Legislative Update – April 3, 2026
Dear Neighbors,
We’ve reached the halfway point of the 2026 Legislative Session, with committee deadlines last week marking the point where most bills must be heard in committee to be considered for further action this year.
I was glad to have Joel Erickson and Joe Dornfeld from the City of Lonsdale visit the Capitol last week to testify on my bill helping fund a new water tower. It's the first time Lonsdale has asked for bonding funding and would help shore up water infrastructure now and into the future for this growing community in District 58A!
I also met with Friends of Northfield Downtown; folks from the Faribault and Albert Lea Friendship House Clubhouses; Sen. Lieske and I met with clients and staff from Epic Enterprise in Dundas; students, staff, and board members from Northfield Public Schools; and Tanya from New Prague who came up for the American Bikers for Awareness, Training, and Education (ABATE) Day.
I joined a roundtable discussion hosted by Clean River Partners in Dundas this week to discuss the future of agriculture along with Sharing Our Roots, MN Well Owners Association, Forever Green Institute, Rainbow Research, Extension’s Regional Sustainable Development Project, Regenerative Agriculture Alliance, and local farmers Dave Legvold and Moses Momanyi; St. Olaf College social work students; and Dakota County social workers with the Minnesota Association of County Social Service Administrators Day at the Capitol. Whewf!
Last Friday, I joined The KYMN Morning Show for my weekly radio update, which you can listen to here.
Voting to Protect Minnesotans
Last Thursday, the House voted on legislation to keep ICE out of schools, ban assault weapons, and ban high-capacity magazines. These measures are about protecting our children, and our communities have been calling on their legislators to act. But, when we’ve brought them forward in committees, House Republicans have blocked them.
The motions we put forward were an opportunity for Republicans to show they take the issues seriously and put humanity over politics. Unfortunately, they continued to vote lockstep against the bills.
Our kids deserve to go to school without the fear of federal agents terrorizing their classmates, and without the fear of yet another deadly school shooting, like the one that has brought the Annunciation families into committee after committee to call for action. We’ll continue to use every tool we have to pass these bills and protect Minnesotans.
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.
Stay Connected!
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