Category: Minnesota Legislature

At Maple Grove forum, lawmakers discuss commitment to police accountability and reform At Maple Grove forum, lawmakers discuss commitment to police accountability and reform

House DFL logoMAPLE GROVE, MINNESOTA – The Minnesota House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Division hosted a public forum in Maple Grove Wednesday, July 1 with legislators and the community to discuss police accountability legislation. Legislators – including members of the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus – and community members alike demanded focus at the State Capitol remain on eliminating systemic racism and re-imagining public safety.

“What George Floyd experienced – and what people across the world witnessed – was an urgent call to action that our status quo vision of policing no longer works,” said Rep. Rena Moran (DFL – Saint Paul), chair of the POCI Caucus. “The work to deliver racial justice and police accountability isn’t easy, but Minnesotans – especially from Black, Indigenous and communities of color – deserve to see results from the Legislature. It’s time for Senate Republicans to meet us in this moment and work with us to advance these meaningful changes.”

“Minnesotans can’t wait any longer for the structural changes necessary to ensure everyone, no matter where they live or what they might look like, can be safe in their communities,” said Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL – Saint Paul), chair of the House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Division. “This is an issue of the utmost urgency throughout our state, and it’s time to make real progress on real reforms.”

Today’s forum followed a recent special session during which the House passed the Minnesota Police Accountability Act of 2020, legislation developed following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers. The bill is a comprehensive package of reforms to hold law enforcement accountable, reclaim community oversight, and re-imagine public safety.

Instead of working with the POCI Caucus and House DFLers to reach a resolution on urgently needed reforms, the Senate – with Republicans in the Majority – walked away by adjourning the June 2020 special session. The Senate Judiciary Committee is chaired by Sen. Warren Limmer (R – Maple Grove). Over the course of the current biennium, he held no public hearings about strong criminal justice reform solutions, despite many of them carrying bipartisan support.

Governor Tim Walz is expected to call another special session as soon as next week.

New Benefits for Farmers Available Starting Today

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA. — New state benefits go into effect today for farmers who are facing economic hardship, including grain storage safety grants to address rising work-related accidents and deaths on the farm.

“Using federal CARES Act dollars, the Legislature worked together on a bipartisan basis this year to invest in mental health resources, prevent tragic accidents, expand MDA services, and quickly respond to threats to our food supply,” said Rep. Jeanne Poppe (DFL-Austin), the bill’s chief author and chair of the House Ag and Finance Division. “We know these actions will not fully address the needs of Minnesota’s farmers and producers during these challenging times, but it does provide vitally needed support and assistance.”

The bill uses federal CARES Act dollars to invest in farmer mental health needs, including suicide prevention training and awareness of mental health resources. To enhance capacity for services and support to farmers for their economic well-being, it invests in essential services provided by the Department of Agriculture’s Farm Advocate program. The bill funds the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab equipment which is needed to respond to poultry and livestock diseases like highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and African Swine Fever (ASF).

Specific details:

  • $675,000 of the General Fund allocation in fiscal year 2021 to the Agricultural Research, Education, Extension and Technology Transfer program at the University of Minnesota is for Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory testing equipment and supplies necessary to respond to avian influenza, salmonella and other turkey-related diseases.
  • $100,000 one-time General Fund expenditure in fiscal year 2021 for farm safety grant and outreach programs, with $50,000 for grain storage facility safety equipment grants and $50,000 for outreach, which can include “creating and presenting a grain storage facility safety curriculum.”
  • Reestablishment of a tractor rollover prevention grant program that expired in 2019 takes effect July 1, 2020. It permits the Agriculture Department to award grants to farmers and schools that retrofit tractors built before 1987 with eligible rollover protective structures.

 

House DFL’s PROMISE Act gets warm reception at Lake Street public forum

House DFL logoMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA — State lawmakers hosted a public forum about the Promise Act at a Lake Street business today. The House DFL’s comprehensive rebuilding and recovery plan for Lake, Midway, and Broadway is inspired by the Minnesotans who built, sustain, and live around these vibrant corridors. “Promise” stands for Providing Resources, Opportunity and Maximizing Investments in Striving Entrepreneurs.

Full video of the event is available here:

https://www.facebook.com/mnhousedfl/videos/601770510753986/?vh=e&d=n

This month, state lawmakers participated in tours of businesses and neighborhoods led by people most impacted by the civil unrest that followed George Floyd’s murder. The Promise Act is informed and guided by what lawmakers heard and saw during these tours. According to public records, more than 1,500 buildings were destroyed or damaged.

“The Promise Act is a promise we are making to the neighborhoods most impacted by civil unrest after a police officer murdered George Floyd,” said Rep. Mohamud Noor, the bill’s chief author. “It’s a promise to have the backs of people of color, and indigenous and immigrant-owned businesses built from the ground up. It’s a promise to choose vibrancy and culture over gentrified redevelopment as we rebuild. It’s a promise to make sure the people who live and work in these special corridors are the ones who get to decide what their future looks like.”

The Promise Act establishes a commission to review the actions, choices, orders, and responses of local government, police and military authorities, and elected officials involved in the response to the civil unrest that occurred during May and June of 2020. The 10-member panel would be appointed by Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Lorie Gildea. The Republican-controlled Senate has launched a partisan probe without input or involvement of DFL lawmakers, including members of the People of Color and Indiginous (POCI) Caucus.

“These impacted communities and businesses are the economic and cultural centers of our cities, and we have to help them in a way that promotes equity and prevents gentrification,” said House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “We have seen and heard from so many people and so many businesses devastated by damage caused during the civil unrest. The extensive loss in these communities requires us to take urgent action and deliver results.”

