Dear Neighbors,
This week, the 2023 legislative session has finally come to a close. This is one for the history books. After years of divided government and gridlock, this year with a pro-democracy, pro-worker DFL trifecta, we were able to enact generational change in our state budget and policy bills.
We passed a state budget that meets the moment. We strengthened democracy and reproductive freedom and ensured that anyone in Minnesota, or anyone coming here for care, has access to reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare. We invested in the health and success of kids and families with historic investments in education, a child tax credit, free school meals, free college, down payment and rental assistance, paid family medical leave, and ensuring all Minnesotans have access to healthcare, regardless of their immigration status. We strengthened the power of workers by passing earned safe and sick time, new worker safety standards for warehouse workers, meatpackers, and healthcare workers, wage theft protection for construction workers, and a ban on restrictive employment agreements including non-competes. And we got serious about tackling the climate crisis with historic investments in reducing greenhouse gasses, strengthening our transit system, and investing in the rapid expansion of the scope and scale of our clean energy transition. We also legalized adult-use cannabis, passed Driver’s Licenses for All, passed solutions to cut property taxes, and so much more.
I’m proud of the work we’ve done together. In the next few weeks, I am excited to do a deeper dive into the policies I championed and got passed into law. And with the session over, I look forward to spending more time in our district and discussing the transformational policy agenda that we passed and how it will impact our kids, families, and community.
Here’s a summary of what we accomplished this year.
Our Final Budget, Our Top Wins, and the End of Session
This year, we passed a transformational state budget with the power of a pro-democracy, pro-worker trifecta. Here’s just the start of what the DFL legislature accomplished:
- Through our budget and legislation like the Democracy for the People Act, House DFLers strengthened Minnesota elections to help ensure all eligible Minnesotans can exercise the freedom to vote and participate in our elections.
- We advanced unprecedented support for workers, including Earned Sick & Safe Time, protections for meatpacking and warehouse workers, and better enforcement against wage theft.
- After the Dobbs decision, House DFLers quickly secured reproductive freedom by passing the PRO Act and other abortion care protections.
- We passed legislation making historic investments in education - pre-K through college - and providing free meals at Minnesota schools, because students do better in the classroom when they aren’t hungry.
- We established a 100% by 2040 Clean Energy standard to combat the climate crisis and create new jobs.
- We made historic investments in housing, to support people experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless.
- We restored the vote to 55,000 formerly incarcerated people, representing the largest expansion of voting rights in the last half-century.
- Democrats passed Driver’s Licenses for All legislation, ensuring all drivers, regardless of their immigration status, are licensed, insured, and educated on the rules of the road.
- Too many Minnesotans are struggling with food insecurity, and food shelves are struggling to meet demand. In response, DFLers provided $5 million in emergency food shelf funding.
- Everyone deserves to be loved, accepted, and valued for who they are. Banning the dangerous and discredited practice of so-called “conversion therapy” will improve lives.
- We delivered nearly $250 million to lower the cost of energy, create new good-paying jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, helping make Minnesota a clean energy leader.
- While extreme anti-trans legislation is advancing in numerous other states, Minnesota is now a Trans Refuge State, making Minnesota a more welcoming place.
- Democrats passed the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act, protecting Indigenous children from harm and trauma.
And so much more! Check out this summary of our budget bills for more information.
Post-Session Townhall Save the Date:
With the 2023 legislative session coming to a close, I'm excited to hear your thoughts about what we have accomplished this year.
Please join us on June 3rd to discuss the issues that matter to you and hear about the work that was done in St. Paul.
We’ll send out more details soon. We are looking forward to seeing you!
Stay in Touch
Thank you for your time, energy, and all you do to make our community a great place for everyone.
With our work wrapping up in St. Paul, I look forward to spending more time in our district and look forward to connecting with all of you. Please reach out and let us know about events and meetings you’d like me to attend. And always reach out to me with your input and ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance. My email is rep.emma.greenman@house.mn.gov or you are always welcome to call me at the Capitol at 651-296-4200 and follow my Facebook page for updates.
It’s an honor and a privilege to be your State Representative. I’ve very proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish this year and look forward to the work we have ahead of us. Together we can create a stronger, brighter future for all Minnesotans!
Best,
Emma Greenman
State Representative