Legislative Update - Upcoming Events

Dear Neighbors, 

We’re a month into the 2021 legislative session! Before I get into our work in the Minnesota House I wanted to let you know about two upcoming virtual events for our community. Next week, on Thursday, February 11, I’ll be joining my district colleagues for a town hall. You can join Sen. Champion, Rep. Lee, and myself at 7pm as we discuss crafting Minnesota’s budget, the latest on vaccine distribution, legislation we’re working on, and questions from our District 59 community. We’ll be live on Facebook.

Our next event is the following week with Attorney General Ellison and Sen. Fateh, for a Listening Session on Housing Justice. Minnesota faces a housing crisis, and our community has not been spared from this issue. It’s a crisis that highlights the racial disparities in our state, especially during a pandemic, and we’ve seen how a safe and secure home not only impacts the health of an individual - but also the surrounding community. This event will also be live on Facebook, starting at 6pm on Thursday, February 18.

I serve on the Housing Finance and Policy Committee in the Minnesota House, where we’re trying to solve the housing insecurity many in our district and across the state face. This week, we heard testimony on bold new legislation that would create a rent assistance program for Minnesotans that need a lifeline to keep a roof over their head. I asked how a program like this would be implemented, which you can watch here. This is one of the many topics I hope to discuss during our listening session. 

Legalize. Expunge. Regulate.

This week started with the introduction of legislation I’m proud to co-author - legislation that is long overdue - the legalization of adult-use cannabis. Minnesota’s cannabis laws are doing more harm than good, with a Black person over 5 times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession in our state. As we legalize and regulate cannabis for adult-use in our state, that must also include expungement, especially for the Black, Indigenous, and communities of color that have been so disproportionately impacted by this outdated prohibition. We must also ensure greater equity in this new market we’re creating so that BIPOC members of our community are not shut out of future opportunities.

As we start to see neighbors like South Dakota begin the process of legalizing cannabis, hopefully this is the wakeup call needed for Senate Republicans to show that Minnesota is falling behind on this issue. It’s time we catch up.

The Importance of Childhood Immunization

I serve on the House Preventive Health Policy Division, a newly-created committee focused on the ways we can create a healthier Minnesota. This week, though we didn’t take any action on legislation, we spent our committee hearing on testimony from experts in the areas of vaccination, specifically the ones we typically receive as children.

There is an understandable amount of focus on the COVID-19 vaccine these days, but like our efforts to vaccinate the public during the pandemic, childhood immunization is an area with an unfortunate amount of disinformation. It’s to the point where our state has seen outbreaks of diseases that had previously been eliminated in our country, like the measles. It was a very informative hearing, which you can watch here - it starts with presentations, and then members ask questions during the second half of the hearing. 

Stay Warm this Winter

With the temperature dropping below zero this weekend, I wanted to bring up Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program, which helped nearly 118,000 Minnesota households pay their heating bills last year. Households with young children, people with disabilities, veterans, seniors and those experiencing unemployment or financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are especially encouraged to apply. Both renters and homeowners can qualify to get energy assistance.

New applicants have until May 31, 2021 to apply, however funding is limited and administered on a first-come, first-served basis. Households can apply for assistance with the local service provider in their area. Call  800-657-3710, and press 1, or visit the Commerce Department’s Energy Assistance Program webpage.

Stay Connected

While I hope to see you at our upcoming legislative events, feel free to reach out to me with any questions or comments you may have on our work in the Minnesota House, or how I can be of help. You can reach me at either (651) 296-8659 or rep.esther.agbaje@house.mn. You can also “like” and follow my official Facebook page or subscribe to these updates to stay connected. Thank you for the honor of representing our community in the Minnesota House. 

Sincerely, 

Esther Agbaje

State Representative