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This week was full of late night floor sessions as we work to pass supplemental budget packages to build on last year?s historic progress.?Soon, the House is expected to take up the?2024 Elections Budget Bill. As the Chair of the Elections Committee, I?m incredibly proud of the package we put together. The bill includes provisions increasing local government funding to support election administration and infrastructure and improving clarity on local election spending. The bill builds upon last year?s historic progress in election security and safety by increasing support to local municipalities and polling places.??
Minnesotans deserve to know their elections are safe and secure. By increasing both physical and cyber security of our local elections, Minnesotans can have confidence in their polling places. This package will also provide some needed clarity on who is spending to influence local elections. Local elections have some of the biggest direct impacts on our communities, and those offices should not be excluded from financial responsibility and accountability when it comes to campaign spending.?
Another major highlight from this week was North Star Therapy Animals paying a visit to us at the Capitol. If anything defies partisan lines, it?s love for giving pets to a very good four-legged friend! This is Ender, a therapy dog in the program who happens to belong to my sister (making him my dog-nephew!)?
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This week we passed legislation to help prevent gun trafficking, assist in recovering lost or stolen guns, make firearm owners more accountable for their weapons, and give our law enforcement another tool to help keep our communities safe and free of gun violence by requiring lost or stolen firearms to be reported to law enforcement within 48 hours after they are known to be lost.??
Lost and stolen guns are often used in crimes or end up in the hands of those who may cause harm to themselves or others. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, roughly 266,000 guns were stolen across the U.S. per year from 2017-2021. Of these, only 3% were stolen from federally licensed gun dealers, while 95% were stolen from private citizens, equivalent to one every two minutes, and a quarter are never reported to law enforcement.?
We also passed legislation strengthening Minnesota?s laws around straw purchases, which occur when an individual buys a firearm for someone ineligible to purchase or possess them. H.F. 2609 updates the state?s straw purchasing law to increase the penalty from a gross misdemeanor to a felony.?
Finally, we passed H.F. 4300, which requires the safe storage of firearms, an important step to prevent access by children and others who should not have access to guns. This bill requires firearms be stored either unloaded and equipped with a locking device or placed in a locked firearm storage unit (e.g., a gun safe) or a locked gun room, where it may be either loaded or unloaded. The safe storage of firearms will save lives.?
All Minnesotans deserve to be safe in their communities, and this legislation is a step in the right direction. I was proud to vote yes on all of these bills.?
I recently sat down with my colleague across the aisle Rep. Paul Torkelson to talk about our work together in the Elections Committee. You can watch the interview below.??
Meet Raymond, a two year old Chow Chow/German Shephard! Raymond has been treated for heartworm disease (that?s why he has shaved patches of fur, which will grow back!) Staff share that he walks well on a leash, is affectionate and has had positive experiences interacting with other dogs. To be frank, Everybody Loves Raymond.??
He?ll do well in a playful, loving home! Head over to the Golden Valley Humane Society to meet him.??
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To stay up to date with our important work at the State Capitol, you can see the Minnesota House of Public Information Services? nonpartisan recaps of high-profile bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions with their Session Daily publication.?
You can also stay up-to-date with the latest by following my Facebook page.?
To share your input or ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to reach out at [email protected] or 651-296-4176, and I will be happy to help. If you were forwarded this email and you?d like to subscribe, click here. If you have a friend or neighbor who would be interested in receiving these, please forward this and encourage them to subscribe.?
It is an honor to continue to serve you.??
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