Legislative Update: May 5, 2023

Dear Neighbors,

As we start this final month of the 2023 Legislative Session, I want to provide a quick update on our biggest bill this week and where the House stands.

We are hitting the home stretch here at the Capitol, with committees wrapped up and budget bills having passed the House floor. Now, these bills are in conference committees, so the House and Senate can negotiate differences before they are sent to the Governor for his signature. 

These past few weeks have been long, and while this time during the legislative process has been stressful, I’m happy to know that many of these long-overdue bills have been passed. I’ve been honored to vote Yes on them.

Here’s an update from Saint Paul.

House Passes Paid Family and Medical Leave

Minnesotans believe in caring for one another. Yet the vast majority of Minnesotans don’t have access to paid family & medical leave benefits. This means every day, Minnesotans face impossible choices between losing a paycheck or caring for a new child, an aging loved one, or themselves. 

No one should be forced to choose between earning a paycheck and taking care of themselves or a family member, and Minnesotans have been telling the Legislature for years that our current system isn’t working well for most people. That’s why the House has passed bills to establish a Paid Family and Medical Leave program multiple times in recent years under a divided government. We’ve campaigned on this issue for many years, and now we will finally move this priority across the finish line.

This bill will help to make Minnesota the best state in the nation for children and families and complements all the other work Democrats are doing to help Minnesotans afford their lives, like investing in affordable housing, providing free school meals, and reducing health care costs.

REMINDER: Important Medicaid Information Needed Next Week 

During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, annual renewals for our public health programs – MinnesotaCare and Medicaid – paused. In less than two weeks, on May 11, the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency is ending and those on MinnesotaCare or Medicaid will need to update their information to determine their ongoing eligibility. If someone is no longer eligible for coverage under Medicaid, they should be able to get low-cost?health?insurance through the federal and state insurance marketplaces. You can watch a short video here for more information. 

Keep in Touch

Please continue to reach out anytime if you need assistance or have questions at rep.zack.stephenson@house.mn.gov or 651-296-5513.

It’s an honor to represent our Coon Rapids and Anoka families in St. Paul.

Sincerely,

Rep. Zack Stephenson

Minnesota House of Representatives