You're invited to a holiday community food drive

Dear neighbors,

In this season of gratitude and giving, I’m hosting a holiday food drive next Saturday, December 13, 12:30-2:00 p.m., at the Bountiful Basket Food Shelf in Chaska. Due to the unprecedented level of need, Bountiful Basket is welcoming donations of money and food. The food shelves are especially low on breakfast cereals, chunky canned soups, and saltine or soda crackers. If you want to make a financial donation, please donate using this link.

Paid Leave Launches January 1

The U.S. is the only developed country in the world that doesn’t guarantee some form of paid leave, forcing most workers to make impossible choices between a paycheck and caring for a new child, an aging parent, or their own serious health condition. But in Minnesota, that’s about to change with the launch of Paid Leave on January 1, 2026. As we prepare for Paid Leave to take effect, I want to share the basics of the new law, how it impacts you, and how to use it next month. 

Paid Leave – which DFLers in the Legislature and Governor Walz passed in 2023 – provides partial wage replacement for up to 12 weeks of paid medical leave for your own serious health condition, including pregnancy and recovery. It also provides up to 12 weeks of paid family leave to care for a new child or a seriously ill loved one. If using both medical and family leave, workers can use up to a total of 20 weeks annually. A short video explaining the basics of how it works is available here: 

The program will have a small cost but offer powerful benefits. The premium rate for 2026 will be 0.88%, with employers responsible for at least half. If the employer chooses to split the premium with the employee, each will pay 0.44%. For an employee earning the average annual income, this amounts to about $5 per week each for the worker and the employer. Paid Leave will level the playing field for small businesses that have wanted to offer this benefit but haven’t been able to do so sustainably. 

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has developed helpful toolkits with resources for workers and businesses alike. The toolkit for workers can help you find out if you’re eligible for coverage, when Paid Leave can be used, how much time you can take, how you’ll be compensated, and more. The toolkit for businesses includes information about upcoming public engagement events, premium rates and contributions, equivalent plans for Paid Leave, and other FAQs.? 

For many of us, missing a single paycheck means the difference between staying above water and facing dire financial challenges, and that’s particularly true considering the affordability crisis we’re facing now, with prices rising on just about everything in our daily lives. Paid Leave is one major step to provide some relief, ensuring you’ll no longer have to risk your economic security to look after yourself, care for a newborn, or tend to a loved one. As a former La Leche League leader and breastfeeding mom, I know the importance of those early weeks spent bonding with a newborn. 

This program has truly been years in the making, and I’m so excited for families in our community and throughout Minnesota to finally have peace of mind. As we get closer to the program’s rollout, I encourage you to check out all of the resources available at pl.mn.gov. 

No Child Left Inside Grant Applications Open

Studies show that today's young people have less contact with the natural world than previous generations, which is why I was glad to support the bipartisan “No Child Left Inside” grant program GOP and DFL lawmakers created in 2019. Encouraging children and teens to spend more time outside is essential for ensuring the long-term care and protection of Minnesota's environment. These grants can be used for educational trips to the Boundary Waters, learning opportunities at nature centers, or angling in our local lakes, and more. Applications are being accepted until December 16; learn how to apply here.

Immigration Resources 

I'm proud to live in a state with a long history of welcoming immigrants seeking safety and a better life—free from poverty, war, and oppression. Four generations ago, my Irish and German ancestors came to Minnesota seeking the same.

Since President Trump announced his intent to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS), many of our Chanhassen and Chaska neighbors are feeling afraid. TPS was passed in 1990 with strong bipartisan support in Congress and signed by Republican President George H.W. Bush, protecting people from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions for over three decades.

Our immigrant neighbors are colleagues, friends, and familiar faces at the grocery store and in our schools. They're integral to what makes Minnesota special, enriching our communities with their diversity and strengthening our economy every day.

As ICE ramps up their efforts in Minnesota by targeting our immigrant neighbors, many have reached out looking for ways to support neighbors in our community. The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota has a myriad of resources here. You can also check out the Monarca Rapid Response Line to learn more about legal observation and advocacy here. 

Keep in Touch

Please continue to reach out anytime with input, questions, or ideas at rep.lucy.rehm@house.mn.gov or 651-296-5066. You’re also welcome to follow me on my Facebook page for more updates.

In community,

Lucy

Turcks Trees of Litchfield delivered the Capitol Holiday Tree this week,  which will be on display throughout the holiday season in the Rotunda. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture assisted, and added this lovely ornament to memorialize Melissa, Mark, and Gilbert.

PHOTO: Minnesota House Public Information