Neighbors, The steady, but productive legislative session continued this week. In the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, which I chair, we heard HF 284, also known as Helmets to Hardhats. This is a project focused on access to careers in the construction industry, specifically on connecting active duty, reserve service members, and military veterans with construction careers. You can watch the proceedings on the Minnesota House YouTube channel. You can follow along on the committee page here. In the Climate and Energy Finance & Policy Committee we heard a bill to provide financial assistance to cities to address climate change, and money appropriated. In the State and Local Government Finance & Policy Committee we heard an overview of the governor’s budget from Minnesota’s attorney general, secretary of state, the Department of Administration and Department of Revenue commissioners. Driver’s Licenses for All On Monday, the full House of Representatives passed HF 4, known as “Driver’s Licenses for All.” The measure would allow undocumented residents to obtain a driver’s license after passing standard exams and tests, and acquiring insurance. Supporting this proposal makes sense and will keep our roads safer. It also has broad support from law enforcement, the business community, and unions.  Restore the Vote and Juneteenth Yesterday in the Minnesota House, we passed a measure to restore the vote to individuals who have completed their term of incarceration after being convicted of a felony. We also passed SF13 to designate Juneteenth as a state holiday annually on June 19.  Visitors to the Capitol This week, Anoka-Ramsey Community College President Kent Hanson and Anoka-Ramsey Community College VP for Administration & Finance Don Lewis stopped by my office to discuss needs of and provide updates about the institution.  Stay connected with the legislature It’s easy to stay in touch which the State Capitol activities. The Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services offers nonpartisan recaps of high-profile bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions with their Session Daily publication. Subscribe to receive these here. To track bills of interest through the legislative process, I encourage you to utilize the MyBills feature on the Minnesota House of Representatives’ website. Please continue to reach out with any input, ideas, or feedback about the issues important to you. I value hearing from you, so please don’t hesitate to call or email me any time. You can find my information on my House website. Also, make sure to ‘like’ my Facebook page. It is an honor to represent you at the State Capitol. Sincerely, Jerry Newton State Representative |