Legislative Update - March 20, 2023

Dear Neighbors,

The Minnesota House will soon begin assembling a new two-year state budget! For me, this means advocating for the bills and making investments that will benefit Burnsville and Minnesota the most. We have heard so many transformative initiatives in our committees this session, and I’m working to ensure we improve the lives of all Minnesotans!

Here’s a rundown of our progress.

Progress at the Capitol

Everyone deserves a place to call home, but too many people - including those in our community - experience housing insecurity. The House has passed a bill dedicated to ending homelessness in our state by investing in emergency services programs, transitional housing, outreach, and a pathway to stable housing for all.  Minnesotans are asking for equitable access to housing services and support systems in their communities. The Pathway Home Act provides the ongoing, collective efforts needed to disrupt the violent cycles of homelessness many people are experiencing.

On a similar note, the House passed a bill to provide emergency rental assistance to Minnesotans facing housing insecurity. Bold, long-term investments are needed to fully address Minnesota’s housing crisis, but there’s also work we can and must do now to help those who are struggling. All Minnesotans deserve a roof over their heads, and this is the support that can’t wait until the end of the legislative session.

I’m excited to introduce the Buy Clean Buy Fair Act. This bill aims to create environmental product declarations (EPDs) for certain construction materials used in public projects. Further, it supports our Minnesota construction materials manufacturers, specifically concrete, structural steel, and asphalt. Understanding the environmental impacts and costs to our communities when we build public projects is important for our battle against climate change.

In Minnesota, we must ensure our buildings are protected from dangerous chemical exposure. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a silent killer with no scent. Many people have been poisoned or died from carbon monoxide poisoning during their sleep without any warning signs. Today, Minnesota hotels are not required to have CO detectors in guest bedrooms. That’s why I’ve introduced House File 406 to require hotels and lodging houses to place CO detectors in each guest bedroom, test them regularly, and provide maintenance to ensure they are fully functional. This is a life-saving measure that is good for Minnesotans and anyone who visits our great state.  

Lastly, I introduced a bill to enhance worker rights when it comes to participation in political, religious, or anti-union meetings. Intimidation from bosses has been an ongoing issue for employees considering organizing a labor union. We have heard countless stories from workers who have faced coercive efforts to stop unionization, and mandating that they watch biased presentations is not fair to Minnesota workers. I’m proud to move this bill forward to make sure every Minnesota worker has the choice whether or not to have union representation.

Stay in Touch

If you have questions, ideas, or feedback that you’d like to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Email me at rep.kaela.berg@house.mn.gov or call (651) 296-5387. For more regular updates, you can subscribe to these regular legislative updates if you haven’t already, here, and you can also “like” and follow my official State Representative Facebook page.

Sincerely,

Kaela Berg

State Representative