Dear Neighbors, I first decided to run for office with the belief that the issues we face can only be solved with a community-centered approach. As your representative, I go to the Capitol every day to fight for the protection of our kids, our environment, and to make life more affordable. Together, we’ve achieved record investments in our public schools, local infrastructure, and public safety. We had some of these new laws take effect at the start of August. We clarified eminent domain laws, allowed some confidentiality for restorative justice participants, waived specific fees for the Office of Ombudsperson for American Indian Families, strengthened our laws against repeat DWI offenders, and more! MPR provided a nice overview of some of August’s new laws that you can read here, and a full, comprehensive list of the month’s laws can be found here. Disaster Response GuideFor those of you who have been hit hard by the recent summer storms, and to prepare for the future, I wanted to highlight the Minnesota Commerce Department’s Disaster Response Guide. The Minnesota Department of Commerce, which provides consumers with protections and enforces insurance laws for the State of Minnesota, offers Minnesotans guidance on steps to take when filing an insurance claim after storms damage their home, business, or other property. Key tips for filing insurance claims to your property: - Contact your insurance company immediately.
- Wait for the company’s adjuster before you or anyone starts working to remove or repair or replace property.
- Inventory your damage.
- Take notes of who you talk with and what they say from your insurance company, adjusters or repair services. Note dates, names and contact information.
- Avoid scammers or high-pressure sales tactics if you are contacted by someone you don’t know, such as salespeople going door-to-door in areas hit by storms.
Question or complaint about your insurance company? If you have questions, complaints or problems with your insurance company, contact the Minnesota Department of Commerce Consumer Services Center: You can submit a complaint online or call Commerce’s Consumer Services Center. Medicaid Anniversary July 30 marked the 60th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid, two of the most impactful and life-saving programs in American history. For six decades now, these pillars of our healthcare system have provided peace of mind and essential care to millions of seniors, children, people with disabilities, and low-income families across the country. Unfortunately, this milestone comes at a troubling time. Over 140,000 Minnesotans are set to be stripped of their health coverage due to destructive policies of Donald Trump. Now more than ever, we must stand up to protect and strengthen Medicaid and Medicare, not weaken them. Healthcare is not a privilege reserved for the wealthy or the lucky. It is a human right, and I will continue to fight every day to ensure Minnesotans can count on these vital programs.  United Way Action DaySo many students in the Greater Twin Cities head back to school each year without essential supplies like notebooks, pencils, and calculators. Thanks to the Greater Twin Cities United Way and the generosity of our community, tens of thousands of students will have the tools they need to succeed from day one. I was grateful to join the Minnesota Twins and hundreds of volunteers where we packed backpacks full of supplies for local students. This incredible event has grown from providing 6,000 backpacks in its first year to 60,000 this year. Minnesotans always step up when there’s a need! It was also a joy to reconnect with an old friend from my Hnub Tshiab days. It was a heart-filling day of community, service, and hope for the school year ahead.   National Night OutWhat an incredible National Night Out in Saint Paul! The largest gathering in the city was in our district at The House of Hope Presbyterian Church, with more than 300 neighbors coming together to share food, conversation, and community. It was such a joy to connect with so many of you, strengthen the bonds that make our neighborhoods strong, and celebrate the spirit of Saint Paul.   Legislator of Distinction Award??I’m honored to be recognized by the League of Minnesota Cities as one of their 2025 Legislators of Distinction. This award highlights the collaboration between state and city leaders that’s essential to meeting the needs of our communities, urban, suburban, and rural alike. Throughout my time as representative, I’ve worked closely with local officials to listen to their concerns, seek their input, and find common ground on issues that impact Minnesotans every day. One key focus was bringing stakeholders together to address public safety duty disabilities, to ensure injured employees receive the care they deserve while protecting the stability of the Public Employees Retirement Association Police and Fire Plan. Cities are critical in providing essential services to Minnesotans and often are engines of policy innovation for us to learn from at the state level. I’m grateful for this recognition and, more importantly, for the opportunity to work alongside our city leaders to strengthen Saint Paul and communities across Minnesota. |