Rep. Cedrick Frazier (HD45A) Update: July 2, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

Early Thursday morning, we adjourned the Minnesota House after finalizing our budgets and coming to an agreement on budget bills. The past year, and the few weeks over time were well worth the outcome! We were able to deliver strong budget bills to ensure that Minnesotans have accessibility and a good quality of life. Our budget invests in the people. It aims to improve and recover the conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier today, Gov. Walz signed the remaining budget bills into law.

Over the past few weeks, we have been able to pass several key bipartisan budgets in a number of areas to ensure Minnesotans can access resources, investments and recover from the impacts of this pandemic. If you’d like to get caught up on the bills we’ve passed the last two weeks, you can find nonpartisan summaries of the bills and the process around them here:

While full details of budget bills can be found above, below are some short highlights that I would like to point your attention to:

Public Safety

The Public Safety and Judiciary budget we approved this week seeks to improve police accountability, build trust between law enforcement and their communities, and support community groups working to improve safety and prevent violence. The bill also addresses economic inequalities in our criminal justice system. While this was a much needed reform effort, our work is far from over. I am committed to continue to push for critical and effective reform that will help ALL Minnesotans feel safe and protected from violence. Here is an editorial in the Star Tribune that speaks to the current state of conversations around police reform in Minnesota: click here to read.

Regardless of whether we are in session or not, I will continue to be loud and clear in my work to push for public safety for every Minnesotan. This year has been tough, but that is all the more reason why momentum can not be lost now.

Housing

Minnesotans deserve safe, secure, and affordable housing. The Minnesota affordable housing crisis predates this COVID-19 pandemic, but now, with the approved compromise agreement with the Senate on the Housing budget, will invest in innovative solutions to take on housing insecurity as we build back from the pandemic. This legislation protects renters and provides resources for housing providers whose tenants have not been able to pay rent during COVID-19. It also provides affordable housing around the state through public and private investments.

We fought hard for the inclusion of an orderly off-ramp to our current eviction moratorium. Our housing budget gives both renters and landlords the time they need to take advantage of federal funds. You can read the news release here and watch the debate on House Public Information Services’ YouTube channel.

State Government Operations and Veterans Affairs

This bill invests in a responsive state government, free and fair elections for our State and our duty to honor those who have served with dignity and gratitude.

Commerce, Climate, Energy

Minnesota is one of the fastest warming states in the country and experiencing the impacts of climate change. To combat this approaching crisis, we must take action to protect our health, our environment, our farms, and our infrastructure. The Energy budget invests in a new Energy Transition Office, and innovative projects and research that will help Minnesota transition to clean energy. We also secured funding to install solar energy panels on schools, saving school districts money while providing educational opportunities for students.

The Commerce budget tackles the record-high catalytic converter theft problem with a series of reforms to deter theft and keep Minnesotans’ cars intact. In addition, our budget contains the Student Loan Borrower Bill of Rights, which gives students a fighting chance against the worst lending practices.

Transportation

We approved a Transportation budget that invests in all of the ways people move around in our state (roads, bridges, trains, buses, bikes, and by foot). Our budget addresses racial and economic disparities by reforming the way unpaid tickets are handled, ensures students can travel to and from school safely, and reduces unnecessary traffic stops. In recognition of the fact that transportation is Minnesota’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, it also establishes sustainability goals that will help cut carbon emissions and protect air and water quality.

Jobs and Labor

The Jobs and Labor budget provides $8 million in childcare grants to increase the number of providers throughout Minnesota. The budget also includes the Helmets to Hardhats provision I co-authored, which connects transitioning active-duty military service members, veterans, National Guard and Reservists with skilled training opportunities in the construction industry.

Higher Education

Minnesota students faced many unprecedented challenges over the past year, and our our Higher Education budget will help them recover by making investments in our young leaders. This legislation will help ensure our students can thrive as they move forward in the post-pandemic workforce, with key funding for the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State systems, as well as an increase to the State Grant program that will positively impact more than 75,000 students.

Agriculture and Broadband

The compromise Agriculture budget recognizes the value Minnesotans place on clean water, soil, and air, and looks to the future of farming in Minnesota. Our farmers and food producers need and deserve tools, support, and resources so they can not only recover from the past year’s difficulties, but succeed well into the future. The budget invests in emerging farmer outreach, urban and youth agriculture, the Farm-to-School initiative, Good Food Access, and funding for environmentally friendly production practices and conservation techniques.

Legacy

Our Legacy bill invests proceeds from the voter-approved constitutional amendment to protect and enhance Minnesota’s outdoor heritage, clean water, arts and cultural heritage, and parks and trails. Since 2010, the Legacy Amendment has generated more than $4 billion for initiatives that benefit people and communities across Minnesota and this legislation builds on that success. Our Legacy bill also invests in water safety grants, including funding to provide scholarships to low-income and at-risk children.

Emergency Powers to End on August 1, 2021

The Walz Administration announced that 70% of Minnesotans age 16 and older have been vaccinated and the Emergency Powers will subsequently end on August 1, 2021. The additional month allows the State time to off ramp the Supplemental Food Assistance Federal Funds we have been receiving for families in need over the last year.

It is also important to note that most of the emergency orders the Governor issued during the pandemic have already been lifted as COVID case numbers have dropped.

I want to thank all residents for your work to keep your neighbors safe over the last year and all you have sacrificed. We are coming out of this pandemic stronger than ever.