Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.  Dear Neighbors, I hope this finds you well on what feels like the first true morning of fall. As temperatures dip and colors begin to pop, I encourage you to check out Minnesota's Fall Color Finder to track the changes across the state. It’s a fun way to map out any outdoor getaway before the snow flies.  And speaking of getaways, an important update for families who may be flying over MEA: the Trump Administration has recently taken federal action eliminating financial reimbursements for canceled or delayed flights. This also includes financial compensation for hotel accommodations and meals. I’m disappointed this rolls back consumer protections for folks when we’re seeing rising prices on just about everything; including the anticipated 100% tariffs on international prescription drugs, health care premiums, and more. It’s becoming more and more expensive to live and retire. All of these federal policies harming Minnesota families will help shape our work at the state level to mitigate the damages next session. Insurance Premiums Set to Hike October 1State leaders and health care experts recently held a roundtable to discuss how the federal budget bill signed into law by President Trump will increase health care costs for hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans. Everybody deserves affordable health care, but rising costs are unsustainable and hurting families. Because the new legislation lets valuable federal tax credits expire, Minnesotans in the private insurance market are facing premium increases as high as 50%. Farmers, small business owners, older adults, and families in rural communities will be hit the hardest. Since the launch of the Affordable Care Act, Minnesota has made tremendous progress in getting more Minnesotans health care coverage. If the Trump Administration doesn't extend the federal premium tax credits, thousands of Minnesotans – including children and our vulnerable neighbors – will lose the coverage they count on to live healthy lives. We’ll need to take a hard look at how we can financially supplement this care as a state, especially in times of a divided legislature and tied House. It’s one more priority to add to the list as we look to the 2026 legislative session. Special Session UpdateI would like to thank those who attended our Edina Town Hall on Gun Violence Prevention last Tuesday evening. Thank you to Rep. Julie Greene for lining up a panel of experts including pediatric surgeons who have unfortunately seen their fair share of bullet wounds in children. It was a heartfelt conversation on the need to take action on the prevalence of guns in our communities.  Governor Walz is considering calling a special session of the legislature to address gun violence, and I’ve heard from many of you on this growing epidemic. In Minnesota, while the Governor has the power to call a special session, it is the Legislature that sets the agenda and length of time, and any solution will take bipartisan buy-in. I'm proud of what we've been able to pass in recent years, like Red Flag Laws and criminal background checks, which are working, as outlined by data in this article. Minnesotans are tired of politicians standing with the gun lobby instead of being willing to take common-sense action to keep communities safe. For House DFLers, gun violence isn’t theoretical; it's personal. Melissa and Mark Hortman were murdered in an act of gun violence three months ago and Senator Hoffman and his wife Yvette suffered multiple gunshot wounds from the same perpetrator. The Annunciation School shooting was one month ago. Why would we wait for another awful tragedy to take strong action instead of doing it now with the urgency Minnesotans are demanding? DEA Prescription Drug Take Back DayThe DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will take place on October 25 from 10 AM – 2 PM. This is a biannual event hosted nationwide to provide the public with a free and convenient opportunity for the disposal of unwanted, unused, and expired medicines from households. To find an event site near you, use the locator tool featured on the event’s homepage here. If you do not immediately find a collection site near you, the DEA encourages you to continue checking back frequently, as new sites are added daily. Host locations typically include law enforcement facilities, pharmacies, healthcare facilities, hospitals, and clinics. During the event, host sites will be collecting pills and capsules. Both prescription and over-the-counter medicines will be accepted.  Reminder: Apply for the High School Page and Undergraduate Internship Programs!Are you a high school junior or college student interested in the Minnesota Legislature? Consider applying to the 2026 House High School Page Program or the Undergraduate Internship Program! It’s a great way to get an up-close look at how a bill becomes a law, advances out of committee, and passes during a House Floor session. There are also ample opportunities to participate in research and policy. To learn more information about the High School Page Program, click here. The deadline to apply is December 4. To learn more information about the Undergraduate Internship Program, click here. The deadline to apply is November 7.  Photo: House Public Information Services Keep in TouchPlease continue to stay in touch on any issue important to you at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889. Email is the quickest way to get in touch. Thank you for the honor of representing our Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina neighbors at the State Capitol. Have a great week,  Cheryl Youakim
State Representative |