Legislative Update – Summer 2026Dear Neighbors, I hope you’re enjoying your summer and are staying cool in this heatwave. If you don’t have air conditioning and need a spot to cool off, Dakota and Scott County libraries are open and welcoming spots to take a break from the heat. Keep in mind, the Burnsville location is temporarily housed at the Burnsville mall while the Burnhaven location undergoes construction. While we all agree Burnsville Center needs much rejuvenation, it can still offer a reprieve from the heat! There are wonderful small businesses in the food court that can always use our support too! After the Legislative Session adjourned in May, I took some time to recharge, and now I’m getting back to the important work of connecting with folks in Burnsville and Savage, meeting with community groups, and attending events in the district. Looking Back on the Session and New LawsDespite an evenly divided House, we came together to pass a supplemental budget and make progress on issues that matter to Minnesotans. We strengthened fraud prevention, supported Hennepin County Medical Center, invested in emergency housing assistance, and passed several bills I authored, including banning AI “nudification,” protecting social workers’ professional titles, increasing the age to purchase kratom to 21, ensuring fair reimbursement for clinical trainees, and updating our state’s cannabis laws.  While I’m glad for the progress we made in these areas, I can’t help but be reminded of the potential that was not realized this session. We could have given Minnesotans whose constitutional rights were violated by federal agents a legal remedy. We could have banned secret police by outlawing the use of masks and unmarked vehicles to terrorize our communities. We could have saved lives with bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. We could have delivered equal rights for all Minnesotans with the ERA. We could have delivered on the things Minnesotans are demanding most – if it wasn’t for Republicans blocking progress at every turn. There is a lot of work for us left to tackle when the 2027 session begins in January. On July 1, many of the laws passed during the 2026 legislative session officially took effect. Some of the new laws include helping schools establish anonymous threat reporting systems so students and families can safely report concerning behavior, requiring social media platforms to display mental health warning labels (though Big Tech is trying to block it), and other important changes. More are set to take effect August 1; updates will be available soon courtesy of nonpartisan House Public Information Services. Paid Leave is Working for MinnesotansWe passed Paid Family & Medical Leave for Minnesotans in 2023 because no one should have to choose between earning a paycheck and caring for themselves or the people they love. Just six months after the program launched, it’s already making a big difference for Minnesota workers and their families. More than 75,000 Minnesotans have already been approved for Paid Leave benefits. More than 38,000 families have used the program to bond with a new child, while thousands of others have been able to recover from a serious health condition or care for an ill loved one without losing their income or risking their job. For many workers, this benefit simply didn't exist before. Nationally, only about 27% of workers have access to paid family leave through their employer, with the lowest-paid feeling the biggest impact. In Minnesota, we’re leading the way by giving working families the flexibility and economic security they should be able to count on during life's biggest moments. I'm proud to have supported this historic investment in Minnesota's workforce and families. As more Minnesotans begin using the program, it's clear that Paid Leave is delivering on its promise to give workers the time they need to care for a new addition to their family, an ailing loved one, or themselves without taking a substantial financial hit. Learn more about this crucial, overdue new program here. |