 Dear neighbors, The Great Minnesota Get-Together is underway! The State Fair runs from August 21 through Labor Day, September 1. If you’re heading to the Fair, be sure to stop by the nonpartisan Minnesota House of Representatives booth in the Education Building. You can meet House members, take our opinion poll on legislative issues, pick up a Capitol Dome Hat, and find out how to stay connected with what’s happening at the Capitol. I’m planning on being at the House booth tomorrow (Wednesday, 8/27) from 10am-noon, and on Labor Day, September 1st, also from 10am-noon. So, if you’re at the Fair either of those times, please stop by and say hello!  New DWI law goes into effectFollowing the tragedy at Park Tavern last summer, it has been a top priority of mine to strengthen our state’s DWI policies. The driver had five prior DWI convictions and was found to be four times over the legal limit. The new law, which I authored in the House, significantly increases the time repeat offenders must use ignition interlock (a “car breathalyzer”), extends the lookback period for prior offenses, and removes barriers that prevent people from getting on interlock in the first place. I'm so grateful to the impacted families and the Park Tavern and Methodist Hospital communities, who shared their stories to help get this done. My heart continues to go out to all impacted, and I hope this legislation will help prevent the horror that happened in St. Louis Park from happening elsewhere.  Photo: KSTP High School Page and Undergraduate Internship ProgramsI just love these two programs and helping young people get a window into our state government! Are you a high school junior or college student interested in the Minnesota Legislature? Consider applying to the 2026 House High School Page Program or the Undergraduate Internship Program. It’s a great way to get an up-close look at how a bill advances out of committee, passes during a House Floor session, and becomes a law. There are also ample opportunities to participate in research and policy. To learn more information about the High School Page Program, click here. The deadline to apply is December 4. To learn more information about the Undergraduate Internship Program, click here. The deadline to apply is November 7. The photo is with Sanket, my college intern from last session.  Summer Meals for KidsHouseholds can use the following resources to locate open Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sites throughout Minnesota: - Download the summer food app, Free Meals 4 Kids provided by Hunger Impact Partners to your phone or device.
- Call the 211 Hotline. From a cell phone – Twin Cities Metro Area: 651-291-0211, Greater Minnesota: 1-800-543-7709, TTY: 651-291-8440.
- Call the Minnesota Food HelpLine at 1-888-711-1151, available from Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Text Summer Meals to 914-342-7744. For Spanish speakers, text Verano to 914-342-7744.
Clean Energy Seed Grants AvailableThe Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) are now accepting applications for $5,000–$10,000 seed grants to support community-led clean energy projects across Minnesota. These grants can help get projects off the ground in areas such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and energy storage. Since 2006, CERTs has awarded more than $1.98 million in seed grants to over 500 projects statewide. These funds support the early stages of a project and often encourage additional investments from other partners. Projects are especially encouraged if they: - Help people learn about clean energy.
- Build community by engaging a variety of partners.
- Remove barriers to make clean energy more accessible.
- Are visible and can serve as an example for other communities.
If you or your organization has an idea for a clean energy project, this could be an opportunity to bring it to life. Apply here! Housing First AwardI’m grateful to Housing First Minnesota for naming me to receive a 2025 Housing Leadership Award! I hear all the time from longtime residents that they couldn’t afford their own homes if they were buying today, or that their kids can’t afford to live nearby. The housing shortage we’re facing is pushing the dream of homeownership out of reach for too many Minnesotans, especially younger generations and communities of color. That’s why I’m proud to support bold, bipartisan efforts to address our state’s housing crisis through innovative solutions like zoning reform and expanded housing options. We’ll keep pushing for solutions that reflect what Minnesotans are telling us: we need more homes, more choices, and a more equitable path to homeownership. You can read their press release here. Stay in TouchIf you have questions, ideas, or feedback you’d like to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can email me at rep.larry.kraft@house.mn.gov or call (651) 296-7026. For more regular updates, you can “like” and follow my official State Representative Facebook page. Sincerely, Larry Kraft State Representative |