Neighbors, It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as your State Representative. As we head into the 2026 legislative session, I want to share some thoughts about where we’ve been and where we need to go. ICE’s Reckless and Lawless Attack on Minnesota Anyone who values Minnesotans’ constitutional rights should be deeply concerned about ICE’s conduct in our state. As a prosecutor, I’ve dedicated my life to the law. I believe our values of fairness, accountability, and justice are fundamental to our nation. But every single day, there are new stories about US citizens and legal residents having their constitutional rights violated by nameless, faceless federal agents. This isn’t about public safety — if it were, they wouldn’t be arresting five-year-olds and two-year-olds. In fact, the actions of these federal agents are making our communities less safe. It’s not even about immigration, because Minnesota is home to just one percent of the country’s undocumented population. You can look at the President’s own words: this is about retribution. It’s clear from their actions — including the killings of two Minnesotans — and their words, that the federal government has lost all credibility in our state. I welcomed the news yesterday that Operation Metro Surge will end in the coming days, though given the amount of misinformation the Administration has spread on this subject, I’ll believe it when I see it. My colleagues and I are putting forward legislation to protect Minnesotans. Here’s a short, non-comprehensive list of the bills we’re introducing in response to ICE: - Keeping ICE away from schools, hospitals, churches, and college campuses,
- Requiring that the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension participate in all law enforcement or federal agent-involved shootings in Minnesota,
- Holding federal agents accountable to state law, including allowing Minnesotans to sue when their rights are violated,
- Increasing transparency by unmasking agents, requiring them to identify themselves like other law enforcement officers do, and ensuring that operations are targeted and legal — not random acts of racial profiling.
In response to this crisis, it's been moving to see the response from so many people: neighborhood by neighborhood, Minnesotans have been peacefully protesting, standing up for their neighbors, and finding ways to support those in need. Governor Walz said it well at an event with Parents for Good at the First Congregational Church of Anoka — "Minnesota is meeting fear and division with decency and generosity." Standing with Anoka-Hennepin Teachers We need the absolute best schools possible for our kids — that includes having quality, fairly paid educators. That’s why I stood in solidarity with Anoka-Hennepin teachers in one of the hardest-fought union contract struggles in local union history. Our teachers were put in a place where they were fighting off an effective pay cut, as health insurance costs skyrocket. I’m glad that the union and the district were able to come to an agreement that avoided a strike. Our work continues at the Legislature to make sure our school budgets can keep up with increased costs while giving educators the raises they deserve, in line with other sectors.  PC: Carlos Gonzalez, Minnesota Star Tribune A New Benefit for Minnesotans - Paid Family Leave The U.S. is the only developed country in the world that doesn’t guarantee some form of paid leave, forcing most workers to make impossible choices between a paycheck and caring for a new child, an aging parent, or their own serious health condition. But as of January 1, 2026, we can say all Minnesotans now have access to this essential benefit. Paid Leave – which we passed in 2023 – provides partial wage replacement for up to 12 weeks of paid medical leave for your own serious health condition, including pregnancy and recovery. It also provides up to 12 weeks of paid family leave to care for a new child or a seriously ill loved one. The program allows for a total of 20 weeks of combined leave per year if using both medical and family leave. For many Minnesotans, missing a single paycheck can create serious financial hardship. Paid Leave provides real security, so no one has to risk their economic stability to care for themselves or their family. This program has been years in the making, and I’m excited for families across our community to finally have this peace of mind. Learn more and access resources at pl.mn.gov. Stay in Touch I welcome your thoughts and questions and encourage you to stay in touch. You can reach me at rep.zack.stephenson@house.mn.gov or 651-296-5513. Thank you for staying engaged. Please take care of yourself and one another in these challenging and uncertain times. As always, it's an honor to represent you. Sincerely, Zack |