Report from the Capitol: Week 5.5

Dear Granite City Neighbors,

My Friday schedule was so jam-packed, I ran out of time to send out your weekly update! So, here is a belated report from the Capitol regarding some of the things that happened.

These weekly updates are quickly becoming a list of accomplishments, and I’m not complaining! More bills are being passed through committee, off the House floor, and being signed into law. If you haven’t yet, you can also follow along on my official Facebook page for regular updates on our work as well. 

Here’s the latest from the Minnesota House:

PASSED: Driver’s Licenses for All

Last Monday night we passed HF 4 to ensure all Minnesotans have access to a driver’s license. I celebrated the historic moment with activists from Central MN who have worked for years to get this bill over the finish line.

All Minnesotans used to be able to get a driver’s license without fear of deportation, until the rule was changed in 2003, making it impossible for undocumented immigrants to obtain a legal driver’s license. 

Allowing all Minnesotans to obtain driver’s licenses would make our roads safer. When everyone takes a driving test before getting behind the wheel, then all drivers will better know the rules of the road. This bill was the right thing to do, and the smart thing to do, that’s why I voted YES. 

FIRST COMMITTEE HEARING: Funding Our Special Education Cross-Subsidy

As I previewed in my last update, my bill to fully fund Minnesota’s special education cross-subsidy was heard in the House Education Finance Committee last Tuesday.

The state of Minnesota mandates school districts to provide special education services, which is a good thing! What’s bad is that the state only pays school districts 6.43% of the cost to implement those mandates. This shortfall is known as the “special education cross-subsidy”…and in 2021 it cost St. Cloud School District 742 just under $11 million!

That’s why I’ve authored HF 18. Instead of passing 93.6% of the buck on to students, teachers and school districts, we need to put our money where our mandates are and fund 100% of the special education cross-subsidy. This will mean lower class sizes, more programs, more mental health and support services, and more opportunities for our students to grow and thrive!

I want to thank District 742 School Board Member Zachary Dorholt for providing powerful testimony to encourage committee members to support HF 18.

Here are my closing remarks for presenting HF 18 (90 seconds)

APPOINTED: Workers Compensation Advisory Council

I am honored to announce that Speaker Hortman appointed me as the Minnesota House DFL Caucus liaison to the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council. Throughout the pandemic years, I worked closely with the WCAC to ensure frontline workers who contract COVID-19 were able to obtain workers compensation benefits. I look forward to delivering even more results for workers now that I am officially on the WCAC.

You can learn more about the WCAC here. 

PASSED: Restore the Vote

Voting is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy, and it ensures that citizens have a voice in decisions that impact their lives. Twenty-one states automatically restore voting rights after incarceration ends, including red states like North Dakota and blue states like Illinois. Last week, I voted for Minnesota to join them. 

Restoring voting rights is an equity issue and a racial justice issue, as the current law disenfranchises a disproportionate amount of our neighbors of color. People who commit a serious crime should face serious consequences, including incarceration, but we know the vast majority will re-enter society. When people have their voting rights restored, they are more engaged in their community and they are less likely to reoffend. It’s time to restore the vote. 

PASSED: Juneteenth as an Official State Holiday

Another bill we passed last week will officially make Juneteenth (June 19) an official state holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the liberation of African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. By learning from our past we can better address the harmful racial disparities of the present and build a state that is more inclusive and more just. 

Please Ask Questions & Share Feedback

I want to hear from you! So please, if you have any questions or comments, contact me at rep.dan.wolgamott@house.mn.gov or 651-296-6612. You are my boss and I work for you, so always feel free to get in touch and let me know how I can best serve you and your family. 

Take care and I will do my best to connect with you again on Friday!

Sincerely, 

Rep. Dan Wolgamott

Speaker Pro Tempore

District 14B