Legislative Update - Committee Hearings Begin

Dear Neighbors,

Committees have begun meeting in the Minnesota House, thanks to the power-sharing agreement my DFL colleagues and I were able to secure. 

It feels great to be at the State Capitol, and I want to thank everyone in our community that met with me over the last month - local leaders, advocates, and neighbors - in our district who ensured I could hit the ground running once the House was finally constitutionally organized.

Honored to share the experience of the House Floor with my family for our first day as an organized House

While I’ll work on legislation covering a whole host of issues - more on that later - a lot of my time will be spent in the committees I serve on, the House’s Commerce Finance and Policy Committee, the Education Policy Committee, and the Environment Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee.

As part of our power-sharing agreement, committees are currently controlled by House Republicans, but in the likely scenario where the March special election in Roseville returns the House to a tie, our committees will reflect that with balanced membership and DFL and GOP co-chairs.

The only way we’re going to be able to accomplish anything this year is by working together. I’m coming at proposals from House Republicans with an open mind, and while there’s some common ground, a lot of what they’re promoting with their limited time in control are not bills that I think will benefit Minnesotans. We’re going to need to work in a bipartisan manner these next two years, but I’ll never do so in a way that sacrifices our community's shared values.

Ready to go with the District 49 Team!

Here’s an update on what I’ve been working on, and some helpful information and resources for our community: 

Protecting Minnesota’s Boundary Waters

I’m excited to share that the very first bill I am authoring is House File 309, which would modify mining restrictions in order to protect Minnesota’s Boundary Waters.

This bill, which is being carried in the Senate by Sen. Cwodzinski, would protect the Boundary Waters and Voyageurs National Park from the inevitable and devastating damage that would result from sulfide-ore copper mining pollution in its watershed. 

The Boundary Waters isn’t just an escape from modern life, it is integral to modern life and is now the most visited wilderness in America. More than 160,000 girl scouts, boy scouts, church youth and adult groups, middle school, high school, college groups and more head to the Boundary Waters every year.

I joined my friend at Save the Boundary Waters to introduce our bill last week

Minnesota has an over $13 billion outdoor recreation industry, of which nearly $1 billion in Northeastern Minnesotans exists in large part because of the sustainable and long lasting economy the Boundary Waters drives – and most of that via small, local businesses catering to getting people into the woods for their wilderness experience.

Simply put, sulfide-ore copper mining in the watershed of the Boundary Waters is bad economic policy. The Boundary Waters is more valuable than any amount of copper the watershed of the Boundary Waters could produce. I’ll be sure to keep you posted on this bill’s progress. 

“Wilderness to the people of America is a spiritual necessity, an antidote to the high pressure of modern life, a means of regaining serenity and equilibrium.”

- Sigrid Olsen

Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule

We’ve had some incredibly cold days this week, which is a perfect time to remind folks about the resources available to you, as well as some relatively new laws meant to protect renters in these cold months. First and foremost is Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule, which is in effect until April 30, and protects your heat from being shut off. 

To ensure your service is safe from disconnection you must make and keep a payment plan that you and your utility provider agree on. Although Minnesota has very cold winters, it’s never had a statewide law requiring landlords to maintain a minimum temperature for rental units. That changed during last year’s legislative session after the DFL took action to protect renters. 

Minnesota landlords are required to keep rental units at a minimum of 68 degrees from October to April if the tenant does not control the thermostat. We are committed to making sure everyone stays warm, healthy, and safe all winter long. More information is available on the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s website here. 

Stay Connected

Now that I’ll be spending more time in St. Paul, please continue to reach out and connect with me on the issues that matter most to you.

You can reach me at rep.alex.falconer@house.mn.gov or 651-296-3964. You’ll either hear back from me or my Legislative Assistant, Jared.  I also encourage you to follow along on my legislative Facebook page.

Before I sign off - and I might be a little biased here - I want to give a shout out to the Minnetonka Girls Nordic Team for their historic 2nd place win at state! Coaching this team has been an honor, and I couldn’t be more proud of these athletes!

Sincerely,

Alex Falconer

State Representative

House District 49A