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Dear neighbors,
Last month the 2023 Legislative Session ended as we successfully passed the final versions of our budget bills and other priorities. Alongside our DFL Senators, we ended the gridlock and delivered on our promises to Minnesotans. It's an honor to serve such an amazing state, and I'm looking forward to next session already!
You can read more about our final bills using our nonpartisan Session Daily stories: Veterans and Military Affairs, Housing, Higher Education, Legacy, Agriculture, Early Education, Public Safety and Judiciary, K-12 Education, Jobs and Labor, Environment and Energy, Commerce, State Government and Elections, Human Services, Taxes, Transportation, Health, Capital Investment, Cannabis, and Paid Family and Medical Leave.
Minnesota is officially the 23rd state to legalize adult-use cannabis! Last month, the House re-passed the final version of our Cannabis Bill, and I was proud to speak in support of the bill on the floor. Ultimately, the bill passed with bipartisan support on a vote of 73-57, showing that this truly isn?t a partisan issue. You can read more about the bill here.
I?m proud of the communities that have worked on this issue for decades. Starting as a legalization advocate and now an elected member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, I know the amount of time and energy spent to organize and educate our government about the harms of prohibition and the benefits of legalization. As we move forward, we must stay involved with our government to ensure this is a responsible market accountable to the needs of small businesses and consumers. I?m thankful for this bill, and I look forward to continuing the work.
You can find more information, and answers to frequently asked questions, on the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management?s website.
With full DFL control of the legislature we were able to end the gridlock that stopped progress on so many of the bills I worked on during my first term. This session our budget bills included many provisions I carried including:
- Lifting the study moratorium on the Dan Patch Rail Line
- Funding the first phase of the Quentin Ave Bridge project
- Funding the turf replacement at the Savage Dome
- Money available to replace firefighter radios
This year?s Taxes bill focuses on helping our neighbors who are struggling the most. Collectively, the bill delivers the largest tax cut in state history with credits, rebates, and other provisions designed to maximize benefits for workers, families, and seniors.
I?m especially glad the bill includes:
- Full Social Security state income exemption for those earning less than $100,000 annually (married/joint) or $78,000 (single/head of household), phasing out at $118,000 for single filers and 140,000 for joint filers.
- A new and simplified Child & Working Family Tax Credit of up to $1,750 per child which will impact more than one million families and reduce child poverty by one-third.
- It also addresses years of rising property taxes and underinvestment in local communities by providing millions of dollars in property tax cuts and direct assistance to local communities.
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