Alec’s Bill would also cap co-pays for insulin at $30 per month for patients on state-regulated health insurance plans.

Alec Smith passed away in 2017 at the age of 26 when he aged off his parents’ health insurance and was forced to ration his insulin that he could no longer afford due to its high cost. Alec’s story is unfortunately not unique as 1 in 4 diabetics have reported rationing insulin, and we’ve lost two more Minnesotans to insulin rationing since the 2019 session. I’m happy to say Alec’s Bill passed with bipartisan support, and I now hope my colleagues in the Senate can move on this issue with the same urgency.

Protecting Your Voter Data

Minnesota’s presidential primary is tomorrow, and concerns have been raised around the fact that current law allows voters’ party preference to be shared with Minnesota’s major political parties. I understand these concerns, which is why I voted for a bill that would place strict restrictions on what your corresponding party of preference could do with your data, and also allow voters to opt-out of sharing that information.

It doesn’t look like leadership in the Senate will move with the same sense of urgency to enact this law in time for our state’s primary, but there remains a 10 week window for a new law to be enacted before the Minnesota Secretary of State will be forced to send the primary data to state party officials.

Gun Violence Prevention Legislation

Two more bills we passed last week, like Alec’s Bill, were passed by the House in 2019, but inaction by Republicans in the Senate has caused us to revisit these bills to prevent gun violence in Minnesota. The bills, HF 8 and HF 9, which I co-authored, would close criminal background check loopholes and establish extreme risk protection orders, which would help get these weapons out of the hands of those that would otherwise hurt others or themselves.

These are bills that the majority of Minnesotans support, and have been passed in Republican-controlled states. In the wake of the tragic shooting at the Milwaukee Coors Brewery, there’s no reason we shouldn’t adopt these sensible steps.

Stay Connected

We’ll be voting on other important bills this week, like the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, and I’ll be presenting legislation on combating climate change. To stay connected on our work at the State Capitol, feel free to “like” my official Facebook page, “follow” me on twitter, or subscribe and share these email updates. You can also reach out with any questions or comments you may have on the legislative process. I can be reached at (651) 296-0171 or rep.todd.lippert@house.mn. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely, 

Todd Lippert