Legislative Update- December 1, 2023

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and you’re staying warm during this cold snap. This time of the year reminds me to share important information about the Cold Weather Rule we have here in Minnesota. The Cold Weather Rule (CWR) protects residential utility customers from having electric or natural gas service shut off between October 1 and April 30. To ensure your service from disconnection you must make and keep a payment plan that you and your utility agree on. More information is available on the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s website. 

Task Force Work

This fall has kept me very busy. Serving as chair of the Task Force on Aging and as a member of the Metropolitan Governance Task Force, we’re gathering data points and information to help us prepare for the 2024 session. A critical part of that work is public engagement, and I’ve appreciated all the input I’ve received with regards to the Aging Task Force over the past couple of months. We are still seeking public stories and experiences on issues regarding aging in Minnesota. Please feel free to take a moment and share your experiences here. 

The Metropolitan Metropolitan Governance Task Force is also opening up a series of public engagement meetings to Minnesotans so people can weigh in on how we can strengthen the Met Council. 

The public engagement meeting dates and locations are as follows:

• Friday, December 8, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Wilder Foundation in St. Paul 
• Thursday, December 14, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the Lake Elmo City Center in Lake Elmo
• Friday, January 5, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the University of Minnesota's Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) in Minneapolis
• Tuesday, January 9, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Scott County Government Center in Shakopee 

As always, please reach out directly with feedback anytime. 

Flag Submissions 

Minnesota is one step closer to delivering a new state flag. The current design is crowded, dated, and lacks a unique, unifying theme as it resembles flags from 20 other states. With over 2,500 design submissions, six have been narrowed down by State Emblems Redesign Commission using a variety of criteria. The commission will meet again on December 12th to gather more public input. You can sign up to receive updates and make inquiries here at the bottom of the commission’s website. 

Connected to Community

One of the best parts of this busy season was having the opportunity to connect with several community members at various events and learn more about new exciting initiatives happening in our area. 

It was great to tour the Philips facility in Plymouth recently. The company provided an overview of current operations and a shift in focus to become a global medical device manufacturer. The major component of the Plymouth facility is research and development. 13% of the state's gross domestic product comes from the manufacturing sector, and I was impressed to learn that Phillips is in growth mode and they've indicated they have plans for future expansion of the Plymouth facility.

We had fun celebrating Diwali with our west Metro neighbors earlier this month! There is so much to be grateful for. #PlymouthProud #MedicineLakeProud #diwali2023

It's always a good time to advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). I enjoyed spending time with Plymouth residents at the Democracy Fair in the west metro.

We had a wonderful morning at U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar's annual Women’s Power Breakfast with some strong Minnesota women leaders. 

Keep in Touch

Please continue to reach out anytime with input, questions, or to let me know if you need any assistance. Hearing from you helps me elevate the important issues we can address at the Capitol for Plymouth and Medicine Lake. 

Have a great weekend,

Ginny Klevorn
State Representative