 Neighbors, We’ve passed the month mark into the 2026 legislative session this week, and I’ve really enjoyed meeting with all who have made it to the Capitol. Deadlines are coming up for moving legislation, so I wanted to take a quick moment to provide an update on the last few weeks. My DFL colleagues and I rolled out our affordability priorities. In Minnesota, people should be able to afford a good life. But under the current economy, too many Minnesotans are struggling just to get by. When basics become a luxury, it’s a clear sign that the system is broken. It shouldn’t be this difficult to get ahead. DFLers are focused on combatting the affordability crisis and bringing down costs so Minnesotans can: - Afford Health Care
- Afford Child Care
- Afford Housing
- Afford Groceries
- Afford Energy (check out my plug-in solar legislation on this!)
Safety on Our RoadsLast year, following the tragedy at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park, I worked with some of those impacted and Senator Latz to overhaul our state’s DWI laws around the use of ignition interlock devices, or breathalyzers for cars. During that work, I learned about Intelligent Speed Assistance devices, which can provide a somewhat similar function for super speeders, as ignition interlock does for repeat DWI offenders. When installed in a vehicle, they can prevent that vehicle from speeding. I’m pursuing this bill because roughly 30% of the deaths on our roads are primarily caused by speed (in MN, an average of 116 per year for the past three years), and research has shown that a small group of high-risk repeat offenders are the greatest danger. You can see my remarks introducing the bill here, or by clicking on the picture below.  We’ve seen other states like Virginia and Washington implement these devices. Removing the ability to speed from the least responsible drivers on our roadways is a common-sense first step towards eliminating traffic deaths. The bill passed out of the Transportation Committee, but has now stalled in the Judiciary Committee. I’m working through some of the concerns raised around data privacy (I’ve made the privacy protections very strong) and some of the specifics of how we’d define egregious speeding. While I’m still hoping to get it done this year, with key deadlines coming up at the end of next week, it is very possible that I’ll need to come back to it next year. Minnesota Seal of Climate Literacy Our youngest Minnesotans are the ones who will have to live with the impacts of climate change, and I’m always inspired by their efforts to learn about, call attention to it, and address it. In 2014 the Legislature created the Minnesota Bilingual and Multilingual Seals program which allows schools to award seals to high school students upon graduation who have demonstrated the required levels of language proficiency through assessment in languages other than English. Students can receive a seal that translates to between 2 and 4 semesters' worth of college credits at a Minnesota State College or University. It’s a neat program that can encourage and empower students to pursue specific studies and careers. I have a bill, modeled after a program started in Colorado, that would initiate a Seal of Climate Literacy in Minnesota. It’s a bit different than the language seals, as it's a voluntary program for school districts, but I was really excited to see the level of student interest for this in Minnesota. I’m working on the bill with the Minnesota Youth Council (MYC). The MYC was created by state statute in 2013, and is the official voice of young people statewide. Thirty-six representatives, four per congressional district, from Minnesota middle schools and high schools advise the Governor and state legislature on issues that affect their generation. To get a seal, students would need to take a science course, a course that includes climate literacy, and complete a project in their school or community that touches on climate in some fashion. You can see my remarks here or my clicking on the photo below where I’m presenting the bill with Feven Tesfaye, a member of the MYC. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a package bill at the end of session. It did seem to get a good amount of Republican opposition, so we’ll see if it can pass.  Melissa Hortman Community Solar ProgramLast week, the Minnesota House unanimously passed legislation renaming the Community Solar Garden Program for Speaker Emerita, and former Energy Committee Chair, Melissa Hortman. Melissa’s work on solar and clean energy helped build Minnesota into a nationwide leader in climate policy, renewable energy, and created thousands of green energy jobs. One of her proudest achievements was the community solar garden program, which helps more people reap the rewards of our clean energy grid.  The Melissa Hortman Community Solar Garden Program will stand as a tribute to her legacy as Minnesota’s ‘godmother of solar,’ and I was honored to vote Green on this bill. You can view my comments on the floor here.  Voter pre-registration for 16 & 17 year oldsYou may remember that this is one of the first bills I worked on back in 2023, and I was just thrilled that it became law. Well, recently students from the Youth Voter Project stopped by the Capitol to tell me about their fantastic work in leveraging that law to get more students involved in our political process. Here’s an impromptu video I made of them telling me about their work.  Meet my 2026 InternThis session I have the pleasure of working with a new intern! Nate currently attends the University of Minnesota and it’s been a pleasure having him on the team. Below is a statement from Nate: “Hello, my name is Nate Rahn, and I’m from Plymouth. I’m an intern for Representative Kraft during the 2026 legislative session and am a sophomore at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities studying Political Science and Economics. Outside of school, I enjoy staying active by playing tennis, skiing, and running. My interest in public service comes from wanting to better understand how policy is made, how we can better tackle the climate crisis, and how we can improve transportation infrastructure. I’m especially interested in how thoughtful policy decisions can create lasting, positive impacts for communities across Minnesota. I’ve always been interested in how government decisions affect people’s everyday lives, which got me interested in public service and the legislature as one of the most impactful places to be if you want to help enact meaningful change. One of the things I’m passionate about is addressing the growing climate crisis by holding large-scale industrial polluters to account and supporting policies that protect Minnesota’s wildlife and natural resources. The climate crisis increasingly affects all Minnesotans. Additionally, I’m interested in how we can find more efficient and environmentally friendly transportation solutions, such as improving public transit that could make our roads less congested and our pedestrians safer. It’s been a fantastic experience interning for Representative Kraft, who is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about climate policy. I’ve especially enjoyed learning how policy is created and meeting the amazing and dedicated people behind it, which has given me a better understanding of the collaboration and effort required to turn ideas into policy. I’m excited to continue learning and help advance meaningful solutions to tackle the impending climate crisis.”  More Meetings with ConstituentsLots more meetings with constituents these past couple of weeks. Remember, I make ice cream every Sunday night and have it in a freezer in the Centennial Office Building, so I can share it with visitors. One of my favorite parts of serving in this body is meeting with you all and turning your stories into legislation. Here are some photos.  |