Legislative Update - The 2024 Legislative Session

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Dear Neighbors,?

The 2024 Legislative Session began yesterday, and I couldn?t be happier to be back at work representing you in the Minnesota House. While I?ve had a busy interim, I can now return to our legislative schedule of committee hearings and floor debates. As a reminder, in addition my role as Chair of the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement, I also serve on the following committees:

Last year?s historic legislative session was largely spent on crafting our new state budget, which we were constitutionally required to do. This year, you should expect more policy-focused bills, necessary updates and supplements to the budget, and a capital investment bill - otherwise known as a ?bonding bill? as it?s typically funded by selling state bonds.?

The second session in a legislative biennium is typically the shorter of the two, which is why we?re hitting the ground running to build on our accomplishments from last year and continue to make our community and state a better place to live, work, and raise a family.?

Speaking of our community, I want to provide a heartfelt congratulations to our very own Sen. Erin Murphy on her recent selection as Majority Leader in the Minnesota Senate. She?s stepping up in a trying time with some big shoes to fill, but I know she?ll be great.

Here?s the latest from our busy first day, and the week leading up to it:

A Capitol Full of Advocates

The day started strong with a huge turnout for our rally on the Equal Rights Amendment. It is time Minnesota codifies equal rights into its constitution. The fight has taken decades but this is our moment. I am proud to be the House Chief Author on this bill with Senate Chief Author Mary Kunesh.

The Sahan Journal recently published an op-ed from Betty Folliard, a former state representative and founder of ERA Minnesota, who gave an overview of the legislation we?re fighting for this year - which you can read here.

Our rally set the tone for the rest of the day, as the Capitol came alive with Minnesotans from all over the state coming to have their voices heard on the first day of session. So many of our friends and partners showed up to let legislators know there is unfinished work. With increasing gun violence, we need to continue to push sensible firearm legislation. My bill to report lost or stolen firearm arms should be common practice for responsible ownership. I look forward to working with our partners like Moms Demand Action to get this across the finish line in 2024.

The folks from FairVote Minnesota were also here yesterday. From our election work in 2022 to our work to pass historical investments 2023, our friends advocating for Rank Choice Voting have been with us every step of the way. Thank you Jeanne Massey and FairVote for your advocacy and partnership. Democracy is at risk. We must do everything to keep elections fair and accessible.

Building Coalitions for Success

Our work this year didn?t start yesterday. Weeks and months have gone into preparing for this legislative session. Ahead of yesterday?s rallies, last week I met with the coalition working with MN8 on Post Conviction Relief efforts. Much gratitude to all who have invested much time and effort into protecting those with removal orders. Families belong together.

Recently, I was also welcomed into the Carondelet Village retirement community to share my perspective on a number of legislative issues important to residents. We talked ERA, gun violence prevention, and the compassionate care act. Thank you for always creating a warm space to talk about really tough issues.

It?s important to remember that our work isn?t just contained solely to the Minnesota Legislature. It takes building partnerships at all levels of government to enact the changes we?re striving for. That?s why I was honored to sit down with Congresswoman McCollum before the start of session. Much is happening at the Federal level, but Congresswoman McCollum always makes time to meet with her CD4 legislators. She not only shared what she?s working on and the challenges the work is up against but also listened to what our priorities are in 2024. Constituents of SD64 and CD4 are in good hands.

And lastly, I spoke on a panel with House Majority Leader Jamie Long and Chris Schmitter, Chief of Staff to Governor Walz, at an event held by DFL Lawyers. The bills we pass are enforced by lawyers and our court system. It was a pleasure to share key legislation passed to protect reproductive rights, to protect wage discrimination by prohibiting employers from asking about past pay, the Equal Rights Amendment, and the compassionate care bill.

Stay Connected

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas for our work this year, always feel free to reach out to my office at 651-296-8799 or [email protected], and you?ll hear back from me or my Legislative Assistant, Madisyn. You can also follow along on my official Facebook page, and subscribe to these regular emails if you haven?t already.?

Here?s to a productive legislative session!

Sincerely,?

Kaohly Vang Her

State Representative