Dear Neighbor,
Here are this week’s notes from the House:
TOWN HALL MEETING
Can’t say “thank you” enough to the couple hundred people who attended the recent town hall meeting at the Bemidji Eagles Club (pictured above).
This meeting was conducted largely the result of constituents asking for a public forum to discuss gun-control bills moving through the Legislature – and local citizens followed up in a big way. The Second Amendment is quite important to people in our area and people are trying to get up to speed on exactly what House Democrats propose. Here are the quick overviews:
- HF 14: Universal Background Checks (aka Universal Gun Registration): Criminal background checks required for firearm transfers, and grounds modified for disqualification of transferee permit.
- HF 15: Red Flag Gun Confiscation Orders: Law enforcement and family members enabled to petition a court to prohibit people from possessing firearms if they pose a significant danger to themselves or others by possessing a firearm, and money appropriated.
- HF 396: Safe storage of firearms and ammunition required, locking device required to be included in each firearm transfer, and criminal penalties imposed.
- HF 601: Lost and stolen firearms required to be reported promptly to law enforcement.
It seems most people are familiar with the Universal Background checks and Re Flag Gun Confiscation Orders. The other two bills are flying more under the radar and seem to be catching a lot of folks off guard, even though they could be just as controversial or, as some would say, intrusive.
As if that weren’t bad enough, Senate Democrats have assembled an extreme omnibus gun-control bill of their own, reportedly including everything from registration of all firearms to requiring all gun owners to have liability insurance, creating a crime to carry a firearm past a sign, banning the purchase of most semi-automatic rifles and more.
CALL TO ACTION
All four of these gun-control bills in the House soon could come to the floor for votes on final passage. People are asking what they can do to stay in the loop and/or to step up and let their voice be heard. You could start by providing personal input to the authors of each bill by clicking on the above links. (The chief author is the first name listed at the bill link.)
You also can find out the latest on these bills and others by using the House’s MyBills website function at this link. You also can subscribe to House mailing lists, including notifications when the daily Order of Business is updated (includes bill introductions), the daily House Journal has been published as well as when Conference Committee Reports are posted. Visit this link for more information on that tool.
SICK TIME BILL
The House last night approved a bill with significant changes to Minnesota’s existing laws regarding employee leave.
There are numerous reasons for concern with this bill (H.F. 19), specifically how new mandates will damage Minnesota’s job creators and Main Street businesses who are still recovering from COVID, while also facing ongoing inflation, supply chain issues and workforce shortages. This certainly will increase labor costs at a time our goal should be to avoid placing additional burdens and mandates on our job providers who are doing their best to keep their doors open and Minnesotans employed.
Furthermore, this bill does not include most of the employer protections under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, such as employers with less than 50 employees being exempt. This language applies to all Minnesota employers who employ one or more persons.
Until next time, please stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Matt