Legislative Update from Rep. Cheryl Youakim
Dear neighbors,
It is the last day of the legislative session and we need to finish our work by midnight. While the last week has been full of ups and downs, a pathway began to clear for us to land this plane. Bills are up today to save HCMC, invest in a bonding bill, provide IT modernization for our counties, and more. In the next few weeks, we will be rolling out the individual provisions in the bills that passed and were sent to the Governor’s desk.
After we adjourn Monday, I look forward to reflecting on the session with you and other community members. You’re invited to join me for a Session Recap Town Hall on Wednesday, May 27th from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at the SLP City Council Chambers with Rep. Kraft and Sen. Latz. All constituents are invited.
Agreement Reached to Save HCMC
On Wednesday night, legislative leaders reached a bipartisan supplemental budget agreement that takes important steps to strengthen Minnesota’s health care system and ensure the long-term stability of Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC).
This agreement reflects the values Minnesotans expect, and we’re reinforcing fiscal stability while delivering historic, bipartisan support for HCMC, a cornerstone of our health care system and a vital safety net for families in the region and across our State.
HCMC serves patients from every corner of Minnesota, providing critical care and specialized services that keep our entire health care system strong. Ensuring its long-term health is essential not only for Hennepin County but for communities statewide.
Minnesota has always believed in a strong, reliable health care safety net. This agreement reaffirms that commitment and ensures that every Minnesotan can continue to get the care they need, when they need it.
Investing in our Schools
This week, I worked with Senator Mary Kunesh to advance a conference committee report that makes several important updates to education based on Minnesota’s February budget forecast. These changes come at no additional cost, and they will help schools and communities better manage real-world challenges facing students and families. These are practical updates that help schools focus resources where they are needed most while continuing to support safe, stable, and inclusive learning environments for students across Minnesota.
The bill also includes a few no-cost provisions brought forward by individual legislators such as allowing school districts to use their capital operating fund to pay their electrical bills, a provision on the school land trust bill disbursements, a fund transfer for two school districts, an extension on the grant funds for gender neutral bathrooms in our schools, and a licensing fix to help our highly qualified paraprofessionals that work in all of our schools.
We also passed a separate bill that had $10 million to provide a little funding to help schools that were seeing a decrease in compensatory aid. I pushed for $28 million, but was not able to get it out of House Republican leadership. That bill also included $5 million ($4 million in grants) to help schools set up anonymous threat reporting systems. Schools can choose from a free system that is part of our Department of Public Safety or create their own. These systems are a pathway to help alert schools to students that need support, especially in the area of mental health and suicide ideation as well as a prevention tool for safer school environment. It will not stop all school shootings, but studies show it can help break the cycle that leads to violence. In the Health bill we also have increases to school-linked mental health as well as funding for crisis management teams.
Finally, we will be passing a small bill today that provides teacher literacy preparation in early education classrooms, clarifications and updates to the Read Act, and a small provision to let military veterans from the Vietnam War era receive honorary high school diplomas.
Because this year was not a budget year, it was primarily focused on policy. That is why we passed a smaller K-12 education package compared to last year. It was also hard to get a long list of items passed out of our committees in a tied Minnesota House. To be frank, we were able to pass the forecast article, provide our students with more mental health support, deliver a small compensatory aid package, and pass an anonymous threat reporting system mandate with some start-up money. Those items were top on my priority list.
Floor Action Early in the Week
Earlier in the week, we were able to pass an important housing bill. Thank you Housing Co-Chair Mike Howard & Co-Chair Spencer Igo, as well as Vice Co-Chair Liish Kozlowski, on passing a Housing bill that invests in home construction, affordable housing, rental assistance, and more! This is going to make a positive impact across the state, and I was happy to vote yes.
Another touching moment was when Rep. Brion Curran and Rep. Bjorn Olson showed bipartisan leadership on the House Resolution to honor Master Sgt. Nicole M. Amor from White Bear Lake, who lost her life serving our country. Additionally, for the bill to rename a segment of highway in her honor.
Hold the Vote
One of the biggest disappointments of the session was the House Republicans refusing to have a floor vote on a comprehensive gun violence prevention package that had already passed the Senate. If taken up on the House floor, this bill would need just one House Republican vote to head to the Governor’s desk and become law. Rather than risk that happening in a simple up or down vote, Republican leaders have gone from pretending the bill doesn’t even exist to outright refusing to do their job.
Thursday, House Democrats made a motion to vote on the legislation, with my colleagues and I standing up to share the ways gun violence has impacted every corner of the state. I shared a story from Sami Rahamin, whose father Rueven was killed in the Accent Signage shooting on September 28, 2012. At the time, it was the deadliest workplace shooting in Minnesota with 6 people killed (Rueven among them) and three injured. Sami was 17 at the time and came to the Capitol to testify for sensible gun violence prevention. The strength he showed during his personal testimony has stuck with me and we have stayed in touch over the years. I reached out to Sami recently to ask if I could share his family's story and I was honored that he said yes.
After hours of sharing tragic stories underlining the urgency of this legislation, Republicans continued to block a vote on this bill. When the Floor Session ended Thursday night, House Democrats held a sit-in on the House Floor, one that continued until the House gaveled in on Saturday to bring attention to this crucial issue and demand Speaker Demuth hold a vote on this bill.
When Speaker Demuth gaveled in at noon on Saturday, she was greeted by hundreds of Minnesotans outside the doors of the Minnesota House demanding action on gun violence prevention. There were Annunciation parents there, students who had delivered petitions of support, parents, grandparents, and Minnesotans who have been affected in some way by gun violence in their communities. The strength and energy in the crowd was a reminder of the refrain we have heard from the Annunciation families - when you pray, move your feet!
Keep in Touch
Please continue to contact me anytime at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889 with questions or input. Email is the quickest way to get in touch. I hope to see you at the Town Hall on May 27.
Rep. Cheryl Youakim
46B – Hopkins, Edina, & St. Louis Park