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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Laurie Halverson (DFL)

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Legislative Update - November 6, 2019

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Rep. Halverson

Dear neighbors, 

Hearts are heavy in Eagan after the passing of Patric Vitek, a seventh grader who was struck by a car and killed while riding his bike to school. On behalf of myself and my family, I want to extend my deepest condolences to Patric’s family and friends.

This tragedy underscores the need for all levels of government to prioritize student safety. Students deserve to be able to walk and bike to school, and parents should be able to send them out the door knowing that they’ll come home safely. On Monday, I attended an Eagan City Council meeting dedicated to concerns about Diffley Road. Senator Carlson, Commissioner Atkins, and a MNDOT official were also in attendance. I am actively working with other elected officials to find short-term and long-term solutions for pedestrian and bicyclist safety in Eagan.  


Preventing Youth Tobacco Use

Tobacco companies have successfully used predatory marketing campaigns, child-friendly flavors, and misinformation to attract kids and young adults. The number of people using e-cigarettes has skyrocketed, but many users aren’t aware of the health risks.

Halverson 11.6 (1)

With help from many Minnesotans and colleagues, I've introduced a new comprehensive plan to protect children and teens from the hazards of e-cigarettes. It keeps young Minnesotans safe and healthy by:

  • Raising the tobacco sales age to 21
  • Establishing a new Office of Youth Prevention and Protection
  • Educating kids and young adults about the risks of using e-cigarettes
  • Reducing the availability of e-cigarettes, vaping devices, and tobacco products
  • Prohibiting sales of flavored products that are intended to attract young people and people of color
  • Increasing the price of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and other tobacco products

A handout with more information about our plan is available here. If you’d like to learn more, I encourage you to watch the press conference where we introduced the plan. A video is available here

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Several high schoolers joined us at the press conference. Azu Esparza, Yasiel Santiago-Castillo, and Trae Villafuerte spoke powerfully about the impact that vaping has had on their friends and classmates and their efforts to combat this epidemic through a student group called Anglos Latinos Motivated to Succeed (ALMAS).


Cracking Down on Robo-Calls

My colleagues and I have also created a plan to address invasive and predatory “robo-calls.” People deserve to go about their day without being constantly interrupted and harassed, and we need to combat scams that target elderly and vulnerable Minnesotans. Our plan would:

  • Make robo-calls illegal
  • Increase criminal penalties for those who use fraudulent calls to swindle people or commit identity theft
  • Give the Minnesota Department of Commerce, the Attorney General, and consumers tools to take action when they receive robo-calls
  • Require all telecommunications companies to strengthen their anti-robo-call technology at no cost to consumers

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High School Page Program

If you know any high school juniors who are interested in state government, please encourage them to apply for the House High School Page Program. It’s a great opportunity for students to see government in action and participate in a wide variety of activities, including:

  • Individual meetings with state representatives
  • A mock committee hearing designed to develop leadership skills and inspire students to think critically about issues our state is facing
  • Assisting members and staff during House floor sessions
  • Meetings with constitutional officers, judges and court officers, lobbyists, and members of the media

More information about the High School Page Program is available here. Applications are due by Thursday, November 21.


Safe Routes to School Community Meeting

On Tuesday, November 19, I’m hosting a community meeting to discuss what we can do to improve safety for all our students. Rep. Frank Hornstein, the Chair of the House Transportation Committee, will be there, and several other leaders have been invited. Please stay tuned for more details.

Please feel free to share your questions and feedback. You can reach me at rep.laurie.halverson@house.mn or 651-296-4128.

Sincerely,

Laurie Halverson
State Representative