Dear Neighbors,
Happy Holidays! This is a wonderful time of the year to spend in the company of loved ones. I hope you and yours have had a joyful holiday season so far, and have a safe and happy New Year as well.
Open positions on boards and commissions
Minnesota’s Secretary of State has announced open positions on over 200 boards, commissions, councils, work groups and task forces. See the link below to check on ways you can serve on one of these advisory boards. https://www.sos.state.mn.us/boards-commissions/
Help available for aging or disabled friends and loved ones
As we gather with loved ones for the holidays, the MN Dept. of Human Services reminds us that this can be a good time to ask elderly and/or disabled friends and family about struggles with loneliness, daily tasks and safety. DHS and the MN Board on Aging offers these helpful resources:
Senior LinkAge Line 1-800-333-2433 or http://www.seniorlinkageline.com/
Disability Hub MN 1-866-333-2466 or https://disabilityhubmn.org/
Reminder: Heating Assistance and Cold Weather Rules
For those Minnesotans under certain income levels, help may be available for payment of energy bills, help with utility disconnections or fuel deliveries, and advocacy with power companies and human service providers. For more information please visit the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s website here.
The Minnesota Cold Weather Rule is now also in effect, which protects residential utility customers from having their heat shut off during the winter months. More information is available from the Public Utilities Commission here.
New Laws
On January 1st, a few more laws passed during the 2018 legislative session go into effect. One of these is a significant expansion of our first responders’ ability to get help following post-traumatic stress disorder. Other topics touched on by these laws include consumer protection, municipal waste collection, and notaries public. Read the full list here.
2019 Legislative Session
The 2019 Legislative Session starts on January 8, 2019, and it will be my honor to continue serving our community at the State Capitol. My top priority as your voice has been to ensure the things our community values are at the forefront here at the Capitol. As always, please contact me anytime with your input. I appreciate hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Melissa Hortman