Legislative Update – August 22, 2025
Dear Neighbors,
It’s been two months since Melissa was murdered in an act of political violence that also claimed the lives of her husband Mark and their dog Gilbert. I am so thankful that the Hoffman family is recovering from their attack on that horrible night, and my thoughts continue to be with both families.
Political violence has no place in this country. We must resolve our differences peacefully, never through violence. The attacks on DFL legislators two months ago have shaken us to our core, but they have not shaken our resolve to build a state that works better for everyone.
I was proud to join colleagues from both sides of the aisle to take a civic pledge for a stronger Minnesota, organized by Majority in the Middle. At the event, Nathan Stock from the Middle East Institute spoke, saying that “Minnesotans (and most Americans) from all spaces of the political spectrum want a political system we can be proud of, and a civic ecosystem that deals with division in a positive way.” I couldn’t agree more and was proud to sign this civic pledge.
We will keep working hard to build the future that Melissa and Mark Hortman believed in. I’m committed to that work, and I will continue to meet you here in Minneapolis and at the State Capitol to move our state forward.
Community Events
It has been great to see so many of you at community events all around District 62B this summer. I had a great time visiting with neighbors on National Night Out. I attended the Somali-Swedish Cultural Exchange event, where I participated in traditional Somali dance and an Ancient Swedish writing lab.
As we head into a new school year, I was so glad to lend a hand at the Salvation Army School Drive at the Lake Street location, right here in our district. You can find more information about the support program Salvation Army offers, or sign-up to volunteer yourself, here.
If you’re visiting the Minnesota State Fair this year, make sure to stop by the nonpartisan Minnesota House of Representatives booth inside the Education Building! You can meet House members, take our popular opinion poll on legislative issues, grab a Capitol Dome Hat, and learn how to stay informed of what’s happening at the Capitol.
New Laws
On July 1, our new state budget took effect, along with most of the new policies we enacted this past session. More of those laws were implemented at the start of this month, too. As with all this year’s successful legislation, these new laws are the product of bipartisan compromise. While there are certainly components of the budget I wish went further, there are still plenty of new commonsense policies and investments to be proud of.
Highlights include required access to free water at ticketed events of 100 or more people, protections for children who appear in online media, and assistance for homeowners and tenants when dealing with HOAs.
One piece of legislation I authored will help address the physician shortage in rural and underserved areas, which is projected to get worse without action like this. I’m proud to say this was a bipartisan effort that will provide alternative pathways to licensure for the folks that keep our communities healthy. You can read more about the bill here.
We also took a close look at the state’s DWI laws, and this session, we passed legislation to strengthen and modernize the interlock program, requiring it more aggressively for repeat offenses while also making it easier for people to access the program.
Minnesota Public Radio provided a brief overview of some of these laws and more in July and August, but if you’d like a deep dive into what’s been implemented, you can read a nonpartisan summary of all the new laws here.
Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act
In 2024, DFLers passed the Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act (MCDPA), which is now taking effect. The MCDPA helps safeguard consumers’ data and their right to privacy and provides Minnesota residents with the power to control how their data is used by companies and other parties.
The Attorney General’s Office enforces the MCDPA and ensures that businesses and covered entities follow the law. They have a website set up to assist you in learning about and exercising your rights. Learn more here.
Stay In Touch!
Hearing from constituents like you is a key aspect of my job as a state legislator. If you have questions, ideas, or feedback that you’d like to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Unfortunately, due to technological constraints, replies to this newsletter won’t reach my email account. You can email me at rep.anquam.mahamoud@house.mn.gov or call my office at 651-296-0294. You can also “like” and follow my official State Representative Facebook page.
Sincerely,
Anquam Mahamoud
State Representative