Tag: House District 36B

Speaker Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: February 22, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

February 2019 is now the snowiest February on record for the Twin Cities, and we still have almost a week left! While the snow keeps falling, the Minnesota House of Representatives is hard at work. Here’s a quick update from the Capitol.

Sovereignty Day at the Minnesota House of Representatives
On Monday we held Sovereignty Day in the Minnesota House of Representatives. This was an educational event for legislators that included tribal history and culture, sovereignty, and the interplay between federal, state, and tribal law. Minnesota has 11 federally-recognized tribes that are sovereign nations. It was also a historic day: leaders from all 11 tribes had never been in the House chamber together before. Continue reading “Speaker Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: February 22, 2019”

Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: February 15, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

I know we’ve had a lot of snow and cold lately, but as someone who loves to ski, I’ve been enjoying it! I understand I might be one of the few though. Here’s an update from another busy week at the Capitol.

Legislative Deadlines
On Monday, I joined Governor Tim Walz and Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka to announce additional deadlines for the legislature as we get closer to the end of session. The House and Senate always have deadlines for bills to move through the committee process, but these new, additional benchmarks will help insure more of the end of session negotiations happen earlier, and provide more transparency for the public.

Under these innovative new deadlines I developed, all major finance bills must pass off the House and Senate floors and conference committees must be appointed for those bills by May 1st. Conference committees complete the important work of reconciling the House and Senate approaches to crafting the state’s budget. Continue reading “Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: February 15, 2019”

Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: February 8, 2019

 

Dear Neighbors,

It’s been another cold, snowy week, but our work to make Minnesota a better place for everyone continues. Here’s a quick update from this week.

First bill off House floor
We voted our first bill off the House floor this week. HF 51 is a bill that helps homeowners denounce racial covenants that may still remain on the deed of their homes. The bill passed with unanimous bipartisan support.

100% Clean Energy bill introduced
This past week saw some exciting advances in efforts to tackle climate change. HF 700 would move Minnesota to 100 percent clean energy by 2050 and was heard in its first committee. As a supporter of the 25 percent renewable energy standard, and chief author of the state’s solar energy standard and community solar laws, I’m looking forward to seeing this bill move through the process. This bill would help further Minnesota’s clean-energy economy, which has created thousands of good paying jobs in Minnesota. Continue reading “Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: February 8, 2019”

Speaker Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: February 1, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you’ve been able to stay safe and warm during our recent cold snap. Thankfully, warmer temperatures are coming this weekend. Here’s a quick update from the Capitol.

Town Hall Meeting
We had a great discussion at last Saturday’s town hall meeting with Sen. Hoffman and Rep. Stephenson. Thanks to everyone who braved the cold to join us! Continue reading “Speaker Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: February 1, 2019”

Speaker Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: January 18, 2018

Dear Neighbors,

The 2019 Legislative Session is underway. It is an honor and privilege to serve in the Minnesota House. As we embark upon the next two years at the State Capitol, I’m committed to serving in a way that reflects our shared values, and delivering solutions which give everyone a true opportunity to succeed.I also have the additional honor to serve as the Speaker of the House. In my view, the Speaker serves as the Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives — not the DFL House or the Republican House, but the Minnesota House. It’s my role to help House members, regardless of party, govern effectively as a team and help Minnesotans succeed. We’ll do that by being inclusive and giving all legislators opportunities to lead, build consensus, and get the work done. We share a trust – to recognize that those who came before us built Minnesota to be a phenomenally successful state.  It’s our obligation to keep Minnesota strong for the generations who will follow us.

It was an honor to be joined at the swearing-in ceremony by Joan Growe, former Secretary of State, and former Speakers Dee Long and Margaret Anderson Kelliher — the other two women to serve as Speaker of the Minnesota House. Continue reading “Speaker Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: January 18, 2018”

New Minnesota legislators get crash course in the Capitol and its ways

From left, new DFL Reps.-elect Samantha Vang of Brooklyn Center, Kaohly Her of St. Paul, Hodan Hassan of Minneapolis and Aisha Gomez of Minneapolis got together for a photo Wednesday before their freshman orientation in the House chamber at the State Capitol. Credit: Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune

Incoming legislators get lessons in history, decorum and how things are done.

A new class of state lawmakers filed into the ornate House chamber Wednesday afternoon for a presentation on decorum, some posing for selfies before taking a seat behind desks that do not yet bear their names.

The 39 new members of the Minnesota House — some of whom are returning after a term or two out of office — are in the middle of a crash course on how the Legislature works. The large freshman class will constitute more than a quarter of all state House members, and 45 percent of Democrats, when the Legislature convenes Jan. 8.

“We’re learning the nuts and bolts — how to create a bill and get it through committees, and just the detail-y things of what it will mean to be a legislator,” said Rep.-elect Kelly Morrison of Deephaven, one of the many new Democrats who ousted a Republican incumbent and helped put the DFL in control of the House.

View the complete November 28 article by Jessie Van Berkel on The Star Tribune website here.

Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: July 20, 2018

Dear Neighbor,

I hope summer has been treating you well. We all know summer in Minnesota is truly something special. No matter our differences, we come together to enjoy everything our state and community has to offer. I hope you can get out and enjoy some time with family and friends, and get to know our neighbors.

National Night Out and Night to Unite events in Brooklyn Park and Coon Rapids 
National Night Out and Night to Unite events will be taking place in Brooklyn Park and Coon Rapids on Tuesday, August 7. These events help build stronger neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.  Continue reading “Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: July 20, 2018”

Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: June 12, 2018

Dear Neighbors,

The 2018 legislative session has concluded, and I’m writing to share my perspective on the outcomes.  This past session was disappointing — there were a couple of modest accomplishments but many more missed opportunities.

First, the accomplishments.  The Legislature passed a bipartisan capital investment bill investing more than a billion dollars in infrastructure — including safety improvements to school buildings, maintenance and construction on the campuses of the University of Minnesota and Minnesota’s State Colleges and Universities, wastewater treatment plants, flood hazard mitigation, local roads and bridges, historic Fort Snelling, parks and trails, libraries, zoos, and Minnesota’s correctional facilities, among others.  The capital investment bill will create thousands of good paying jobs and will support our state’s economic health.  Governor Dayton signed the bill, enacting it into law.  This was one of the few bills where Republican legislative leaders worked effectively with the Governor, resulting in a new law, rather than a vetoed bill. Continue reading “Rep. Melissa Hortman (HD36B) Update: June 12, 2018”