Dear neighbors, I hope you are finding time to catch some of the sunshine when it comes, and remain hopeful we will see more warmer weather days ahead this month. There are five weeks remaining in the 2026 Legislative Session, and we just passed the third deadline for committees. On the House floor, we have brought bills that Minnesotans are asking us to pass that have, unfortunately, failed on party-line votes. Bills such as gun violence prevention measures, helping local small businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge and last week, I spoke on the floor last week about banning ICE on all school grounds without a judicial warrant. Even with these setbacks, we will keep working to find commonality in our divided House.  Constituents at the CapitolThis week was packed with many great constituent meetings – we had STEM Day at the Capitol with constituents, both Edina and Bloomington Public Schools’ Legislative Action Committees for AMSD Day, constituents advocating for HCMC, and many more. There is nothing more powerful than hearing directly from local leaders, students, constituents, and advocates as they testify on legislation or meet with me to share the real impacts of proposed policies on our community. We receive requests and feedback on bills continuously; thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. It is helpful for me to understand a wide variety of perspectives on different issues as I work to make decisions. I’d love to gather additional feedback. Please take a quick moment to complete this constituent survey. Thank you.  PHOTO CREDIT: Miles Choudhary, a student staff photographer for the Zephyrus, Edina High School’s student newspaper Protecting our Magical Boundary WatersLast week, we heard the devastating news that the United States Senate voted to end the ban on mining in the Boundary Waters. The very first bill I ever co-authored in the Minnesota House was HF 309, which modified mining restrictions in order to protect Minnesota’s Boundary Waters from the inevitable and devastating damage that would result from sulfide-ore copper mining pollution in its watershed. The Boundary Waters isn’t just an escape from modern life, it is essential to it, and now the most visited wilderness area in the country. Each year, more than 160,000 Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, church groups, and students from middle school through college experience it firsthand. Minnesota’s $13 billion outdoor recreation economy depends on places like the Boundary Waters. In northeastern Minnesota alone, nearly $1 billion in economic activity is tied to it, driven largely by small, local businesses that help people access and experience the wilderness. The Boundary Waters is worth more than any copper that could be extracted from its watershed. I’m grateful to Senators Klobuchar and Smith for their leadership at the federal level, and I’m committed to doing everything I can at the state level to protect it. We won’t give up. Increasing Security and Protection of Government OperationsAfter the events of last summer, we’ve had to have difficult conversations on legislation to expand protections and improve clarity in the chain of command during crisis situations. I’ve authored a bill modernizing statutes governing security and protective services for state officials with a clear framework for responding to credible threats and for securing legislative proceedings when necessary. This also facilitates rapid response when credible threats are made or hostile actions are taken against principal state officials. This legislation is about learning from those challenges and putting clear systems in place so that when a crisis occurs, there is no confusion about who is responsible, how decisions are made, and how quickly we act. It’s about protecting public servants, maintaining trust in our institutions, and ensuring that Minnesotans can continue to engage in their democracy safely. HCMC and MN Uninsured Rate RisingA new report shows that the uninsured rate in Minnesota is rising rapidly. This is a direct result of massive cuts to healthcare, coupled with the ongoing affordability crisis. If the uninsured rates continue to rise, we will see huge consequences for our state. Here is a media story with more context. I have heard from many of you, and I share your urgent concerns regarding the real threat of the closure of Hennepin County Medical Center. Due to federal cuts to Medicaid and the broken for-profit health care system we have in our country, our public safety-net hospital and busiest Level 1 Trauma Center for adults and children in our state is at risk of closing by June. This would be catastrophic for Minnesotans. HCMC is a shining example of how our health care system should work; they accept patients from across the state, regardless of whether they have insurance or can pay massive medical bills. From across every region in the state, HCMC provides critical care for a significant number of burn and trauma patients and serves as the gold standard for physician training. Last week, bipartisan legislation was brought forward that would create an ongoing solution. As a co-author, I will be following the ongoing discussions closely, but I am encouraged to hear both leaders in the House share their prioritization of this. Fraud PreventionCollaboration on how to best prevent fraud from happening to our state and how to hold those accountable who are committing the fraud continues. I will continue to advocate for bipartisan efforts, such as the Office of Inspector General, these last few weeks of session. It is a top priority to deliver a better solution for Minnesota. Keep in TouchI appreciate all the feedback from constituents on things that matter to you. I receive hundreds of emails, and work to respond to them directly from me. Please continue to reach out at rep.julie.greene@house.mn.gov or 651-296-4363. To receive legislative updates, please subscribe and follow along on my Facebook page. Thank you for staying engaged. It truly is an honor to represent you in St. Paul. Warm regards, Julie Greene State Representative District 50A |