Legislative Update – May 3, 2024

Legislative Update – May 3, 2024

The Minnesota House has been meeting around the clock, even past midnight, as we debate and pass legislation in major policy areas. DFLers are working to pass legislation that improves the lives of working and middle class Minnesotans throughout our state.

Even amid this busy time, I appreciate all the constituents and advocates who I’ve been able to meet with the past week, including advocates from Freshwater Society, folks from Viking Terrace, and students and community at Carleton College where I participated in an ISAIAH transportation equity listening session with Senator Liz Boldon last Sunday!

I also want to give a shout out to Northfield High School student Ben who was here last week as part of the High School Page Program! The page program is a great chance for high school juniors to learn the legislative process with our dedicated nonpartisan staff and meet legislators from all across the state. If you know a rising junior who may be interested, send them this link.

Weekly KYMN Interview

Because of our long nights on the House Floor in Saint Paul, I called into the Morning Show today on KYMN 95.1 The One for my usual weekly interview. I also recorded a mid-session update with Northfield Public TV, which you can watch by clicking the image below!

House Floor Votes

The House continues to debate and pass supplemental budget and policy bills on the floor, covering important issues such as education, labor, housing, the environment, and more. Our work this year builds on last year’s historic successes and works to improve the lives of working and middle class Minnesotans. Recently, the House has passed:

• A broadly bipartisan bill investing $240 million in our outdoors, clean water, parks and trails, and cultural heritage from the Legacy Amendment fund.
• A K-12 Education bill that boosts resources for the READ Act to improve literacy, moves forward solutions for student wellbeing, and enhances support for teachers.
• An Environment and Natural Resources bill with new investments in tree planting, improving air quality, holding repeat polluters accountable, and tackling solid waste and recycling.
• A Children and Families bill that reforms our child protection system and builds on historic investments in economic support for families, food security, and emergency shelter.
• A Transportation, Labor, and Housing bill that invests in railroad safety and public transit, enhances worker rights and safety, improves housing stability for renters and seniors, and funds homelessness prevention.

We passed a Pensions and Retirement bill with bipartisan support, which prioritizes educators’ retirement security, improves our pension systems’ health, and strengthens the benefits retirees can expect. Also passed was a bill addressing the “kidfluencer” industry that safeguards young content creators with protections for safety, fair compensation, and future financial security.

Gun Violence Prevention Bills Passed

Last session, we listened to Minnesotans who told us that inaction was not an acceptable option when it came to gun violence prevention. We passed legislation establishing red flag laws and criminal background checks - important bills that make our communities safer.

But we know there is still more for us to do. Over the week DFLers passed a slate of bills that will continue to reduce gun violence in Minnesota. Our bills require the safe storage of firearms, require the report of missing firearms, crack down on straw purchasing, and ban binary triggers. 

I’m proud to have voted for each one of these critical bills that will save lives.

Minnesota’s Climate Progress!

You may have seen MPR’s recent climate story — Report finds Minnesota outpacing the country in carbon-free electricity. Minnesota has produced more than half our energy from carbon-free sources for the fourth year in a row, and has seen a 10% annual drop in greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector!

The report, released by Clean Energy Economy Minnesota and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, shows clearly that the steps we are taking at the Legislature to address and combat climate change are working. We can’t afford to backtrack on our progress.

Minnesota is leading the way toward a cleaner, greener future! House Democrats are taking action on climate change with the urgency required, and we will keep working to accelerate our transition to carbon-free energy sources.

Stay Connected!

Unfortunately, due to technological constraints, replies to this newsletter won’t reach my email account. To share your input or ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to reach out at rep.kristi.pursell@house.mn.gov or 651-296-0171, and I will be happy to help.

You can also follow my Official Facebook Page here. 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!