The Legislature is expected to convene for a new special session in July, the next opportunity to pass legislation like the Promise Act and police accountability.

 

Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: July 1, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

The June Special Session provided mixed results for Minnesota, with success in areas like small business relief, but much more to be desired in public safety reform. COVID-19 makes an additional special session in July highly likely, and as we work toward that I’m excited to share that additional funds should soon be coming to our community to help us weather this pandemic.

Last week, Governor Walz announced a plan to deliver $841 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to Minnesota’s counties and cities. Under the formula, Bloomington would receive approximately $6.7 million. Once the Legislative Advisory Commission approves the plan, funds will be distributed on a rolling basis beginning this week. These funds were allocated along guidelines we created in the Minnesota House, and will go a long way in ensuring our local governments can continue to provide the services we need.

Assistance for Small Businesses

An early success from the special session was legislation I supported that would provide assistance to some of the smallest businesses in our community impacted by COVID-19. The bill created a $62.5 million fund with grants of up to $10,000. With a focus on businesses with 50 or fewer employees, these grants will provide Bloomington’s businesses with the assistance they need to weather these difficult times. To be eligible, the business must meet the following requirements: Continue reading “Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: July 1, 2020”

Rep. Michael Nelson (HD40A) Update: June 30, 2020

Neighbors,

Last week, Governor Walz announced a plan that delivers $841 million in federal dollars from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to Minnesota’s counties and cities in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Our local governments have been at the forefront of helping our communities weather this storm, and under this plan Brooklyn Park would receive $6.1 million dollars.

Another new announcement from the governor’s office was yesterday’s milestone marking over 500,000 COVID-19 tests. Our community continues to do an amazing job of working together to responsibly take on this virus, and the spike in cases across the nation compounds the need for continued public safety guidelines. As restrictions loosen in our state and we spend more time in public, Minnesota’s testing capacity is the best it has ever been. If you are in need of a COVID-19 test, you can find the nearest testing location here. Continue reading “Rep. Michael Nelson (HD40A) Update: June 30, 2020”

Wednesday at 1: Minn. House Public Safety Division to hold public hearing on police accountability

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Wednesday, July 1 at 1:00 pm, the Minnesota House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Division will hold a remote hearing to discuss police accountability in the state of Minnesota. The panel will discuss how the state is currently failing to hold police officers accountable, review police accountability proposals – including the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus’s Minnesota Police Accountability Act of 2020, as well as proposals from the Senate Republican Majority, and how holding police officers accountable can help prevent civil unrest in Minnesota.

Video of the hearing will be broadcast live on the House website, and House Public Information Services’Facebook page. The full agenda and supporting documents – including bill language – can be found on thecdivision webpage. Continue reading “Wednesday at 1: Minn. House Public Safety Division to hold public hearing on police accountability”

Rep. Zack Stephenson (HD36A) Update: June 29, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

I hope this finds you and your family well.

As July approaches, several new laws go into effect on the first of the month, including the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act and the Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act. You can read more about the other new laws that will begin on July 1 by clicking on the link above.

Governor Walz Releases Federal CARES Funding

Last week, Governor Walz announced a plan to deliver $841 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to Minnesota’s cities, counties, and towns. Under the formula, our community of Coon Rapids will receive approximately $4.8 million and our Champlin community will get approximately $1.8 million. Once the Legislative Advisory Commission approves the plan, funds will be distributed on a rolling basis beginning this week. Local cities and governments have been working tirelessly to keep all of our families safe since the onset of COVID-19, and these funds will go a long way to help provide the necessary and basic services our residents need and deserve. Continue reading “Rep. Zack Stephenson (HD36A) Update: June 29, 2020”

Rep. Heather Edelson (HD49A) Update: June 29, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

I hope this finds you and your family well.

As July approaches, several new laws go into effect on the first of the month, including the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act and the Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act. You can read more about the other new laws that will begin on July 1 by clicking on the link above.

Governor Walz Releases Federal CARES Funding

Last week, Governor Walz announced a plan to deliver $841 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to Minnesota’s cities, counties, and towns. Under the formula, our community of Edina will receive approximately $3.95 million. Once the Legislative Advisory Commission approves the plan, funds will be distributed on a rolling basis beginning this week. Local cities and governments have been working hard to keep all of us safe since the onset of COVID-19, and these funds will go a long way to help provide necessary and basic services our residents rely on. Continue reading “Rep. Heather Edelson (HD49A) Update: June 29, 2020”

Walz: $853M in CARES Act funding to be distributed to Minnesota communities

Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan on Thursday announced a plan to distribute $853 million in federal funding to Minnesota communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding was authorized by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Of that total, $841 million will go to counties, cities and towns while the remaining $12 million will be allocated toward food shelves and food banks.

The local governments can use the funding to support services and grants to businesses, hospitals and individuals impacted by the pandemic. Continue reading.

Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: June 26, 2020

Neighbors,

It is starting to finally feel like summer as some of our usual seasonal activities are returning. Along with the resumption of youth sports, the Minnesota Twins have also announced a partial season. During this unusual summer, it is reassuring that there will be a safe return to some of our favorite activities.

Thank you for your patience and sacrifice during this trying time for our community. As you slowly resume other activities, please follow recommended CDC and Minnesota Department of Health guidelines listed at the end of this update to keep yourself and others safe.

SUMMER SURVEY

Please take a couple of minutes to fill out my summer survey about relevant issues in our community and state. Your input is important – thank you! Continue reading “Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: June 26, 2020”