Legislative Update January 19, 2023
Dear Neighbors,
On January 3, the Minnesota House of Representatives convened at the State Capitol in Saint Paul for the start of the 2023 legislative session. I am so grateful to be able to serve my community for a third time at the House. The legislature has been acting swiftly to hear legislation critical to strengthening our state and community!
Last week, I was proud to co-author and vote in favor of our first bill of the session, HF31 – a federal tax conformity bill that returns $100 million back to taxpayers. This bill passed unanimously, including a provision I carried to make sure that COVID-related tax relief programs like the Shuttered Venues Operator Grant program are not treated as income for the purposes of state taxes, returning money to businesses, and providing breathing room as they get back on their feet.
State lawmakers of both parties are moving swiftly to get things done. This bill is a necessary and common-sense step to conform to the federal tax code. Local businesses like the Yellow Tree Theater and the Odyssey Group benefit directly from its passage. I thank my colleagues from both sides of the aisle for signing on to coauthor my legislation, and passing our tax conformity bill on a 132-0 vote!
In addition, I have already been hard at work introducing several bills to move our district and state forward! I am working on bills to provide Highway 169/Highway 120 reconstruction funding, a much-needed bonding bill to assist in the renovation of the Maple Grove Community Center, and a tax reduction bill for charitable gaming on organizations such as the Lions Club, Maple Grove Firefighters Relief Association, and the Osseo Maple Grove Hockey Association, allowing them to keep more money in their mission and reinvest back into the community. These are just a few of the bills I am working on this session, I am excited to share more with you as they move through the process.
Committee Assignments
I am excited to announce that I will serve this session as Vice Chair of the Human Services Finance Committee! This position will allow me to fight for common-sense solutions to the issues facing our human services industry as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you to all of the community members that have written to share your stories about those who rely on long-term care, group homes, PCAs, and disability services.
In addition to serving as vice chair of Human Services Finance, I will also serve on the State and Local Government Committee, the Elections Committee, and the Health Policy and Finance Committee. These assignments will help me advocate for our partners in local government, improve our electoral process in a way that is fair and accessible, and work to increase access to quality, affordable healthcare. You can find the full committee rosters here and find upcoming committee hearing postings here.
Bill Hearings - Promoting Healthy Families and Strengthening Elections
In just the first couple weeks of the session, I already presented two of my bills in committee!
On Tuesday, January 17th my bill HF210 was heard in the Health Committee. My bill is meant to promote healthy moms, healthy families, and healthy babies by allowing Minnesotans to receive long-acting reversible contraception (or LARC) in an inpatient care setting post-partum. I was joined by doctors in family care and obstetricians who testified in support of the bill. You can watch my presentation of the bill here. I was glad to hear my colleagues on the other aisle voice their support for this important legislation to keep our moms and babies healthy!
Then on Wednesday, January 18th, the Elections Committee heard my bill clarifying the rules regarding soliciting at polling places. Following a federal Supreme Court case that made clear that states can set limits to prevent intimidation while preserving the polling place as an “oasis of calm,” a sanctuary free from influence during voting. This bill, HF205, would clearly define rules governing polling places for our poll workers, election judges, and citizens. Our state leads in voter participation and I am proud to bring this bill forward to strengthen our democratic system.
Equal Rights Amendment
I was so excited to speak at the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA MN) Rally at the State Capitol on the first day of the legislative session—and on the ERA’s 100th anniversary!
I am pleased to be the author of HF197 – the Federal ERA Resolution – this session. This resolution would urge Congress to pass a resolution ratifying the ERA and enshrining it as the Twenty-Eighth Amendment to the US Constitution. I have also introduced HF407, adding the ERA to our state constitution. The ERA states that “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” It is past time to pass this critical legislation enshrining gender equality into the U.S. Constitution and I am glad to be leading the charge here at the House this session.
Stay Connected
Please feel free to reach out with any questions or comments you may have. I can be reached at 651-296-1761 or rep.kristin.bahner@house.mn.gov 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,
Kristin Bahner
Your State Representative