Sen. McEwen, Rep. Kozlowski, and I will be at the Harbor Side Convention Center in the DECC starting at 1:00pm, and we hope to see you there! If you cannot join us in person, we will have a virtual option available and welcome you to join us online. You can register to receive a Zoom link here. You can also find more information on our Facebook event page. The 2026 Legislative Session begins in February, so please come with your questions, comments, concerns, and ideas as we prepare to head back to St. Paul. Our work is at its best when it’s rooted in our community’s needs, and we want to hear from you! Paid Leave As of January 1, Minnesota’s new Paid Leave Family & Medical Leave program is now in place. This program has been years in the making, and finally passed by my DFL colleagues during the last legislative biennium. Last year, as we prepared to launch Paid Leave, we had to play defense in the Minnesota Legislature as Republicans sought to cut the legs out from under this program before Minnesotans could even benefit from it, but DFLers stood firm. Now, Minnesotans won’t have to choose between taking care of themselves or a loved one, or a paycheck. From a technical standpoint, Paid Leave is built on Minnesota’s Unemployment Insurance system, using already proven technology to help ensure a smooth rollout on day one. The program was built with the input from businesses, with employer feedback being incorporated, and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has been engaging with businesses across the state to help them prepare for the launch. Input and feedback from businesses will be continually collected and the program will be refined and strengthened so it runs smoothly and stays reliable. Importantly, Paid Leave will level the playing field for small businesses that have wanted to offer this benefit so they can better compete to attract talent, but haven’t been able to do so in a sustainable way. |