 Legislative Update from Rep. Cheryl YouakimDear Neighbors, It has been an emotional two weeks at the Capitol as we started the legislative session. On the first day of session, Feb. 17, we had a wonderful tribute to our former Speaker Melissa and her husband Mark Hortman who were assassinated on June 14, 2025, as well as their Golden Retriever, Gilbert. Thank you to leadership, staff, and members who worked on the ceremony to honor the Hortmans, as well as the gathering afterwards. The day included a memorial resolution, flowers to leave on Melissa’s desk, bread and cake, and touching memories shared.  Enhancing Safety at the State Capitol We all deserve to be safe while participating in our shared democracy. Sadly, the threat of political violence continues to loom over us. My colleagues and I have been working with the Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, and Capitol Security all summer, fall, and winter to improve safety at the State Capitol for visitors, staff, and elected officials. The bipartisan Advisory Committee on Capitol Area Security commissioned a comprehensive report on Capitol Security and adopted a series of recommendations to enhance safety while maintaining the open, accessible nature of the State Capitol. Following these recommendations, Governor Walz recently issued an executive order implementing weapons screening at the Minnesota State Capitol for the legislative session. With 37 other State Capitols having some restrictions on firearms or screening, this is an overdue, reasonable step to protect the ability for Minnesotans to safely engage with and observe their state government in action. The screening process will closely resemble entering many other government buildings, as well as major sporting events and concerts. With modern equipment able to screen most individuals in just a few seconds, while bags and other large items will need to go through a scanner. For those who have been to the Capitol previously, I understand this process represents a bit of a change, but I’m glad we’re taking action to keep Capitol visitors, lawmakers, and staff safe. Screenings will serve as a deterrent to those who attempt to bring illegal weapons into the Capitol to commit violence, intimidate people, or interfere with the orderly work of government. Additional information is available from the Department of Public Safety.  PHOTO: Andrew VonBank, Minnesota House Photography House Committees have started to meet in full force. You can check out the house.mn.gov website’s calendar to track all the committee meetings that are happening. On Thursday, February 19, I had the gavel in the House Education Finance Committee. As the co-chair of the committee, it was important for me to have the committee spend time examining the impacts ICE has had on our students and in our schools. We heard powerful testimony from teachers, administrators, parents, and community members about the effects of Operation Metro Surge on our schools and the devastating affects learning loss our students are experiencing. You can watch the testimony at this link. During the second week, the House Education Finance Committee heard bills regarding school safety on Tuesday, March 24. Then on February 27, when I held the gavel, we heard a report from the School Absenteeism Pilot Project that is a cohort of 12 schools we funded in 2024 to find creative and sustainable ways to tackle chronic absenteeism. We also heard from our student support personal (school social workers, counselor, psychologists, and nurses) about how current events have affected our students school attendance as well as their mental health.  Taking Action on Gun ViolenceTwo empty school desks sat in a corridor of the State Capitol February 24-26. They belonged to Fletcher Merkel and Harper Moyski, whose lives were taken last August at Annunciation Catholic Church. Since this tragedy, we’ve continued to hear directly from survivors of gun violence and loved ones of those who’ve been lost, calling for action to prevent more heartbreaking losses in the future. While we’ve taken important action like expanding criminal background checks and enacting red flag laws, there’s clearly more to do.  The generation of Minnesotans currently coming of age doesn’t deserve to accept the deadly consequences of gun violence as normal. To make that goal a reality, we have to get weapons meant for war off our streets. My House DFL colleagues and I are united in seeking bold action to ban assault weapons, ban high-capacity magazines, reenact the ban on binary triggers, require the safe storage of firearms, regulate so-called “ghost guns,” and require lost or stolen guns to be reported. We know these policies are effective in saving lives, and they are broadly supported by Minnesotans. Now, it’s up to Republicans to tell us where they stand: with Minnesotans who deserve to be safe, or the gun lobby. With a tied House, all it takes is one of them to join us to say “enough” and advance these and other key solutions that will make a difference in our communities.  Taking Action on Fraud PreventionEvery public dollar should be used for the public good — not to enrich scammers, shell companies, or criminals who exploit Minnesotans. I am furious that taxpayer dollars meant to support families, seniors, people with disabilities, and children have been stolen through fraud and abuse. My colleagues and I have rolled out a comprehensive legislative package aimed at preventing, detecting, investigating, and holding accountable those who commit fraud in Minnesota’s public programs. I am working with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to find a path forward. Here is the link to our press conference earlier this week. Community and ConstituentsThank you to the Municipal Legislative Commission for inviting us to your annual legislative breakfast last Friday! The discussion around housing was educational with a great discussion afterwards.  The first two weeks of session were busy ones. During the first week of session, I had the chance to meet a group of local public health administrators from Bloomington Public Health that partners with Edina. Thank you for all the work you do to make sure our communities are healthy and safe!  I had lunch with U of M Alumni students, and administrators. I attended the U of M Twin Cities for my undergraduate degree, my husband received his BA and MA at the U of M Twin Cities, two of our children attended U of M Morris for their undergraduate degrees, and our daughter attended U of M Duluth for Medical School. Not to mention the numerous siblings that we had attend the U of M. It was fun to check out the Paul Bunyan Axe with U of M Alum, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon!  That day I also had an energizing meeting with students from ISLA Spanish Immersion here for Charter School Day at the Capitol. It was fun to hear what their favorite part of attending an immersion school is, as well as their why behind the request for more school funding.  I also had the chance to meet with folks from Hennepin County Solid Waste. This department makes sure that the solid waste our communities produce is taken care of safely whether it is through recycling, reuse, or disposal. Wednesday, I had the chance to meet with some amazing school counselors. Our school counselors help our students in so many ways from instruction on social emotional learning to coordinating educational opportunities around career opportunities and so much more in between. Thank you for all you do to make sure our students have well rounded experiences on their road to graduation!  Small Business Relief Funds & Mutual Aid ResourcesSeveral relief funds for businesses impacted by the federal immigration enforcement surge have been established. Learn how to apply for funding if you are a business owner or support the local businesses in our community by donating. Review eligibility and apply online. Also be sure to check out and share the following local mutual aid resources: ICA Food Shelf VEAP Food Shelf March Community Conversations ScheduleIt's hard to believe March is just around the corner. Here are the dates I'm hosting community conversations:
Tuesday, March 3 –6:30 -8:00 pm at Edina Library (5280 Grandview Square, Edina) Saturday, March 7 – Noon – 1:30 pm at the St. Louis Park Library (3240 Library Lane, St. Louis Park) Saturday, Saturday, March 14 –10:30 am – Noon at the Hopkins Library (22 11th Ave. N., Hopkins)  Keep in TouchPlease continue to contact me anytime at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889 with questions or input. Email is the quickest way to get in touch.  Cheryl Youakim
State Representative |