Neighbors,
Happy Independence Day! Hope you are able to get out and participate in area events this Fourth of July as we celebrate the birth of this great nation. I plan to be at the Park Rapids parade on Thursday, so maybe I’ll see you there.
While the Legislature has adjourned for the year, a number of bills from the 2019 session that were enacted take effect today. The majority of these changes are connected to finances and the state budget as we start the new fiscal biennium. Two-year funding packages regarding everything from transportation to public safety, K-12 education and beyond are now on the books. Other topics of new laws include heart screenings and the state’s opiate response.
Click here for an overview of noteworthy changes. In addition, all laws passed by the 2019 Legislature are available at this link.
One new law that a lot of people are asking about is the banning of hand-held cell phones while driving. While I urge you to already be using hands-free methods, it won’t become law until Aug. 1. So we have the next month to prepare for that change.
In any case, please be safe if you are out on the roads or on the water this holiday week. And, as always, stay in touch.
-Steve