Tag: Minnesota House

Minnesota House Announces Membership of New Select Committee on Racial Justice, Schedules First Public Meeting for Sept. 22

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – House Speaker Melissa Hortman today announced the membership of the new House Select Committee on Racial Justice and scheduled its first public meeting for September 22. The committee is responsible for examining disparities Minnesotans of color face regarding health, public safety, education, employment, housing and other areas.

Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL – Mendota Heights) and Rep. Rena Moran (DFL – Saint Paul) will co-chair the committee. Rep. Lisa Demuth (R – Cold Spring) will serve as vice chair. 

“Minnesota can never truly prosper as a state if it doesn’t guarantee equitable opportunities to every resident, regardless of their race,” said Rep. Richardson. “The House’s new select committee is long overdue and it represents a commitment to bring about meaningful change.”

“I’m proud we have this forum in the Minnesota House to dive deeply into the impacts Black, Indigenous and People of Color still face in our state, which affect their health, safety, and overall wellbeing,” said Rep. Moran. “While racism’s harm to public health isn’t new, this year’s events have shined a light on the problem and it’s a pivotal time to tackle the crisis head-on.”

In July, the House approved a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis in Minnesota, noting more than 100 studies have linked racism to worse health outcomes, while Black and Indigenous communities experience the highest death rates. Additionally, several medical organizations including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, and the American Public Health Association have recognized that racism is a social determinant for health, with a profound impact across an individual’s lifespan, along with other long-standing, unaddressed disparities and socioeconomic inequities as a result of systemic racism.

“I’m grateful to Reps. Richardson and Moran for co-chairing this important Select Committee, and to Rep. Demuth for serving as Vice Chair. I look forward to the committee’s recommendations,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “We have to dismantle the structural racism inherent in our own institution and address our state’s inexcusable racial inequities.”

“It’s clear that racial disparities are entrenched in our communities and run deep to the foundations that shape policing, education, housing, employment, health, and more,” said House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “The House needs to examine itself and address racism for what it is — an economic and public health crisis.” 

Other members include Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn (DFL – Roseville), Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL – International Falls), Rep. Heather Edelson (DFL – Edina), Rep. Kaohly Her (DFL – Saint Paul), Rep. Erin Koegel (DFL – Spring Lake Park), Rep. Sandy Layman (R – Cohasset), Rep. Jamie Long (DFL – Minneapolis), Rep. Anne Neu (R – North Branch), Rep. Steve Sandell (DFL – Woodbury), and Rep. Dean Urdahl (R – Grove City).

The first hearing will be held on Tuesday, September 22 at 1:30 p.m.

Minnesota House of Representatives Passes Disability Service Retention and Public Health Grants Bill

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the Minnesota House passed legislation that provides $30.4 million of federalThe Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds for disability service retention and public health grants. This bill is designed to allow disability services providers to stay in operation as the state continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minnesota Senate passed the bill earlier today and Governor Walz is expected to sign it into law. 

“It is critical that we do not leave anyone behind during this pandemic. Supporting Minnesotans with disabilities and their families must be one of our highest priorities. This bill will provide a vital lifeline to our day and employment service providers for Minnesotans with disabilities,” said Rep. Hunter Cantrell (DFL – Savage.) “While there is much work that still needs to be done, such as securing hazard pay increases for personal care attendants, this bill moves Minnesota in the right direction.”

“We have reached an agreement to provide funding to entities that serve people with disabilities,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “These providers have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and I am pleased we are able to use federal CARES Act funding to assist them.”

Continue reading “Minnesota House of Representatives Passes Disability Service Retention and Public Health Grants Bill”

House Education Finance Committee Reviews Safe School Plan; Federal Funds for MN Public Schools

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the House Education Finance Committee held a remote hearing to review Governor Walz’s executive order requiring local school districts to establish a safe learning plan for the upcoming school year. In partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), school districts will create their plans for either a hybrid, distance learning, or in-class model based on what best fits that individual district’s student population, and the viral presence in each county. A copy of the Safe Learning Plan 2020-21 can be found here.

“The safety, wellness, and health of our students, families, and educators is at the forefront of the plan for schools as the virus evolves and the legislature continues to partner with MDE and MDH,” said House Education Finance Committee Chair Jim Davnie (DFL-Minneapolis). “The long-lasting impacts this pandemic will have in underserved communities will call leaders at every level to focus resources to meet the educational, and social and emotional developmental needs of children. At the same time districts will need to work to meet the nutrition and mental health needs of children in their communities.”

The committee also discussed previous and proposed federal funding to help districts navigate the pandemic’s impacts on public schools from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act/CRF). $38.1 million has been allocated in federal Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funds to eight regions across the state. $140.1 million is available from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund. Of these funds, 60% will be dedicated to operational costs that include increased cleaning, testing, and transportation adjustments. 40% will be allocated for student, family, and educator needs to assist with mental health, translation, digital supports and more. Additionally, the Minnesota Department of Education is applying for $256 million in CRF funds that will address operating costs, PPE supplies for schools, and funding for COVID rapid testing for school staff. 

Materials from the Minnesota Department of Education and Health related to the Safe Learning Plan can be found on the committee’s website.

Building a Better Future for All Minnesotans

House and Senate DFL unveil Minnesota Values Project

This week, House and Senate DFLers unveiled the 2020 edition of the Minnesota Values Project, an initiative designed to engage legislators, Minnesotans, and community groups in a conversation about the future of our state. The Minnesota Values Project was started in 2017 when House DFLers traveled the state to listen to Minnesotans and have conversations about our shared values.

