Volume 5, Issue 5 — February 8, 2019

Weekly Review Video

A weekly message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

It’s been a busy week at the Capitol with committees in full swing hearing bills including hands-free legislation, electronic monitoring in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, higher education capital investment needs, and requiring a personal finance course to graduate from high school.

There were also a number of press conferences held this week, kicking off with the 100% clean energy press conference, a discussion on wage theft, the announcement of a new United Black Legislative Caucus, and a press conference on tax filing. MN Second Chance also held a press conference and the Joint Religious Legislative Council (JRLC) held their Day on the Hill. Continue reading “Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: February 8, 2019”

Volume 5, Issue 4 — February 1, 2019

Weekly Review Video

A weekly message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

Week four of the 2019 Legislative Session kicked off with a joint Senate and House press conference on the legalization of recreational cannabis. The issue of cannabis legalization is one that is moving fast around the country. As chief author of a bipartisan bill in the Senate, it is my goal to secure a legislative hearing and to begin the discussion on this issue and engage all stakeholders to provide input on the bill.

With the record cold weather, many committees canceled their hearings in the middle of the week. Despite the cold, committees still heard a continuation of overviews and some legislative proposals.

The week closed out with the kick off of Black History month on Friday, February 1, to honor the contributions of African-Americans to United States history. The National Black History Month theme for 2019 is “Black Migration.” Continue reading “Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: February 1, 2019”

Weekly Review Video

A weekly message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

As week three of the 2019 legislative session comes to a close, there have been a lot of new bills introduced and committees are starting to work full gear to hear those bills.

In Transportation Committee this week, we held an at times somber committee hearing for the two hands-free cellphone bills(S.F. 91, S.F. 75). I support this legislation and hope to work with my colleagues to get it through this session. These bills were passed unanimously by the Committee and are on their way to the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Continue reading “Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: January 25, 2019”

Volume 5, Issue 2     —     January 18, 2019

A weekly message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

The second week of the 2019 session kicked off with a legislative press forum with Governor Walz and the four leaders from the Senate and House. There were also a number of press conferences on issues ranging from distracted driving, how the state is dealing with the federal shutdown, and legalizing recreational marijuana use.

I am working on legislation that considers developing a framework to legalize adult use cannabis, and I welcome your thoughts on this topic. It is an issue that touches many areas of government, and if Minnesota is to follow the path of other states who have legalized its use, it is imperative that we are thoughtful, transparent, and responsible with implementation.

Committees also kicked into gear with a busy week of overviews and a few early bill hearings. Some of the topics under discussion this week include HHS fraud prevention investigations, disability waivers, energy storage, education budgets, a farm and agriculture overview, a hearing on disease affecting our deer population, prison sentencing modifications, and an overview on our November budget forecast. Continue reading “Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: January 18, 2019”

A weekly message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

This week we returned to Saint Paul to kick off the 2019 Legislative Session. The first order of business this session will be for committees to get to work on a two-year budget. State budget officials projected a $1.54 billion budgetary balance for the upcoming two-year budget cycle, but nearly half of this balance is only available for one-time spending and experts are predicting a slowing economy in the near future. It is more important now than ever to recognize that any new spending and tax cuts must be balanced. Protecting our state’s finances from future instability is the prudent choice as we anticipate slower economic growth ahead.

In the work of setting a new two-year budget, I am committed to work to build the state all Minnesotans deserve with high-quality education, affordable and accessible health care, and increasing support for working families. Here are some of the many issues I expect to work on in 2019:  Continue reading “Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: January 11, 2019”

Save the Date!

A message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

The 2019 legislative session kicks off January 8 with a new DFL governor, a new DFL House majority, and the Senate remaining in GOP leadership. I look forward to hearing from constituents and advocates this legislative session on issues that are important to you. As always, my doors are open for you to stop by anytime or schedule a time that is convenient for you in district or at the Capitol. While there will always be intense emotions surrounding policy and politics, as your State Senator I am committed to getting to work to keep Minnesota on the right track.

With state budget officials projecting a $1.54 billion budgetary balance for the upcoming two-year budget cycle, we will need to tread cautiously to ensure a positive economic future. Nearly half of the surplus balance is only available for one-time spending and experts are predicting a slowing economy in the near future. It is more important now than ever to recognize that any new spending and tax cuts must be balanced. Protecting the state’s finances from future instability is the prudent choice as we anticipate slower economic growth ahead.

In our work setting a new two-year budget, I am committed to building the state all Minnesotans deserve with high-quality education, affordable and accessible health care, and increasing support for working families. Here are some of the many issues we expect to work on in 2019: Continue reading “Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: December 21, 2018”