Just because it’s the legislative interim, that doesn’t mean important work isn’t happening. The most effective bills start being written during this time, thanks in large part to community conversations like these. New Laws On July 1, our new state budget took effect, along with the majority of the new policies we enacted this past session. More of those laws were implemented at the start of this month too. As with all of this year’s successful legislation, these new laws are the product of bipartisan compromise. While there are certainly components of the budget I wish went further, there are still plenty of new commonsense policies and investments to be proud of. Some of my colleagues have said my work on expanding the state's mental health safety net is one of the best things we did this year. You can learn more here. I was also able to increase the rates going to substance use treatment providers and am grateful for the bipartisan support in that effort. Highlights of other new laws include required access to free water at ticketed events of 100 or more people, protections for children who appear in online media, and assistance for homeowners and tenants when dealing with HOAs. Minnesota Public Radio provided a brief overview of some of these laws and more in July and August, but if you’d like a deep dive of what’s been implemented, you can read a nonpartisan summary of all the new laws here. Federal Cuts to Medicaid, Food Assistance, and More While Congressional Republicans and President Trump called it the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” there’s nothing beautiful about their new federal budget that slashes health care funding, food support, and clean energy investments – all to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. The new law signed by President Trump last month makes the largest health care cut in U.S. history, slashing $900 billion from Medicaid. One in four Minnesotans rely on Medicaid, including children, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families. These cuts could strip coverage from 250,000 Minnesotans and cost our state $500 million annually in lost federal funding, threatening the stability of hospitals and nursing homes already under financial strain. The bill also defunds Planned Parenthood, a vital provider of cancer screenings, birth control, and preventive care. It cuts the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which more than 440,000 Minnesotans use to feed their families. With nine million food shelf visits last year alone, our hunger relief network can’t absorb these additional burdens. Minnesota has committed to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, but this bill undercuts that effort by eliminating clean energy tax credits. As a result, our state stands to lose 13,000 jobs and $7.8 billion in green energy investment by 2030. Utility bills could rise by over 10% by 2029. All of these cuts are to pay for $1.3 trillion in tax cuts, with the lion’s share of them going to the very wealthiest among us. Meanwhile, because the vast majority of able-bodied adults receiving benefits are already working, new “work requirements” will just add unnecessary paperwork for counties and providers. Overall, this package will lead to reduced access to health care and a higher cost of living for working families. Some of the federal cuts and policy changes don’t go into effect for over a year, meaning that it could take some time to feel the full impact of these new laws. With our state budget balanced with federal assistance in mind, it’s possible a special session of the state legislature could be needed later in the year to address these cruel, drastic cuts. I’ll be sure to keep you posted if that becomes the case. Stay Connected While no official legislative work is being conducted right now, I remain your public servant, and the interim is when some of the best ideas for the next legislative session are formed! Always feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or ideas on how to make our community and state better. You can send an email to rep.luke.frederick@house.mn.gov or call me at (651) 296-3248. Also, please visit and “like” my Facebook page for more Capitol and community updates. Thank you for the privilege of representing you in the legislature. Sincerely, Luke Frederick State Representative |