I hope you are enjoying another lovely Minnesota autumn! As fall colors peak and bonfire weather makes its way in, it?s also a season of change and progress for our community as new laws go into effect and work continues in preparation for next year?s legislative session.??
I?m incredibly excited to share this update with you, as we?re seeing the effects of the work we did this session, including several bills that I carried as Chief House author. Watching the fruits of our labor on the House Floor, in committee rooms, and behind the scenes is incredibly rewarding knowing it?s benefiting the community I love. Thank you for trusting me with the honor of doing this work!?
On October 1st, more of our neighbors became eligible to earn a driver?s license, regardless of immigration status. This law reverses the short-sighted and dangerous 2003 law prohibiting those without U.S. citizenship status from obtaining a driver?s license in Minnesota. This change was widely supported by the business community, law enforcement, religious and community leaders across the state, and will make our roads safer by decreasing the number of unlicensed drivers.?
The Minnesota Department of Driver Vehicle Services has a wide variety of information on its website, including step-by-step guides in multiple languages outlining what is needed to take the written test and behind-the-wheel test, as well as how to schedule those appointments.??
Getting a driver?s license is a privilege and requires the same rules everyone must abide by to prove they can legally drive. Minnesota statute also requires ALL drivers to be insured. Please don?t hesitate to contact my office if you have questions or need assistance.???
I had the opportunity to join the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters and City Leaders Against Wage Theft and Tax Fraud to speak about two important bills I had the honor of carrying this new law as Chief House Author this past session. ?
This issue disproportionately impacts immigrant workers and shifts the burden of preventing wage theft from workers, who have the least amount of power to assert their rights, to general contractors who control the project site. These bills dramatically shifted the landscape around wage theft and labor trafficking. As a result, construction workers and ethical contractors will benefit from a new paradigm that holds bad actors accountable. It was great speaking, along with my colleague Rep. Zack Stephenson, with metro city leaders who are passionate about combating wage theft!?
Last month, I had the opportunity to speak about the Veterans Restorative Justice Act and Minnesota's data-driven approach to serving and supporting Veterans this week at the 31st annual National Association of Veterans' Research and Education Foundations (NAVREF) awards dinner, along with Sen. Nicole Mitchell. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the important infrastructure and dedication surrounding clinical research at VA facilities, and a strong reminder that we must continue to support our Veteran community and the organizations that serve them.?
Recently, I toured the new location for the SACA Food Shelf and Thrift Store! I'm so proud to have served as the Chief House author of the that secured funding that facilitated this plan for a big expansion to the new location. SACA provides incredibly important services and resources to the community in Anoka County, and I?m incredibly grateful to all of the great folks there working to serve our community. ?
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You can learn more about SACA here: https://sacafoodshelf.org?
While we did not achieve the full version of this bill this year, in the final hours of the legislative session, we did pass the most comprehensive hospital workplace safety legislation in the nation. I look forward to an ongoing partnership with nurses across Minnesota as we continue our work to protect nurses and patients statewide! Thank you for your advocacy.?
This year, I introduced the Boundary Waters Protection Act, which will permanently protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park from the inevitable and devastating damage that would result from sulfide-ore copper mining pollution in its watershed. The Boundary Waters is one of Minnesota's most cherished natural resources, and it's at risk from a proposed copper-nickel mine. Despite the Interior Department's ban on mining on federal lands in the Boundary Waters watershed, Twin Metals is still trying to move forward with its project on state lands.?
My bill to protect the Boundary Waters would protect it on state land as well, ensuring our natural resources are not put in danger by bad actors. We have more work to do next session to get this bill across the finish line and ensure this Minnesota gem remains a place of peace and natural sanctuary for generations to come.??
On Wednesday, November 8th, the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is holding the Small Business Resource Connection, an opportunity to meet with organizations in the Twin Cities that provide technical assistance to small business and will allow folks to tap into this network of small business resources.? Many of these organizations that were funded during this year?s legislative session to provide assistance to small businesses. If you own or are thinking of starting a small business, this event will be full of resources to help get you on the right path.??
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