Legislative Update from Rep. Lucy Rehm

Legislative Update from Rep. Lucy Rehm 

Neighbors,

“Knee high by the Fourth of July” is a saying I remember hearing when I was a kid visiting my farming relatives in southern Minnesota. I am not sure if that old adage holds true anymore for the modern day corn grower but it remains a tangible summer milestone.

Now that summer is in full swing, it’s a great time to visit the Landscape Arboretum and see the bright pink coneflowers, the bold and colorful koi in the ponds, and the lush green gardens bursting with a kaleidoscope of patterns and colors.

My thoughts are with everyone who has been impacted by the terrible wildfires and heavy smoke blanketing the Boundary Waters. I am thankful for the firefighters and first responders who are working around the clock to save lives and protect our communities. The fires have closed the BWCA and forced the evacuation of thousands of campers. Many of you know that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued a hazardous air quality advisory. As always, be sure to take care of yourself, look out for your neighbors and loved ones, drink lots of water and stay indoors as much as possible when the AQI levels are high.

If the fires in the BWCA continue, I will not be surprised if a special session is called to extend the peacetime emergency set up by Gov. Walz to address the ongoing firefighting in the BWCA. I look forward to returning to the Capitol, be it later this summer or next January, to continue working on behalf of the people of this district.

Carver County, like much of the state, is in an Extreme Heat Warning and the county has put together a map of public cooling places you can check out here. 

GOOD NEWS: Lake Riley and Rice Marsh Lake have been removed from the impaired lakes list! Kudos going out to all who were involved in cleaning up these lakes; including Clean Water Action, the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District, the City of Chanhassen, St. Hubert's, Met Council, and SWCD. Good things can happen when we work together, invest resources and protect our many lakes, marshes, rivers and creeks.

Disability Pride Month

July marks the 36th anniversary of enacting the Americans with Disabilities Act and it’s a timely reminder that we all thrive when everyone can, no exceptions. While cuts to Medicaid, WIC, SNAP, and other federal aid threatens health and economic stability for our most vulnerable, I remain committed to improving Minnesotans’ lives and making sure everyone has an opportunity to succeed.

New Laws & Looking Ahead

On 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. 

There will also be a new set of laws coming into effect on August 1st. These include a whole host of domestic violence prevention laws that will go into effect, including extending the 72 hour warrantless arrest rule, creating a better response to victims of domestic violence, and funding to save victim services from harmful federal cuts. More new laws are also on the books to crack down on fraud and better protect Minnesotans from scams. A few of these include:

• STRONGER MEDICAID FRAUD PENALTIES: We overhauled the state's Medicaid fraud statute this session, boosting penalties and giving investigators and prosecutors sharper tools to pursue fraud cases and safeguard public funds. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit also received additional funding.
• TRUSTED CONTACTS FOR BANK ACCOUNTS: Account holders can now name a trusted contact that their bank or financial firm may reach out to if fraud is suspected.
• CRYPTO KIOSKS OUTLAWED: Starting August 1, Minnesota is banning virtual currency kiosks — the ATM-like machines that let people buy cryptocurrency with cash or debit cards. Police have flagged a growing wave of scams tied to these machines, often targeting seniors and costing victims tens of thousands of dollars. The ban is meant to shut down this avenue for fraudsters preying on older residents.

I was grateful to have also secured funding for Chanhassen Bluffs Community Center. Previous goals set by the City originally estimated a May 2026 timeline for construction to begin. Now with the funds secured, we can make meaningful progress toward building a community for life for all ages. 

LOOKING AHEAD: While I’m glad for the progress we have made over the years in several areas to mitigate the damage from the passage of federal legislation like HR 1, there is more work to be done. There are thousands fewer Minnesotans who have health care coverage. Our parents, teachers and students continue to advocate for a ban on military-style assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, binary triggers and ghost guns. We continue to read about the violation of human and constitutional rights, both here and across the state. 

People continue to see the cost of groceries, gas and other goods go up. Thankfully, our local food shelves, notably Bountiful Baskets and PROP, continue to welcome new clients and provide relief to those who are struggling. Please consider donating to our local food shelves during next month’s Night to Unite 2026 scheduled for Tuesday, August 4.

Chaska River City Days 

The Chaska River City Days festival is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year! Weekend festivities get underway next week starting on Thursday when the parade kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Check out the schedule of events here.

Keep in Touch

This is the final newsletter you’ll receive from me until 2027. During an election period, legislators cannot use state resources for unsolicited communications because it might create an unfair advantage. Therefore, this will be my last e-update until after the election. I am still available to help with any state-level problems and discuss issues important to our community, so please reach out if I can assist in any way. Please send an email directly at rep.lucy.rehm@house.mn.gov; direct replies to this email won’t reach my inbox.

Thank you for the honor of serving you, your loved ones and your neighbors in the Minnesota House.

Maybe we will bump into each other at the Corn Roast Booth at the upcoming Minneota State Fair.

Have a great rest of the summer!

In community,

Lucy