Legislative Update - July 15, 2026Dear Neighbors, I hope you had a happy and safe Fourth of July, however you celebrated! I spent the day with family, reflecting on what it means to live in a Nation that has withstood 250 years of progress, and setbacks. I wrote a column for the Northfield News on what it means to celebrate freedom while so many freedoms are at stake. You can read the column here. Mother Nature sure didn’t hesitate in turning up the temperature following the holiday weekend. During these extreme heat weather events, and with more days of this on the way, it’s extremely important (especially for seniors, children, and pets) to stay indoors and in air-conditioned spaces when possible. Below are some spots to seek air conditioning if you need to find a place to go! If you or someone you love needs help accessing resources during the heat wave, please reach out to my office.  Rooftop Solar UpdateI recently met with folks at our state’s Department of Commerce to discuss Xcel Energy's refusal to upgrade the energy grid so Minnesotans can connect solar panels from their roofs to the grid, despite the fact that I authored a law in 2023 allocatingfunding to do just that. Republicans tried to revoke the funding this term, but DFLers were able to keep it intact because we know it's what Minnesotans have been asking for — especially in Northfield. Community leaders have put together a petition to encourage movement on the project, which you can find and sign here. Currently, the Department is working with Xcel Energy to finalize the contract to move forward. The Department of Commerce is planning to launch a website where Minnesotans can track the progress of the program. I promise to keep following this issue closely and hold Xcel energy accountable for the changes their ratepayers are demanding. Keep an eye on my Facebook page for the link once it’s live! Paid Family Medical Leave Update!When we passed Minnesota's Paid Leave law in 2023, we made a simple promise: no one should have to choose between their paycheck and caring for themselves or the people they love. Six months in, more than 75,000 Minnesotans have already been approved for Paid Leave benefits, allowing workers to take paid, job-protected time off to welcome a new child, recover from a serious health condition, or care for a loved one. More than 38,000 families have used the program for bonding leave with a new child. The program is reaching the people it was designed to help. More than half of applicants earn less than $78,000 per year, nearly half live outside the Twin Cities metro, and before Paid Leave, many of these workers had no access to paid family or medical leave through their employers. That's especially important because, nationwide, only about 27% of workers have access to paid family leave through their jobs. Strong families build strong communities, and Paid Leave is helping ensure that Minnesotans can care for themselves and their loved ones without sacrificing their financial security. I'm proud to have supported this landmark investment in working families, and I'll continue working to protect and strengthen programs that help make Minnesota one of the best places in the country to live, work, and raise a family. New LawsOn July 1st, many new laws from the 2026 legislative session took effect. Some highlights include helping schools establish anonymous threat reporting systems so students and families can safely report concerning behavior, implementing a mandatory social media mental health warning, and more. You can find a list of the new laws and summaries here. 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 an assault weapons ban and safe storage requirements. We could have delivered on the things Minnesotans are demanding most – if it wasn’t for Republicans blocking progress at every turn. The next step is to dust ourselves off and get back to work. I’m committed to a Minnesota where everyone can thrive – and I know that getting there is possible. Stay Connected! This is the final newsletter you’ll receive from me until 2027. Minnesota law requires that certain official communications halt 60 days after legislative adjournment in election years to not give an unfair advantage to incumbents. However, you can still reach out to my office with any questions, comments, and concerns. In the meantime, you can also stay up-to-date with the latest by following my Facebook page. To share your input or ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to reach out at rep.kristi.pursell@house.mn.gov or 651-296-0171, and I will be happy to help. It’s an honor to represent you in our Capitol of St. Paul. Sincerely, Rep. Kristi Pursell District 58A |