Legislative Update – May 1, 2025Dear Neighbors, We have reached a busy time of the Legislative Session, spending our days passing budget bills on the House Floor. After these bills pass the House, we enter negotiations with the Senate and the Governor on a final version that we must pass before our May 19 adjournment date. In a 67-67 tied House, all our budget bills result from compromises between DFLers and Republicans. The bills aren’t perfect, but we’re fighting for a budget that supports Minnesota workers and families. This week, between bill debates and floor sessions, I caught up with Three Rivers Park District Commissioner Marge Beard (whom I served with on the Plymouth City Council) about their legislative priorities and met a baby lamb! We also presented a bipartisan resolution on the floor celebrating Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell for being named NFL Coach of the Year. You can watch a video of that celebration here.  Local ProjectsThis session, legislators are working on passing a “Bonding” bill, which is a package of local infrastructure projects that the state funds through purchasing bonds. While it’s customary to do a bonding bill during even years, last session the Senate did not pass the House’s bonding bill, leaving many projects in limbo. As a member of the Capital Investment Committee, I’ve been working to ensure a bonding bill passes this year and includes projects that help Plymouth thrive. Last week, I presented my HF778, a bill funding the Plymouth City Center Revitalization Project, including the reconstruction of Plymouth Boulevard, modernizing stormwater infrastructure, supporting bus rapid transit, and the expansion of the Plymouth Ice Center.  I was proud to be joined by Dave Callister, the city manager, who explained the work and investment already made by the city, and why state funding is necessary in completing critical infrastructure improvements. You can watch the recording of the committee hearing here. Budget Bill UpdateWe are in the midst of passing budget bills to fund our state government and agencies for the next two years. Working together with Republicans, we are making good progress, and all our bills are passing with bipartisan support. Due to the nature of compromise in our current tied House, many of these bills include provisions that I disagree with. However, when analyzing these bills in their totality, they improve our district and our state and set a responsible budget framework for the next two years. Here’s a quick recap of what we have passed so far: - An Agriculture Budget that invests in Farm to School Programs, worker protections for bird flu, and supports new farmers with down payment assistance.
- A Higher Education Budget that makes it easier for Minnesotans to pursue higher education and protects the North Star Promise program.
- A Housing Budget that invests in building new affordable housing, provides rental assistance to those who need it most, and continues to take on our housing shortage.
- A Transportation Budget that builds reliable roads and sturdy bridges, invests in aviation infrastructure, and more.
- A Commerce Budget that provides stronger consumer oversight, tackles rising homeowners insurance, and improves experiences for those living in HOAs.
- A Veterans Budget that invests in those who served our country, especially focusing on reducing veterans' depression and suicides.
- A Public Safety & Judiciary Budget that improves and supports victim services, police training, and privacy protections for judges.
- A Legacy Bill that uses our Lottery proceeds wisely to enhance our environment, protect our clean water, expand parks and trails, and celebrate arts, culture, and history.
 Minnesota Making Progress on Clean EnergyIn 2023 and 2024, DFLers made generational investments in a cleaner, cheaper, and more efficient energy system, putting Minnesota on the path to 100% Carbon-Free Energy by 2040. The latest Minnesota Energy Factsheet shows our policies are working and our investments are paying off, creating high-paying clean energy jobs, lowering costs for families, and building a greener future: ? A new record low in carbon emissions, cutting another 4% between 2023 and 2024. ? Residents and businesses have saved more than $307 million in energy costs from the Energy Conservation Optimization (ECO) Act. ? Minnesota is ranked No. 1 in the Midwest for overall energy efficiency, and No. 10 nationwide! Here at the Capitol, I’m dedicated to protecting our progress from those who are seeking to repeal the legislation that made this positive change possible. |