SD40 , CD3 DFL

Rep. Michael Nelson (HD40A) Update: June 30, 2021

Neighbors,

Today is the final day of our special session, with the last of our budget bills being passed off the House floor. Early this morning, we passed our State Government, Elections, and Veterans Budget, which I was honored to carry in the House. Like all of our budget bills, it was the product of compromise, with some important provisions left behind, but it’s ultimately a great bill for Minnesotans.

As our state bounces back from the COVID-19 pandemic, our compromise budget fully funds a responsive state government that’s able to meet this moment and assist in our recovery. The budget also protects access to our elections, enforces wage theft laws, and funds resources for the men and women that served our country.

You can read nonpartisan summaries of all our budget bills and the process to pass them below, thanks to our House Public Information Services. All that’s missing is our Tax bill, which we’re currently debating:

Neighbors,

An Orderly End to the Peacetime Emergency

More Minnesotans are fully vaccinated, COVID-19 cases are down, and in St. Paul we recently reached a deal with the US Department of Agriculture to continue emergency food assistance, and passed an off-ramp to the eviction moratorium – all components that led to us being able to vote for a safe and orderly end to the COVID-19 peacetime emergency, which had been in place since last March.

Ending the peacetime emergency also ends Governor Waz’s executive orders, and it was in negotiations with the Senate and the Governor that we were able to put together this roadmap that ensured we weren’t just replacing this emergency with a different crisis when it ends. For example, the off-ramp we just passed to the eviction moratorium gives landlords and renters the time and resources they need to be made whole. If you or someone you know has been struggling with rent payments because of the pandemic, I highly encourage you to check out renthelpmn.org.

Stay Connected

With the end of today’s special session, we’re not scheduled to be back on the House floor until the 2022 legislative session. During the interim, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you have about the bills we passed this year, or ideas you may have for our community. You can contact me through email (rep.michael.nelson@house.mn) or phone (651-296-3751). I appreciate hearing from you, and I hope you and your loved ones have a safe and fun 4th of July weekend.

Sincerely,

Rep. Michael V. Nelson

Minnesota POCI Caucus Statement on Public Safety Accountability

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, Monday June 28, the People of Color and Indigenous Caucus (POCI) introduced a number of amendments to the Public Safety and Judiciary budget bill. This is in response to the absence of several necessary accountability measures in the current bill language. The POCI Caucus is also calling on Governor Walz to use his executive authority to enact several reforms. The POCI Caucus released the following statement.

“Minneapolis, Minnesota is the recent epicenter of a racial justice reckoning happening across the United States. After the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Derek Chauvin, people from all backgrounds took to the streets demanding change. Unfortunately the changes sought by so many, that would help diminish the killing of BIPOC people at the hands of the police, did not emerge.

“During the regular session and through the special session, the POCI Caucus and members of the House DFL Public Safety Committee worked tirelessly to move meaningful police accountability policies in negotiations with the Senate Republican Majority who refused to hold bad actors accountable. The bill as posted does not include the significant changes to hold police accountable or to prevent future harm.

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: June 14, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

Our regular session came to an end last month, however, our work for the year is far from over as we approach a special session set for next week. House and Senate leaders and Governor Walz have reached a budget agreement that we are using as guidelines in our conference committee negotiations. We have reached agreements on our Energy/Commerce, Taxes, Higher Ed, Agriculture, and Legacy Finance budgets. Some of the more contentious bills like E-12 Education and Public Safety still have a ways to go however. Details on the overall budget agreement and what the special session will look like can be found here.

Eviction Off-Ramp

It is critical that we prevent a massive housing crisis as we begin to return to normal. The House DFL proposed a common sense plan to give everyone the time they need to catch up on their rent and mortgage. Watch our press conference to learn more about our plan. It was announced today that we have reached a final agreement. Under the agreement, Governor Walz’s executive order on an eviction moratorium will be replaced by a stepped-down off-ramp that will conclude 105 days after enactment. Landlords will be required to send a notice to renters with outstanding rent 15 days prior to eviction. In addition, renters with an outstanding rental assistance claim cannot be evicted and will have that protection until June 1, 2022. If you are behind on housing payments, apply for aid here.

Rep. Michael Nelson (HD40A) Update: May 28, 2021

Neighbors,

Though the regular legislative session adjourned last week, we’re still focused on finalizing our state budget. Before we adjourned, we were able to reach a bipartisan agreement on a budget framework, so now we’ll hammer out the details ahead of an anticipated June special session.

The good news is that the state is on the right path to ensure our students, families, workers, and small businesses get the investments they need to bounce back from the past year – thanks in part to the federal funds we received from the American Rescue Plan.

