Dear Neighbors,
I hope you and your family had a safe and relaxing July 4th! The mild weather we’ve had has been perfect for getting out into our community and exploring all our state has to offer.
Session ends
The House finally adjourned for the session early on July 1st. We negotiated until the very end to make sure we could pass the best final budget for all of Minnesota. Due to the nature of our divided legislature we had to make compromises so we weren’t able to get everything through that our communities need. However, the House DFL managed to accomplish a great deal this year while preventing many bad provisions from passing, like cuts to our schools.
Here are brief summaries on what was included in each bill:
- Transportation: As Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee and member of the Conference Committee, I was part of the final Transportation budget negotiations. I worked hard on this bill to ensure that our community received the funding and resources it needed to improve our local transportation network. I fought to include $7 million in desperately needed funding for Highway 65, something many of you have reached out to me about. I also worked to include $57 million in funding for the Bus Rapid Transit F line which will run from Minneapolis to Northtown, providing cheap, safe, and efficient transit for everyone in our community. Lastly we provided funding for the Ramsey Gateway Highway 10 project which will improve our communities access at Ramsey Boulevard and Sunfish Lake Boulevard.
- Environment and Natural resources: We need to create more opportunities for children and young adults to get outdoors and participate in recreational activities. Investments in programs like No Child Left Inside, can help inspire the next generation of Minnesotans to appreciate and enjoy the great outdoors.
- Public Safety and Judiciary: This is one of the more disappointing bills as it doesn’t include some of the most pressing public safety accountability measures. However it does include reforms to no knock warrants, sign and release warrants, and changes to mental health responses. All of which will help to reduce deadly police encounters. On the Judiciary side of the bill there are several reforms decriminalize poverty, update our sexual assault laws, and will help bring justice for Indigenous Minnesotans.
- Taxes: The final tax bill contains several provisions which will benefit the average Minnesotan. Some important provisions include youth homelessness funding, PPP loan forgiveness for our local businesses, and forgiveness on student loan payments.
- Legacy: 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. This year’s bill includes water safety grants, including funding to provide scholarships to low-income and at-risk children. Here are some tips from the Minnesota DNR so everyone can enjoy the water safely on a boat, at the beach, or in a pool.
- Health and Human Services: This bill successfully secured resources to close many gaps in our system through expanded coverage for pregnant women, new coverage for dental services, enhanced services for children with asthma, and increased diversity within our mental health workforce.
- Climate & Energy: Wind is currently the cheapest form of electricity. Solar, which is already cheaper than any new fossil fuel plants, is expected to be cheaper than wind within five years. House DFLers are committed to helping Minnesotans save money on their energy bills and take advantage of potential savings. For example, we secured funding to install solar energy panels on schools.
- Commerce: The final Commerce budget tackles the record-high catalytic converter theft problem with a series of reforms to deter theft and keep Minnesotans’ cars intact. This bill gives law enforcement, scrap metal dealers, and consumers ways to deter thefts by adding identification numbers and unique markers to make it harder to sell stolen parts. Minnesotans want action like this, not just bigger penalties.
- Housing: Minnesota has one of the nation’s highest rates of homeownership, but also one of the largest ownership disparities between white and BIPOC households. Our housing investments will help to close the gap, allowing more Minnesotans to purchase homes and put down roots. If you are behind on rent or utilities, apply for aid here.
- Jobs and Labor: Too many Minnesotans are struggling with the high cost of child care, which poses a significant barrier to getting a job and having economic security. DFLers led the way to secure a historic investment to expand access to affordable child care across the state.
- Higher Education: Makes investments to ensure students can recover from the unprecedented challenges they’ve faced over the past year. It will help ensure young people have the ability to thrive as they move forward in the post-pandemic workforce.
- Agriculture: 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.
Keep in Touch:
You can contact me at rep.erin.koegel@house.mn or (651) 296-5369. You can now follow me on Facebook as well! I appreciate the opportunity to serve our district in the legislature and look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Erin Koegel
State Representative