Minnesota Senate Week in Review: March 13, 2020

Minnesota Senate DFL Passes Emergency Insulin Program
and everything happening in the Legislature this week.

Insulin affordability passes Senate, work remains

The Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act bill passed this week is a significant first step. We’re glad Senate Republicans have finally decided to work towards a solution, but it is disappointing their insulin affordability bill comes more than a year since the Senate DFL first introduced the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act. The latest >>

Walz signs coronavirus response bill

This week, Governor Walz signed into law a bill appropriating nearly $21 million in funds to be added to Minnesota’s public health response contingency account. Continue reading >>

Senate Republicans continue to fail at keeping Minnesotans safe

Senate Republicans held a Judiciary Committee hearing this week focused on what they are calling their public safety and violence prevention package. Ironically, their package will do very little to keep Minnesotans safe or prevent gun violence. Read more >>

Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act

Helping farmers with low-interest loans

Farm safety bills heard in agriculture finance

Costly civics test added to high school reporting requirements

Bill could hurt Urban Educator/Teachers of Color program

Senate DFLers work to end homelessness for veterans

Republicans can do better to hold down the cost of prescription drugs

Energy Committee approves bills to lift nuclear power moratorium, remove hydropower limits

Republican bill to stop clean cars clears another committee hurdle

DFL legislation for Highway 14 funding cruises through first committee

Partisan Metro Transit surveillance bill passes

Third-party driving tests present conflict of interest

U of M, MinnState discuss Covid-19 protocols with Higher Education Committee

Voter suppression continues through committees

DFL legislators explore first responder confidentiality

Legislation to protect confidentiality during peer support activities would ensure our first responders are mentally taken care of during their work and healthier overall.

Governor Walz releases supplemental budget recommendations

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz released his supplemental budget recommendations this week, urging budgetary caution amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Solutions for better mental health resources for students

DFL Senators along with DFL House legislators, students, and education professionals held a press conference this week to raise awareness of the mental health crisis in Minnesota schools and to advocate for greater school-based support for students struggling with mental health issues.

The Minnesota Senate DFL is committed to working together to build the state all Minnesotans deserve with high-quality education, affordable and accessible health care, and increasing support for working families. The values we share bring our communities together and serve as a guide for how we make our state work better for all of us, no matter what we look like or where we come from.