Neighbors,
I hope you had a safe and happy Fourth of July. It’s a complicated time to celebrate our 250th anniversary, but we will continue to strive and fight for the promise of a better future for everyone.
Remembering Philando Castile
This month marks 10 years since our neighbor Philando Castile was murdered by police after being pulled over for a burned out taillight on Larpenteur Avenue.
As this awful anniversary arrives, many are reflecting on the legacy Philando left behind and what has changed in the past 10 years. I’ve also been thinking a lot about Philando’s partner and her 4-year-old daughter who witnessed his murder. That little girl is 14 now. What kind of world have we built for her over the past decade?
Sure, fewer traffic stops are being made for non-moving violations. We made legislative changes around use of deadly force. Every inch of progress saves a life – but we’ve still got miles to go.
I encourage everyone to visit the Philando Castile Peace Garden. May we all find a similar moment in peace to reflect on where we’ve been, where we are, and most importantly, where we’re going.
New Laws
On July 1st, many new laws from the 2026 legislative session took effect. Some laws I’d like you to be aware of:
1: Anonymous threat reporting, which will help schools establish systems allowingstudents and families to safely report concerning behavior
2: Mandatory social media mental health warnings, requiring social media companies to warn users about the negative effects of their apps.
You can find a list of the new laws and summaries here.
While I’m glad for the progress we made in these areas, I can’t help but be reminded of the potential that was not realized this session. We could have given Minnesotans whose constitutional rights were violated by federal agents a legal remedy. We could have banned secret police by outlawing the use of masks and unmarked vehicles to terrorize our communities. We could have saved lives with an assault weapons ban and safe storage requirements. We could have delivered equal rights for all Minnesotans with the ERA.
We could have delivered on the things Minnesotans are demanding most – if it wasn’t for Republicans blocking progress at every turn.
If when we head back to the Legislature in January we have the power to pass bills without Republicans standing in our way, I believe we can get these things done. Regardless, I’ll continue to fight for these shared values no matter who is in power or what we’re up against.
Finally
Two weeks ago – and on the last day of Pride month – the United States Supreme Court issued its ruling on West Virginia v. B.P.J., upholding state laws banning transgender youth from participating in girls’ and women's sports.
With this ruling, the Supreme Court has given states express permission to discriminate against and exclude kids from a major part of childhood. My heart is breaking for the kids who just want to feel safe while they play softball with their friends or learn a new skill in track and field. They deserve to participate the same as the rest of their classmates.
Thanks to our proactive commitment at the State Capitol to protect and uplift our kids, this ruling does not change anything in Minnesota. In fact, last year, DFLers blocked Republican attempts to take Minnesota backward the same way the Supreme Court just regressed the country.
I want to be abundantly clear: here in Minnesota, we are inclusive of all, and SCOTUS can't take that away from us.
Stay Connected
This is the final newsletter you’ll receive from me until 2027. Minnesota law requires that certain official communications halt 60 days after legislative adjournment in election years to not give an unfair advantage to incumbents. However, you can still reach out to my office with any questions, comments, and concerns.
It is an honor to represent you and our community at the State Capitol. Although the legislative session has come to a close, our work is far from over; we must now organize as a community to clearly define our collective priorities as we prepare for a transformational upcoming legislature. To that end, I invite you to contact my office with any questions, comments, or ideas at (651) 296-3824 or rep.leigh.finke@house.mn.gov. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Leigh Finke
State Representative - 66A
Legislative Assistant: Robin Mercer-Taylor
Email: robin.mercer-taylor@house.mn.gov