Neighbors, The holidays are upon us, and I wish you and your family time to rest, relax and be together celebrating your traditions.  New LawsSeveral news laws will take effect on January 1, 2024, among them laws related to earned safe and sick time (ESST), past pay history, and extreme risk protection orders. You can access this information here. Summaries of all laws passed by the 2023 Legislature are available online from nonpartisan House Public Information Services here. As mentioned above, starting January 1, 2024, Minnesota’s new earned sick and safe time law will ensure all Minnesota employees can earn paid sick leave. Under this law, all workers will have the opportunity to stay home when sick. Employers must provide each employee in Minnesota at least one hour of paid sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked and up to at least 48 hours of accrued ESST a year. This is the right thing to do for Minnesota’s workers and our economy, and it also protects public health by reducing the spread of communicable diseases. You can find a full FAQ of this important new law, here. Housing Funds for RochesterThe Minnesota Housing Board of Directors recently approved $348 million in funding for housing developments, the largest amount in state history, including funds for the Rochester area. The investments were made possible by the 2023 Housing Budget bill, which put a record $1 billion towards building more housing, preserving existing homes, and increasing support for first-time homeowners, renters, and families. You can read the news release from the Rochester legislative delegation here. New Minnesota Flag and EmblemMinnesota is getting a new flag and seal! The State Emblems Commission received 2,123 flag submissions and 398 seal designs in total, and the final version was announced this week. The commission has also finalized the new state seal. The new emblems will become official on Minnesota Statehood Day on May 11.   In the CommunityI attended the Greater Rochester Advocates for Universities & Colleges event to celebrate the investment we made in the Multidisciplinary Simulation Center for Rochester to ensure we have the workforce we need to continue to be a world leader in healthcare.  Stay connected with the LegislatureDuring the legislative interim, please continue to reach out with any input, ideas, or feedback about the issues important to you. I value hearing from you, so call or email any time. You can find my information on my House website. You can also like my Facebook page, and follow me on Twitter. It is an honor to represent you at the State Capitol. Sincerely, Kim Hicks State Representative |