Legislative UpdateDear Friends and Neighbors, After nearly four weeks of delays, the Minnesota House is officially back in session! I’m excited to get back to work, tackling the priorities that matter most to our communities. With committees restarting, my focus remains on advancing policies that strengthen our schools, enhance public safety, improve affordability, and invest in critical infrastructure. Supporting Students and EducatorsSchool districts across Minnesota are grappling with budget shortfalls, staff cuts and increased class sizes. Now, Governor Walz’s 2025 proposal threatens to make matters worse. His plan cuts funding to local school districts while increasing funding to hire more employees at the Department of Education. Specifically, his plan reduces special education aid, reduces teachers’ pay (QComp), and cuts textbook, resources, and transportation funding for students. Listen as I address my concerns to the Department of Education. Clip 1 and Clip 2. With the feedback and support of parents, educators and students, House Republicans have offered a plan prioritizing smaller class sizes and directing resources into our local schools not St. Paul. We do this by providing flexible funding to help districts address their unique individual challenges. Most importantly, Republicans are empowering local school districts to innovate, rather than forcing them into a one-size-fits-all approach. Listen as I introduce Article 2 of House File 6. We know schools in greater Minnesota don’t need the exact same thing that districts in the suburbs need. That’s why Minnesota Republicans stand for local control over the idea of treating every school the same with a state-run school board approach. Republicans stand for flexible funding instead of unfunded mandates, and we believe in rewarding great educators while strengthening recruitment and retention efforts. Above all, we are committed to ensuring every student—whether in public, private, or homeschool— has a strong foundation in reading, writing, and math to set them up for a lifetime of success. Safer Communities: Protecting and Recruiting OfficersOne of the priorities of this session is improving officer and community safety. I’m proud to support bills to protect our dedicated law enforcement by increasing penalties for assaults on law enforcement officers, ensuring that those who put their lives on the line to protect us are given the respect and protection they deserve. Officers across our state have faced criticism and this bill is an important step in the right direction. I am also continuing efforts to address officers' pensions to ensure we can recruit and retain good police officers in our communities. |