POCI Caucus Statement on the Anniversary of the Murder of George Floyd

Saint Paul, Minnesota — Today, May 25, is the first anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. The Minnesota People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus released the following statement:

“We must ask ourselves: What has truly changed since last year? The fact remains that another name continues to replace George Floyd. Black men are still dying at the hands of law enforcement. Trust between our communities of color and police remains at record lows. BIPOC communities still do not feel that police keep them safe. Republican colleagues continue to devalue our lived experience and the experience of our communities as they use our calls for change as bargaining chips to secure tax cuts for the wealthy.

“Yet, we know we can never return to a world before the murder of George Floyd, our mindset on how our communities are affected by police and what role they play in our safety has permanently shifted. Whether this is a true sea change that will impact our entire nation remains to be seen. While the murderer was held accountable, and we managed to pass a modicum of police accountability legislation last year, we are meeting increased resistance from the status quo against our calls for more significant reforms.

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: May 24, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

Our regular session came to an end last Monday, however, our work for the year is far from over and we are headed towards a special session. Before the regular session ended leadership reached a major agreement on budget targets for this year. This will set the guardrails for the rest of our negotiations for the year. While there is a lot of good in this agreement, the Senate GOP refused to allow tax increases on the wealthiest Minnesotans (making over $1 million a year) meaning we are underfunding schools, housing, healthcare and so much more. We will continue to meet and negotiate in conference committees to iron out the more difficult policy details like police accountability and drivers licenses for all. Details on the overall budget agreement and what the special session will look like can be found here.

Cannabis Legalization

Two weeks ago we passed HF 600, a bill which legalizes and regulates adult-use cannabis in Minnesota, while expunging records of people convicted for nonviolent offenses involving cannabis.

I am proud of the bill we passed, it has come to fruition after years of hard work and careful planning. I know that by ending the prohibition on adult-use cannabis Minnesota will be able to heal the harm caused by prohibition. This bill takes into consideration the injustice caused by prohibition while ensuring that legalization will protect the health and safety of all Minnesotans.

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: May 10, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

Overall, the biggest responsibility for lawmakers this session is to enact a new two-year state budget. The House has approved all of our budget bills off the floor, all of which were put together with the goal of helping workers, small businesses, students, and families all emerge from the challenges of the past year with the ability to succeed and thrive. Here are each of the bills we’ve passed:

Rep. Michael Nelson (HD40A) Update: May 4, 2021

Neighbors,

We’re in the final weeks of session, with our constitutional deadline of May 17 fast approaching. As all of our budget proposals have been voted off the House floor, our attention now turns to conference committees with our Senate counterparts to craft consensus legislation between our two very different budget proposals.

For my part, I’ve been appointed to the State Government Conference Committee, where I’ll be advocating against the Senate’s anti-democratic election proposals. It’s highly likely the bill we passed in the House will look much different when our conference committee’s work is finished, but that is the nature of compromise. As one of the only divided state governments in the nation, it’s up to us to show that coming together for bipartisan results is still possible.

House POCI Caucus Joins Call for Expedited Judiciary and Public Safety Conference Committee; Presses Senate to Act on Police Accountability

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — On Tuesday, April 27th, the Senate POCI Caucus sent a letter to Governor Walz and Legislative Leaders urging that the Public Safety and Judiciary conference committee begin it’s work immediately, that conferees be required to complete their work by the end of the week delivering the final bill that will be sent to the floor of both Houses by Monday, May 3rd, and be promptly sent to the Governor for his signature or veto. This is to ensure that these critical police reform decisions are given the time necessary to be discussed publicly and independently without being used as a bargaining chip in unrelated budget negotiations. The House POCI Caucus concurs with this call to action and released the following statement of support:

“In just two weeks since the killing of Daunte Wright, one week since the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin, Senate Republicans are already sweeping police accountability under the rug. Our demands to transform our public safety and judicial system must not be ignored. Each day wasted is another day closer to another preventable tragedy. Governor Walz and the Legislative Leaders should not be fooled by the relative quiet. We are in the midst of a crisis, and our communities of color and Indigenous communities are demanding structural changes so we can live in a Minnesota where our lives are valued and protected. It is time that we learn from the loss of Daunte Wright, George Floyd, and countless others. We must pursue transformational police reform that will create a just Minnesota where everyone is treated fairly and safely.

Rep. Michael Nelson (HD40A) Update: April 22, 2021

Neighbors,

It has been a busy week for Minnesota, both in the national and global news, and in our efforts at the Minnesota Legislature. Not far from our community, we saw another tragic killing of a Black man by law enforcement when Daunte Wright was shot in Brooklyn Center, and earlier this week former officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty for the murder of George Floyd.

In finding former officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all three counts, the jury has helped move us toward justice in this instance, but there is more left to do to ensure all Minnesotans have access to the dignity and safety they deserve.

As a community, we need to continue to call out racism in our systems, and as a legislator, I will continue to fight for public safety reforms and equity measures that protect and lift up everyone in our community, no matter what they look like or where they are from.

An Orderly End to the Peacetime Emergency

Stay Connected

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