Volume 5, Issue 9          March 8, 2019

Weekly Review Video

A weekly message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

The ninth week of the 2019 session wraps up this week, with the legislature having only passed two bills so far. MNLARS funding and a small bonding bill for clean-up of a toxic closed landfill in Andover and technical fixes to construction bonds for Highway 14 and Highway 23 were both passed and signed into law by Governor Walz.

Committee highlights from this week include a number of bills addressing mental health issues in rural Minnesota, provisional ballots, an estate tax repeal, and a bill to cut social security taxes. Reinsurance was heard in Finance Committee, a bill to reimburse deputy registrars had a committee hearing, and a bill to punish those who drive too slow in the left lane was also debated. Continue reading “Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: March 8, 2019”

Volume 5, Issue 8                     March 1, 2019

A clip from Monday’s press conference

A weekly message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

The week started with our annual event, STEM Advocacy Day. The day was kicked off with a press conference to announce the introduction of three STEM bills detailed below with a bipartisan group of co-authors, representatives from Seagate, Ed Graff, the superintendent of Minneapolis schools, and students from around the state involved in robotics programs. A few robots made a special appearance, as well! The students then met with their elected officials and had the chance to demonstrate their work in the rotunda. Thank you to everyone who attended!

The big news this week was the release of the February budget forecast which sets the terms of debate for the two-year budget. The forecast projects how much money the state is likely to have for the upcoming biennium. Minnesota Management and Budget estimates a $1 billion budgetary balance which is $492 million less than the November 2018 forecast. It’s important to be cautious when the state’s budget balance decreases and diligent in working to balance any new investments with additional revenue. Continue reading “Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: March 1, 2019”

Volume 5, Issue 7     —     February 22, 2019

Weekly Review Video

 

A weekly message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

Week seven of the 2019 session was busy with the news of Gov. Walz releasing his budget blueprint for the next two-year biennium. He focused his budget on the shared priorities of all Minnesotans: providing a high-quality education for all kids regardless of their race or zip code, providing access to quality health care at a price people can afford, making sure every community thrives across Minnesota, investing in the state’s crumbling infrastructure which is putting Minnesotans’ public safety at risk, and providing tax relief for all Minnesotans. I will delve into the provision contained within the Governor’s proposed budget and welcome your thoughts as well. More information can be found here. Continue reading “Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: February 22, 2019”

Volume 5, Issue 6  —  February 15, 2019

Weekly Review Video

A weekly message from your Senator

Dear Constituents and Friends,

It was another busy week in the Minnesota Senate with several press conferences, including the announcement of the Increase Teachers of Color Act and the Early Learning Scholarships, both which I am a proud co-author.  I am also pleased to inform that I was appointed to serve on the Health and Human Services Finance Committee taking the open seat vacated by Senator Tony Lourey, who was tapped by Governor Walz to serve as Commissioner of Health and Human Services. As a previous Vice-Chair of HHS for four years I am happy to be back on to serve the interests of my district and the state. Continue reading “Sen. Melisa Franzen (SD49) Update: February 15, 2019”

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”