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May 18, 2024

Legislative Update

I had the privilege to represent at the Japanese American Veterans Memorial Program at the Ft. Snelling Cemetery honoring the service of Japanese Americans in securing victory during WW2 despite discrimination. One of the most famous units is the 100th Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service (trained right here in Minnesota at Ft. Snelling). Retired General Paul Nakasone was the keynote speaker, raised here in Minnesota (son of a WW2 Veteran 'Bud' Nakasone). He went on to become the Commander of US Cyber Command and Director of National Security Agency concurrently.

Honor Roll Call: Always Remembered, Forever Honored.

I was glad to visit the Hmong Special Guerrilla Unit Veterans Remembrance on the Capitol grounds. So wonderful to see so many Woodbury and East Ridge High School students participating.

Go Royals & go Raptors!

I was proud to meet the Oak-Land Middle School 6th graders at the Capitol. It was a great visit and the learned tons about our state's History and the legislature. Go Ponies!

I want to thank our Peace Officers and First Responders for your commitment to keeping our communities safe and protecting our citizens. Thank you, Peace Officers!

Votes

1A Rights Preserved in Law: I am so happy to announce and thankful for the hard work and prayers from our communities of faith to correct the Minnesota Human Rights mistake of excluding the Religious Freedom Exemption. Your U.S. Constitutional First Amendment right to freedom of religion, after being passed out of the House and Senate, was signed by the Governor this week. This is a small victory for our future!

2A Rights on the Floor: There were several 2A impacting bills that made it to the floor these final days.

I voted NO on the gun storage bill that would have criminalized law-abiding citizens in their own homes. Looks like this is dead for the session.

I also voted NO on the unconstitutional requirement to report a stolen firearm. Looks like this is dead for the session.

Straw purchasing – Binary Trigger Conference Committee Bill was not a clean bill as it still contained the controversial binary trigger language. Therefore, I voted against this conference committee bill as it was not clean.

As this had an impact on Law Enforcement, we stayed in direct communication with the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association & Police Chiefs Association, Minnesota Peace and Police Officers Association, and the State Troopers Association on this important issue. Thanks to Rob Doar of the Gun Owners Caucus for his engagement on this complex issue.

Veterans Restorative Justice Reporting Act: This bill, which I authored, was passed in the Judiciary & Public Safety Conference Committee Report. It ensures we fulfill our commitment to our veterans that have service-connected non-violent legal issues to assist in restoring them to their families.

God Bless Minnesota and you all!

Please Contact Me

Please continue to reach out if I can be of any assistance to you. You can reach me by phone at 651-296-4244 or by email at [email protected].

Have a great weekend! 

Mark

353 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.4244