 Dear Neighbors, Since May 19th, the House has been preparing to enter a special session. Working groups, comprised of House and Senate members, have been meeting almost daily to iron out differences in the bills that made it off of their respective floors and were too late to have traditional conference committees. Special sessions aren’t unusual in Minnesota, especially when state government is divided. The nonpartisan Minnesota House Research Department has compiled a list of all the special sessions Minnesota has seen since statehood. However, in 2023, when there was DFL leadership in the House, Senate, and Governor’s office, we collaborated to swifly pass one of the most impactful and forward-thinking budgets in state history without needing a special session. Rep. Ron Kresha and I share the gavel as House Education Finance Co-Chairs, and we have worked almost every day since adjournment of the regular session to negotiate with the Senate Education Finance Chair Senator Kunesh in order to wrap up the education budget. As chairs, we also spent some quality time in negotiations with our larger working group that consisted of Rep. Sydney Jordan (Co-Chair of House Education Policy), Rep. Mary Frances Clardy, Rep. Patricia Mueller, and Rep. Ben Bakeberg, Senator Steve Cwodinski (Chair of Senate Education Policy), Senator Heather Gustafson, Senator Erin Maye Quade, and Senator Jason Rarick. We were tasked with funding a two-year state budget for our K-12 schools with a $0 increase in 2026-2027 and to reduce investments in the amount of $420 million for the forecasted budget years of 2028-2029. While the final product was not one any of our caucuses would have written alone, it reflects the nature of a tied House and a one seat DFL majority in the Senate. We had to make difficult decision on cuts to stay within the negative budget target that we were given. We tried to keep a majority of those cuts out of the classroom, but unfortunately, raising revenue wasn't an option by my colleagues across the aisle. But, we were able to protect some of our progress from last session. Most notably, the bill maintains eligibility for Unemployment Insurance for our valuable hourly school workers, universal meals for our students, and retains the link between the general education formula and inflation that provides some stability to our schools. This is especially important during the current uncertain economic times. I am pleased to share that a compromise was reached and we will rolled out the legislation today at a public hearing at 1:00 p.m. You can watch the recording here. The next steps are to wait for a special session to be called and then vote to get the compromise bill across the finish line. You can see the budget spreadsheets and bill language here. Thank you for staying engaged—I’ll keep you updated as we return to set the remainder of the two-year budget for the state of Minnesota.  Small Business Support with Elevate HennepinIf you're an entrepreneur looking to take your business to the next level, I encourage you to explore what Elevate Hennepin has to offer. They provide professional resources and connect you with expert advisors—all at no cost to participants. This kind of investment in our local business community is exactly what helps make west metro communities and our broader district such a vibrant place to live and work. I'll continue advocating for policies and programs that help local businesses thrive.  Summer Farmers Markets & EventsSummer is here and with the new month comes another season of farmers markets and fun citywide events. Find a location most convenient to you by reviewing the dates and times of the Hopkins Farmers Market website and Edina Farmers Market website. The city websites also have calendars posted online sharing information about special events and gatherings. It’s one of the best times of the year and I’m looking forward to a summer filled with community engagement and neighborhood gatherings.  Keep in TouchPlease continue to contact me anytime at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889 with questions, input, or to let me know if I can provide assistance. Enjoy the week!  Cheryl Youakim
State Representative |