Dear Neighbors, I hope this email finds you well and staying cool. One month after being assassinated in their home, I remain heartbroken and horrified by the loss of Melissa and Mark Hortman along with their beloved Golden Retriever, Gilbert. Melissa was loved, valued, and respected—not only in her community of Brooklyn Park, but across political spectrums and the entire state of Minnesota. Melissa was all about people—how we show up for one another and how we treat each other. Mark was by her side supporting her every step of the way.  Political violence has no place in our country nor our civil discourse, and we must do everything in our power to prevent tragedies like the one on June 14, 2025, from ever happening again. Now more than ever, we need to prioritize kindness toward one another and keep our shared humanity at the center of how we engage with our communities. As an educator, I teach my students the importance of using critical thinking skills to combat misinformation and harmful rhetoric. I’m optimistic we as Minnesotans and Americans alike can band together to stand up for civility, decency, and respect- even when we don’t see eye to eye on every issue. As legislators representing very unique districts, learning about the different geographical regions across the state and the challenges our communities face can actually bring us closer together through mutual respect and understanding. It's why I’m grateful to have been appointed by the Citizens League to the Minnesota Legislative Exchange (MLE). This MLE program pairs legislators from opposite political parties to visit each other's districts. I recently participated in a 30-hour exchange in Willmar with my colleague Representative Dave Baker. You can read all about my visit to Central Minnesota in the Citizens’ League blog here.  Here’s an update from our community and the State Capitol: Federal Budget LegislationTwo weeks ago, President Trump signed a new budget bill into law. The new law makes the largest health care cut in American history, slashing $900 billion from Medicaid. One in four Minnesotans rely on Medicaid, including children, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families. These cuts could strip coverage from 250,000 Minnesotans and cost our state $500 million annually in lost federal funding, threatening the stability of hospitals and nursing homes already under financial strain. The new federal law also cuts the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which more than 440,000 Minnesotans use to feed their families. With nine million food shelf visits last year alone, our hunger relief network can’t absorb these additional burdens. Meanwhile, because the vast majority of able-bodied adults receiving benefits are already working, new “work requirements” will just add unnecessary paperwork for counties and providers. Overall, I’m concerned about how this federal budget bill raises costs, reduces care, and undermines our collective future. I’ll keep you updated as we learn more about the impact on Dakota County area residents. New Laws in MinnesotaOn July 1, our new state budget took effect, along with the majority of the new bipartisan laws enacted this past session. As with all of this year’s successful legislation, these new initiatives are the product of compromise. While there are certainly components of the budget I wish were different, there are still plenty of new commonsense policies and investments I’m glad we got across the finish line including the funds I secured to protect Meals on Wheels and Lutheran Social Services meal delivery services for veterans. I was also able to expand the special education apprentice program to help address teacher workforce shortages and get more kids the help they need to thrive in the classroom. Several more laws go into effect on August 1. Statewide highlights include strengthening our state’s mental health system, implementing harsher DWI penalties and enforcement, protected Meals on Wheels access for veterans, a required response plan in all Minnesota schools for cardiac arrest, required access to free water at ticketed events of 100 or more people, and protections for children who appear in online media. Minnesota Public Radio provided a brief overview of some of these laws and more, but if you’d like a deep dive of what’s been implemented, you can read a nonpartisan summary of all the new laws here. 2025 MN E-Bike Rebate: Applications Open July 30Good news! Minnesota's e-bike rebate program returns this summer with updated income-based eligibility and disability qualifications. The application window runs July 30 at 11 a.m. through August 7 at 2 p.m. Who qualifies: Minnesotans with 2024 income under $78K (married filing jointly), $62K (head of household), or $41K (other filers), plus individuals receiving SSDI, MA-EPD, SSI, or disability waiver services. Requirements: Must be 15+ years old, full-year MN resident for 2023-2025, filed MN tax returns in 2023-2024, and not claimed as a dependent in 2024. Applications open through the MN Department of Revenue's online portal. Submit only one application per person—duplicates will be deleted. Sign up for the official rebate email list for updates.  Speed Safety Camera Pilot ProgramAccording to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Minnesota saw a 12% increase in traffic fatalities from 2023 to 2024 citing speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, and not wearing seatbelts as contributing factors. For these reasons, I voted to install speed safety cameras in Minneapolis and Mendota Heights as part of a new pilot program. This is another tool in the tool box we can use to help free up law enforcement’s time and efforts, while gaining more information about how we can prevent and control the dangerous habit of speeding and red light running. IGH Clean Water PanelThank you to Inver Grove Heights Mayor Brenda Dietrich, Public Works Director Brian Connolly, and the dedicated staff from the Minnesota Department of Health for joining our community clean water panel, especially during the thunderstorm last week!  I appreciated partnering with the city and state to provide updates on radium levels in the city’s water supply and progress on improvements to the city’s water treatment facility. When we partner together at all levels — city, state, county, and federal — we can work toward well-vetted and solid solutions for our neighbors, especially when it comes to clean water access. Keep in TouchPlease continue to contact me anytime with questions, input, or to let me know how I can help. The legislative session may be over, but my public service is not. Due to technological constraints, direct replies to this email won’t reach my inbox. Please email me directly at rep.mary.frances.clardy@house.mn.gov. Thank you for the honor of representing our communities at the State Capitol. Forward, Mary Frances Clardy
State Representative |