Dear Neighbors, I hope this newsletter finds you well. The Minnesota Legislature has 17 days left in the regular session. Here is an update of what’s happening. Town Hall on Sunday!Please join me and our District 61 delegation for a Town Hall Meeting this Sunday, May 4 at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church (Border Chapel), 511 Groveland Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403. This is an excellent opportunity to share your concerns, ask questions, and learn more about our budget priorities as we finish strong in these final weeks of session. All are welcome to attend.  Federal Challenges and State ResponseRecent federal policy changes have created significant challenges for our communities. Funding cuts to essential services and social programs threaten the wellbeing of many Minnesotans, particularly our most vulnerable neighbors. My DFL colleagues and I in the Minnesota House are focused on mitigating the impact of these cuts. We are committed to finalizing a responsible state budget, defending policy wins from last biennium, and creating innovative solutions to address the challenges our neighbors in Minneapolis face. Here in the State House we are voting on budget bills that protect access to higher education, preserve environmental protections, and maintain infrastructure projects despite federal rollbacks. A tied House means that this work is challenging, and compromise is more necessary. While we still have a several House budgets left to pass, here is a nonpartisan breakdown of the ones we’ve passed so far: State Government Bill UpdateI have been honored and pleased to be a member of the State Government Committee. Ensuring accountability and appropriate funding of core state services is crucial for government to function. I voted in favor of the policy and finance bills that passed the floor this week. I explain more here. Out of my three committees, I have to say how impressed I am by the way Co-chairs Klevorn and Nash modeled civility and collaboration. In a time of fierce tension and partisanship nationally, here is evidence that we can hard things and do them well.  Transportation Bill UpdateI have many concerns about the current version of the House Transportation Finance and Policy bill and share more here. Given the bad policy inclusion and cuts to transit, I decided to vote against the bill in its current form along with the majority of my DFL colleagues. Now that the House has passed the 2025 Transportation Finance and Policy Bill, a conference committee will sort out the differences between the Senate's version and our own. Here, we will have an opportunity to further improve the bill. I'm looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and delivering a robust transportation budget for ALL Minnesotans.  Housing Bill UpdateI was proud to vote for the Housing Finance Bill, and in particular stand in support of fellow first-termer Rep. Momanyi-Hiltsley regarding an additional $30 million dollars for the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program. I have heard from too many people in our community who are teetering on the brink of losing their homes. This program provides a crucial safety net that helps families get back on their feet and stay in their homes. And it does so in a way that is 11x more cost effective than if a family must be rehoused.  Protecting Service ProgramsRecent federal budget proposals have included concerning cuts to valuable service programs like AmeriCorps and Peace Corps. These programs not only provide essential services to communities in need from reading and math support for students to building homes and greening our neighborhoods. These programs also create meaningful first job experiences for young Americans – an AmeriCorps position with Habitat for Humanity was one of my first jobs. For many of our neighbors, these programs were formative experiences that shaped our commitment to public service. They represent cost-effective service delivery models that strengthen our communities and build leadership skills. The Center for American Progress has identified these cuts as part of a concerning pattern that will impact all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. I’m working with our state agencies to understand how these cuts will impact our state and what we can do to mitigate the harm. Important Reminder: REAL ID DeadlineThe federal REAL ID requirement goes into effect on May 7, 2025. After this date, standard Minnesota driver's licenses will no longer be accepted for domestic air travel or entering federal facilities. Please make sure you have a REAL ID, enhanced driver's license, or passport before this deadline. Visit www.minnesotarealid.org for more information on how to obtain your REAL ID.  A Call to ActionFollowing aggressive action and cuts at the federal level, people are asking, “what can I do?” In these challenging times, your voice matters more than ever. We live in a democracy. The will of the people can move mountains. I encourage you to:
Exercise your First Amendment rights by contacting our federal representatives
Talk to friends and neighbors. Share your story about how these cuts impact you and our community. Ask them to contact their federal representatives. Get involved locally by joining community organizations addressing these challenges. Each of these actions on its own may seem small. However, the most powerful tool we have is our collective voice. Warmly, Katie Jones
State Representative |