Legislative Update – March 22, 2024
This week was the legislature’s first internal deadline for legislation, and committees have been holding additional meetings in the evenings to ensure we are addressing critical issues and moving forward with legislation to improve the lives of working and middle class Minnesotans.
Vietnam War veteran Michael stopped by to share his concern for the military-grade weapons widely available in our country and answer my questions around the common-sense gun legislation he supports. Michael was thrilled to meet my Legislative Assistant Drew who is also a former Marine. I'm grateful friends from Three Rivers Community Action and the Northfield Union of Youth stopped in to meet with me for Homeless Day on the Hill. On Insurance Day at the Capitol last week, Mark Quinnell came to share his insights and we snapped a photo alongside Northfield Rotary member Rep. Robert Bierman!
I was also thrilled to meet with Madeline, a high school page from our district. The High School Page Program is a program put on by our nonpartisan Sergeant's office where high school juniors can see the legislative process firsthand, including attending House floor sessions in the chamber. You can learn more here and send application information to any high schoolers you know who may be interested!
You can hear more about the past week in the legislature and the bills I am working on in my weekly radio interview with KYMN 95.1 The One by clicking the link below.
Requiring Radon Testing for Renters
This week I presented my first bill in the Housing Committee. My bill requiring landlords to test for elevated radon concentrations and disclose test results to tenants has reminded me that I need to do a check in my newer home for radon myself! It is estimated that 21,000 people die each year in the United States from lung cancer due to radon exposure.
A radon test is the only way to know how much radon is in your home, and we must ensure renters are protected from this serious public health concern. Although a professional test is best, you can begin with a store-bought test to get a sense if this radioactive, odorless gas might be emanating from your basement. More information on radon in homes can be found on the Minnesota Department of Health page here.
Presidential Turkey Update
Last fall, I was proud to join House Agriculture Chair Sam Vang at the White House where President Biden pardoned two turkeys (Liberty and Bell) from Minnesota! Now, those turkeys are being cared for by students at the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences. You can read more and watch a video of the Liberty and Bell here: Taking care of presidential turkeys.
In related news, this week in the Environment Committee I presented my bill requiring a full environmental impact statement for farming operations larger than 10,000 animal units. Corporate consolidation in the agriculture industry means that large farms today are 10x larger than they were in the 1980s, and we should ensure the scope of the project needs to match the level of investigation. You can read more here.
Federal Assistance for Small Businesses Affected by Warm Winter
Our “winter” this year has been unseasonably warm. While many of us have enjoyed foregoing winter jackets this year, the low precipitation we’ve experienced this winter has had a real economic impact on small businesses that rely on snow and winter tourism. Federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available due to the ongoing federal drought declarations affecting 81 Minnesota counties. Small business owners should apply here for assistance as soon as possible.
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