Dear Neighbors,
I’m working hard at the Capitol to advocate and advance legislation that will ease the consequences of federal chaos and Trump political retribution. At the state level we have many resources and reforms we can deploy to improve affordability, provide quality services, and cut costly red tape. We just need the political will to put people over special interests. I’m committed to fighting for legislation designed to improve the lives of my constituents!
Pushing for Rental Assistance
On the House Floor this week, DFLers brought forward a proposal that would fund $40 million in emergency rental assistance, which our community and communities across the state desperately need.
The fact is, People were not free during the ICE occupation. Minnesotans were illegally profiled and detained, were unable to work or leave their homes. The least we could do is support them with some reallocated dollars to keep a roof over their heads.
Unfortunately, every Republican in the Minnesota House voted against this assistance, despite bipartisan support in the Senate. I’ll continue to support legislation, like this bill and others, addressing the dire impacts of Operation Metro Surge.
Affordable Housing
Housing across Minnesota is too sparse and too expensive. I'm working with my DFL colleagues to pass sweeping affordability reforms. Everyone deserves a place they can call home without breaking the bank. Read about some of what we are fighting for here.
MN Uninsured Rate Rises
A new report shows that the uninsured rate in Minnesota is rising rapidly. This is a direct result of massive cuts to healthcare coupled with the ongoing affordability crisis. If the uninsured rates continue to rise we will see huge consequences for our state. For starters this means fewer people getting the care they need, leading directly to more harm. But beyond that we will see a huge financial strain on our healthcare system, just look at HCMC for a vision of what the future holds if we continue to underinvest in healthcare.
Child Tax Credit Reminder
If you’re still working on your 2025 taxes and have children, please don’t forget about the Child Tax Credit! It is NOT automatic. So far this year, more than 154,000 tax returns have claimed the Child Tax Credit, benefiting over 318,000 children across Minnesota. Families are receiving an average credit of $2,669. The credit is estimated to reduce child poverty by up to a third in Minnesota, making it one of the most impactful investments DFLers protected amid federal cuts. Learn more about eligibility here.
Passing Bills off the House Floor
Even though many important bills have not been able to move ahead due to partisan differences, we have reached agreements on a couple important bills.
One of the first bills we passed renames Minnesota’s Community Solar Garden Program for Speaker Emerita, and former Energy Committee chair, Melissa Hortman. In 2013, Melissa authored the law that established the Community Solar Garden Program and set the state’s solar standard, helping to increase the state’s use of solar power.
We also passed a bill that addresses a crisis caused by the Trump administration. In one of their many senseless budget cuts, a crucial program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development was impacted, leaving Minnesota’s supportive housing providers in limbo. These providers are crucial in assisting Minnesotans struggling with housing security throughout the state, and unless we acted fast, we would be in a homelessness crisis. The bill we passed directs $9 million dollars to these supportive housing providers, ensuring that their doors can stay open to support our neighbors through this year.
Stay in Touch
If you have questions, ideas, or feedback that you’d like to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Email me at rep.kaela.berg@house.mn.gov or call (651) 296-5387. For more regular updates, you can subscribe to these legislative updates if you haven’t already, here, and you can also “like” and follow my official State Representative Facebook page.
Sincerely,
Kaela Berg
State Representative