Legislative Update – February 20, 2026
Dear Neighbors,
This week, the 2026 Legislative Session began, and it was the first time the Minnesota House convened since Melissa and Mark Hortman and their dog Gilbert were killed. It was an incredibly emotional day for all of us who knew, worked with, and respected Melissa.
We held a Remembrance Ceremony and read a joint resolution honoring Melissa’s leadership and legacy of public service. We received seeds to plant in honor of Melissa’s love of gardening. We brought cake and bread because Melissa and Mark loved to bake. And we were joined by a golden retriever service dog and therapy puppies to remember the joy Gilbert brought to the Hortman family.
You can read more from MPR News about the remembrance,and watch the full ceremony here.
2026 Session Begins
This morning, I was on the KYMN Morning Show to talk about Melissa’s remembrance, and the start of committee work, which you can listen to here.
It's also been great to see the Capitol rotunda so full of energy as session begins. This week, I was able to meet with a group from ISAIAH here for an ICE OUT rally and stand in support with those fighting to protect our water.
On Wednesday, House business began in earnest as Committees began meeting to discuss the impacts of ICE on our communities and debate legislation to move our state forward.
I’d highly encourage you to take some time to watch my colleague Aisha Gomez’s speech on the House Floor last night, as we call for justice for Renee Good, Alex Pretti, and all Minnesotans who have been harmed by ICE.
There’s a lot to do, as DFLers work to protect Minnesotans’ constitutional rights, address gun violence, protect our public services from fraudsters, and build an economy that works for everyday working Minnesotans. In a tied House, we need to work together to pass any legislation, and that starts in committees.
I’ll continue to serve on the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, pushing for strong protections for our air, water, and soil. Already this week, Republicans held a hearing on MN's PFAS ban. All the speakers, except one, were industry lobbyists asking for changes.
I spoke to thank Nora Strande for testifying and reminding my colleagues that Amara Strande died because these corporations polluted our water--and it's our job as legislators to prevent more teenagers from dying. Watch my comments here.
On the Health Committee, I’m dedicated to using this session to fight for a health care system that puts people over profit. We need to address the severe issues rural health care providers are facing, all across the state and in this district. I spent last fall hosting listening sessions around the state, and now it’s time to get to work.
Stay Connected!
Lastly, a reminder to follow my Official Facebook Page here if you aren’t already! If you received this email and you’d like to subscribe to future updates, click here. If you have a friend or neighbor who would be interested in receiving these, please forward this message and encourage them to subscribe!
Unfortunately, due to technological constraints, direct replies to this newsletter won’t reach my email account. To share your input or ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to reach out at rep.kristi.pursell@house.mn.gov or 651-296-0171, and I will be happy to help.
Sincerely,
Kristi Pursell
State Representative