Legislative UpdateDear Friends and Neighbors, Happy Valentine’s Day! While I won’t bombard you with clichés about chocolates and roses, I do hope you’re feeling the love—especially for House Republicans’ first week in an operating majority since 2018! It’s been an electrifying start here at the Capitol, where we’ve wasted no time getting down to business. Our top-priority bills are already making their way through the legislative process, and we’re eager to bring them to the House floor for a full vote. The energy is high, the momentum is strong, and we’re ready to deliver results. Stay tuned—this is just the beginning! Bipartisan Bars: Better Late Than Never! This week, Governor Walz and First Lady Gwen visited the House chamber to share their “bipartisan bars.” A friend jokingly asked me if they tasted stale—like they should have been delivered about a month ago! But in all honesty, it was a nice gesture, and the bars were quite good. I appreciated the brief visit and remain hopeful that we can work together to get things done for the people of Minnesota. So, you're sayin' there's a chance!  Supporting Crookston’s Growth: Highway 2 Corridor in Focus Senator Mark Johnson and I had a great meeting with Crookston leaders, Council Member Kristie Jerde, and Community Development Director Karie Kirschbaum to discuss the ongoing Highway 2 Corridor study. Like many infrastructure projects, funding and final design are top concerns, but their vision for the future is clear. We’re committed to helping them navigate the process and coordinate with MNDOT to ensure their traffic objectives support Crookston’s broader downtown development goals. Exciting things are ahead for this community! Supporting Minnesota Agriculture with the Farm Bureau This week, I had the pleasure of joining the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation at their Council of County Presidents meeting at the Science Museum of Minnesota. It was a fantastic evening filled with great discussions about the state of agriculture in Minnesota and the challenges farmers are facing as we head into spring. We heard important updates on issues impacting our agricultural communities, from rising costs to regulatory concerns. Of course, they also asked us to say a few words—never a problem for a politician! But in all seriousness, I deeply appreciate the opportunity to connect with the hardworking men and women who keep our state’s agricultural industry thriving. Thank you to the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation for hosting us and for your unwavering dedication to Minnesota’s farmers. I look forward to continuing to support policies that strengthen our Ag industry and ensure its success for generations to come!  |