“Minnesotans care deeply about our state and want to see one another succeed,” said House Majority Whip Liz Olson. “Working together, across race, religion and geography, we can strengthen our communities by improving outcomes for all of us. Organizing together, we have the power to decide our future – just as we’ve done in the past.” Continue reading “Building a Better Future for All Minnesotans”

House Judiciary Committee holds hearing on Criminal Justice Reform in the Judiciary

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The Minnesota House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Division held a remote hearing to discuss issues surrounding Criminal Justice Reform and the Judiciary. The committee chair, Rep. John Lesch (DFL – Saint Paul), sees potential for numerous changes within the courts to better deliver justice and fairness.

“As part of our criminal justice reform work in Minnesota, we must recognize the courts play a significant role in whether or not folks have a real opportunity to turn their lives around, particularly when it comes to having a ladder out of poverty,” Rep. Lesch said. “When people can’t afford to pay a fine or fee for a minor traffic ticket, can’t afford to post bail, have their property unfairly forfeited, or can’t get an offense removed from their record when they’ve demonstrated they’ve turned things around, they find themselves working harder to dig out from a bigger hole. This results in a constant struggle to gain access to employment and housing, which are necessary to sustain themselves in our communities. Many of the ideas on the table are bipartisan in nature and I’ll remain committed to moving them forward. We must hold people who do bad things accountable, but justice for less than all can’t continue to be the status quo.”

The hearing predominantly focused on four subject areas: forfeiture reform, cash bail reform, court fines and fees reform, and record expungement. Support for the reforms discussed spans the political and ideological spectrum, with testimony coming from the likes of Julia Decker, policy director of ACLU-MN as well as from Jason Flohrs, state director of Minnesotans for Prosperity. Continue reading “House Judiciary Committee holds hearing on Criminal Justice Reform in the Judiciary”

House Veterans Affairs Division discusses Veterans Restorative Justice Act

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, Minnesota – Today, the House Veterans and Military Affairs Division held a remote hearing to discuss the Veterans Restorative Justice Act. The measure, authored by Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL – International Falls), includes new sentencing recommendations for veterans who have experienced PTSD or another service-related disorder to refer them to treatment rather than jail or prison.

“Veterans courts are a proven model that ensures those who have served our nation have an opportunity to get the mental health or substance abuse treatment they need to turn their lives around while holding them accountable,” said Rep. Ecklund, chair of the House Veterans and Military Affairs Division. “For many young people who have experienced trauma during their service, incarceration simply doesn’t help the problem. It’s time to advance this bipartisan legislation so our state can be a leader in helping our veterans – who have made wrong decisions – have a second chance at a bright future.”

The legislation creates an alternative sentencing option for veterans with service-connected trauma, substance abuse, or mental health conditions who commit certain crimes under a certain severity threshold. Upon pleading guilty and agreeing to terms, veterans can be eligible for redirection into diversion programs, participation in veteran-focused programming, probation instead of jail time, and treatment programs. After successful completion of probation and related veterans programming, a veteran can be eligible to have crimes eliminated from their record. Continue reading “House Veterans Affairs Division discusses Veterans Restorative Justice Act”

Minnesota House Passes Police Accountability Act

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the Minnesota House approved the Minnesota Police Accountability Act. The legislation, authored by members of the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus, contains strong police accountability reforms and measures to ensure racial justice.

“Today, we’re beginning to make the overdue changes Minnesotans have been demanding to help ensure no more lives are lost due to police violence,” said Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL – Saint Paul), bill author and chair of the House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Division. “By passing this bill into law, we’re taking the first steps toward major changes to hold police officers accountable for harmful acts, and we are committed to continuing our work for safer communities. It wasn’t safe for George Floyd or for Philando Castile, and they deserved a better way to police that builds community.” Continue reading “Minnesota House Passes Police Accountability Act”

Minnesota House to vote on jobs and local projects, tax legislation on Monday

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — The Minnesota House of Representatives will vote on jobs and local projects and tax legislation on Monday, July 20. The spreadsheet of bonding provisions is here and the spreadsheet of tax provisions can be found here.

Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman released the following statement:

“In the middle of a pandemic that has put us into a recession, it’s important that the state legislature do everything we can to create jobs and stimulate economic growth. This bill will create jobs and fund infrastructure projects our communities desperately need. It’s time for House Republicans to leave aside unrelated matters and join us in passing this agreement on behalf of Minnesotans.” Continue reading.

Minnesota House Declares Racism a Statewide Public Health Crisis

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA— The Minnesota House of Representatives today voted to declare racism a public health crisis.

According to the official resolution voted upon today, the declaration applies to the entire state and affirms that the Minnesota House will be an active participant in the dismantling of racism. It creates a House Select Committee on Minnesota’s response tasked with analyzing legislative work through an intersectional race equity lens.

“This is about advancing and promoting equitable opportunity across all of our systems, in the areas of health, education, housing, public safety, and economic and workforce development,” said Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL-Mendota Heights), chief author of the resolution. “The COVID-19 pandemic and senseless murder of George Floyd have shined a light on the historical and contemporary injustices that are still embedded in our society.” Continue reading “Minnesota House Declares Racism a Statewide Public Health Crisis”