Legislative Update: May 23, 2025

Dear Neighbors,

The 2025 legislative session concluded late last Monday, and I want to share where things stand.With the House evenly divided at 67-67, our focus this session was on protecting the progress Minnesotans achieved last biennium — including universal school meals, paid family and medical leave, reproductive freedom, and clean energy investments. I’m proud that we were able to uphold many of these important initiatives.

However, this session also brought serious challenges. While there were opportunities for collaboration, we saw efforts to roll back policies that support working families — including proposals that would reduce access to health care, reduce paid leave, and limit unemployment benefits for school employees. These proposals don't move us forward and are not necessary to pass a balanced state budget.

As your State Representative, I am committed to passing a responsible, balanced budget, lowering costs for families, supporting workers and immigrant communities, and ensuring Minnesotans, not special interests, have a strong voice in our democracy.

We also know that we are crafting this budget in the midst of deep uncertainty regarding policies coming down from the federal government. I’m proud to say we navigated many of these key protections in the face of cruelty raining down every day from the White House.

As we look ahead to a special session to finish our outstanding budget work, I remain committed to working toward a future where no one is left behind.

House Passes Veterans and Military Affairs Budget Bill

This week, the House approved a strong, bipartisan veterans budget that reflects Minnesota’s deep commitment to those who have served. The final package represents a $50.5 million increase over base funding for veterans and military affairs — a meaningful step forward, especially in a challenging budget year.

This legislation invests in the well-being, dignity, and recognition our veterans deserve. It includes critical funding to fully staff and operate all eight of Minnesota’s veterans homes, expand suicide prevention efforts, increase support for home-delivered meals (especially in Greater Minnesota), and maintain key enlistment and retention bonuses.

The bill also makes long-overdue policy changes, including granting state veteran status to those who served in the Secret War in Laos — a historic and heartfelt recognition of their service. Other provisions include:

• Supporting Gold Star and Blue Star families through a memorial plaque in the Court of Honor
• Enhancing education benefits for surviving spouses
• Increasing pension offsets for service members called to state active duty
• Raising the bonding limit for the State Armory Building Commission to improve readiness and infrastructure

This agreement honors Minnesota’s promise to its veterans — past, present, and future. I look forward to seeing this bill signed into law and continuing to work to ensure no veteran is left behind.

Protecting Policies that Help Working Families

This year we also protected our major policy wins from 2023, like Paid Family and Medical Leave. Minnesotans believe in caring for one another. But right now, most workers in our state — and across the country — don’t have access to paid family and medical leave. But starting January 1, 2026, our new Paid Family & Medical Leave program will allow workers to take time off to recover from a serious health condition, welcome a new child, care for a loved one, or navigate personal safety challenges – all without having to sacrifice their economic security.

Republican efforts to roll back Minnesota’s universal school meals program did not move forward. I’m glad to report that our final budget agreement protects free breakfast and lunch for all students. This program is helping kids stay focused in the classroom and easing financial pressure for families across the state.

Update on the HOA Reform Bill

While there were some slowdowns this session, there was and is still movement and significant work being done on HOA reform. I wanted to update you to let you know that your feedback has been heard, and here are some changes to the provisions of greatest concern:

The group in charge of this legislation was led by Chair Kristin Bahner and Vice-chair Eric Lucero, and created the recommendations that were refined in the bill.  Since that time, there have been hundreds of changes, and I am grateful for their hard work and thoughtful consideration.  I will continue to monitor its movement closely.  Thanks again for your attention and feedback!

In addition to this bill, here are other HOA-related bills that I co-authored and continue to be in discussion:

• HF0856 - HOA Ombudsperson (passed as part of the Commerce Policy Bill, SF2216)
• HF2228 - Insurance task force (passed as part of the Commerce Policy Bill, SF2216)
• HOA registration/database (included with the Ombudsperson in the Senate) (SF1063)
• Attorney General authority to oversee HOAs/CICs (HF1931)

Keep in Touch

Your voice is important to me! You can contact me at rep.amanda.hemmingsen-jaeger@house.mn.gov, by phone at 651-296-7807, or follow along my Facebook page, Instagram, or BlueSky with your questions, concerns, or ideas for this session. I appreciate the opportunity to serve our district in the legislature and look forward to hearing from you. 

Sincerely,

Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger

State Representative