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Dear Neighbors,?

I hope the new year is off to a great start for you and yours. We ended 2023 on a high note with the announcement that Minnesota Housing (thanks to our historic Housing Budget) is investing $348 million to create and preserve over 4,700 single-family homes across Minnesota - the largest slate of selections Minnesota Housing has ever approved.?

More important than this big number is the big impact for thousands of families across the state who will have the opportunity to thrive in a safe and affordable home.

It was great to share this news alongside Lt. Gov. Flanagan, Commissioner Ho, and Rep. Agbaje

Building a lot more new homes of all kinds, of all types, all across the state is necessary if we are to address our state?s deep housing shortage, which continues to drive up the cost of housing for all Minnesotans.

We are taking a big step forward. Let it be momentum for our continued diligence, where we push for the bold solutions needed to reduce housing costs for all Minnesotans and where we create a future where every Minnesotan can thrive in a home they can afford.

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New Year, New Laws

Even as we prepare for the 2024 legislative session to begin in February, new laws from last year?s session are still being enacted. On January 1st, several new laws went into effect, including Earned Sick & Safe Time for more of Minnesota?s workers.

Far too many Minnesotans have been forced to make an impossible choice between earning a paycheck and taking time off to care for themselves, disproportionately impacting workers in low-wage positions, women, and members of BIPOC communities.?

This new law requires employers to provide each employee in Minnesota at least one hour of paid sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked, with up to at least 48 hours accrued a year. An employee is anyone who works at least 80 hours in a year for an employer in Minnesota and is not an independent contractor. You can find some FAQs on the new law here.?

Another new law on the books now is Minnesota?s Red Flag Law - otherwise known as extreme risk protection orders. When it comes to curbing gun violence, inaction isn?t an option. This law uses due process to keep guns out of the hands of people who pose a known, serious risk to themselves or others. All Minnesotans deserve to be safe in their communities, and I am dedicated to ensuring public safety through these common-sense measures - measures that have been enacted in red, blue, and purple states alike. In Minnesota, we're putting people first, and taking action to keep our loved ones safe.

Summaries of all the new laws we passed during the 2023 Legislature are available online from nonpartisan House Public Information Services, and can be found here.

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Save the Date - Cedar Edgewater Pilot Town Hall

On Thursday, January 25th, from 7-8:30pm, at the Lake Nokomis Community Center gym, Minneapolis Public Works, Minneapolis Park Board, and Hennepin County will hold a Town Hall to provide an update on the plan to improve the intersection of Cedar Ave at Lake Nokomis Parkway and Edgewater Boulevard in South Minneapolis.

The goal of the Cedar Edgewater Pilot is to reduce vehicle travel speeds and increase safety for all users. Several improvements were installed last summer, and the future of these changes will be discussed at the January 25th meeting.?

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Stay Connected

The 2024 legislative session starts on February 12, and as we get ready to build on our work from last year, I want to hear from you! You can contact me and my office at [email protected] or 651-296-7158.

Thank you for the incredible honor of representing you in the Minnesota House. Here?s to 2024 being another banner year for our community and state.?

In partnership,?

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Michael Howard